Ovie Soko facts for kids
Soko taking a free throw for UAB
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| Free agent | |
|---|---|
| Small forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 7 February 1991 Worcester Park, England |
| High school |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| NBA Draft | 2014 / Undrafted |
| Pro career | 2014–present |
| Career history | |
| 2014–2015 | Boulazac Dordogne |
| 2015–2016 | Trikala Aries |
| 2016 | Enel Brindisi |
| 2016–2019 | Murcia |
| 2019–2020 | London Lions |
| 2020–2021 | Le Mans Sarthe |
| 2021–2022 | Shiga Lakestars |
| 2022–2023 | London Lions |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
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Ovie Soko (born on February 7, 1991) is a British professional basketball player. He is known for playing as a Small forward. Ovie has played for many teams, including the London Lions in the British Basketball League (BBL). Before becoming a pro, he played college basketball for the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Duquesne University. In 2014, he hoped to join the NBA but was not chosen in the draft.
In 2019, Ovie also became famous for appearing on the British reality TV show Love Island. He finished in third place on the show.
Contents
Early Life and High School
Ovie Soko grew up in England and later moved to the United States. He went to Bethel High School in Hampton, Virginia. During his time there, he was a star player. He scored about 14.5 points and grabbed 7.5 rebounds per game. He also helped his team win a district championship.
Before Bethel, Ovie played at Hampton Roads Academy. As a junior, he averaged 17.1 points and 8.6 rebounds. These numbers show he was a strong player from a young age.
College Basketball Journey
Ovie played college basketball for two different universities. He started at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Later, he transferred to Duquesne University.
Playing for UAB
As a freshman at UAB, Ovie played in 28 games. He averaged 1.5 points and 1.9 rebounds. In his second year, he improved a lot. He started in 29 games and averaged 9.1 points and 5.8 rebounds. He was one of UAB's most improved players.
In his junior year, Ovie continued to play well. He averaged 8.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. He also led his team in steals.
Transfer to Duquesne
For his senior year, Ovie moved to Duquesne. He started all 30 games and was a top player. He averaged 18.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. He was the first Duquesne player in a long time to lead the Atlantic 10 in scoring. This meant he scored more points than almost anyone else in that group of teams.
Professional Basketball Career
After college, Ovie began his professional basketball journey. He played for teams in several different countries.
Starting in France
In 2014, Ovie was not chosen in the NBA draft. However, he quickly signed a one-year deal with Boulazac Dordogne in France. This was his first professional team.
Playing in Greece and Italy
In 2015, Ovie moved to Greece to play for Aries Trikala. He had a great season there, averaging 16.5 points and 7.9 rebounds. In April 2016, he signed a short deal with Enel Brindisi in Italy.
Time with Murcia
On August 5, 2016, Ovie joined UCAM Murcia in Spain. He played there for several seasons. With Murcia, he also played in the Basketball Champions League. This is a big European competition. In 2018, he was named to the Basketball Champions League Star Lineup. This means he was recognized as one of the best players in the league.
Back to London Lions
In November 2019, Ovie signed with the London Lions in the UK. He was a key player for them, averaging 20.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
Playing in France Again
On July 9, 2020, Ovie returned to France. He signed with Le Mans Sarthe.
Return to London Lions
On July 8, 2022, Ovie signed with the London Lions again. He played for them in the British BBL and the EuroCup Basketball.
Representing Great Britain
Ovie has also played for his country, Great Britain. He made his debut for the Great Britain Men's national team in 2015. In 2020, he helped Great Britain win a big game against Germany. He scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in that game.
Beyond Basketball
Besides basketball, Ovie has explored other interests.
On Love Island
In 2019, Ovie joined the reality TV show Love Island. He became very popular on the show and finished in third place.
Modelling Career
In August 2019, Ovie announced he was working with ASOS.com. He partnered with the online fashion company for a new collection, even including his father, Raymond Soko.
Personal Details
Ovie Soko was born in England. His parents are from Nigeria.
See also
In Spanish: Ovie Soko para niños
