William Njoku facts for kids
| Forward | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 5, 1972 Accra, Ghana |
| Nationality | Ghanaian / Canadian |
| High school | Halifax West (Halifax, Nova Scotia) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 250 lb (113 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Saint Mary's (Halifax) |
| NBA Draft | 1994 / Round: 2 / Pick: 41st overall |
| Selected by the Indiana Pacers | |
| Pro career | 1993–2007 |
| Career history | |
| 1994–1995 | Élan Chalon |
| 1995–1996 | Jersey Turnpikes |
| 1996–1997 | Atlantic City Seagulls |
| 1997–1998 | Beşiktaş |
| 1999–2002 | Oliveirense |
| 2002–2003 | KB Bashkimi |
| 2003–2004 | Eurolines Vilvoorde |
| 2004–2005 | Rabotnički |
William Chidi Njoku (born March 5, 1972) is a Ghanaian-Canadian former professional basketball player. He was also a member of the Canada national men's basketball team.
William Njoku was born in Accra, Ghana. When he was four years old, he moved to Canada with his parents. He grew up to be a tall basketball player, standing 6 feet 10 inches (208 cm) tall.
Contents
Early Basketball Career
William Njoku played basketball for Halifax West High School in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was a star player there, even though he missed much of his final year due to an injury.
College Success
After high school, Njoku went to Saint Mary's University in his hometown. He played college basketball there and became very successful.
- In 1993, during his junior year, he won the Mike Moser Award. This award is given to the most outstanding player in Canadian university basketball.
- He was also named a CIAU All-Canadian in both his junior and senior seasons. This means he was recognized as one of the best university players in Canada.
NBA Draft
In 1994, William Njoku was chosen in the 1994 NBA draft. The Indiana Pacers picked him in the second round as the 41st player overall. However, he did not end up playing for an NBA team in the regular season.
Professional Basketball Journey
After the NBA draft, William Njoku played professional basketball for many years. He played for different teams in Europe.
Teams Njoku Played For
Njoku played for several clubs. Here are some of the teams he played for:
- Elan Sportif Chalonnais in France (1994)
- Jersey Turnpikes in the USBL (1995)
- Atlantic City Seagulls in the USBL (1996)
- Alba Berlin in Germany (1996)
- Beşiktaş in Turkey (1997)
- Illianbum Taka in Portugal (1998)
- Oliveirense in Portugal (1999)
- KB Bashkimi in Kosovo (2003)
- Eurolines Vilvoorde in Belgium (2003–2004)
- Rabotnički in North Macedonia (2004)
Comeback to the Game
William Njoku had to stop playing basketball in 1999 because of a back injury. But he didn't give up! His injury was properly diagnosed and treated. This allowed him to return to professional basketball in 2003 when he was 31 years old.
Playing for Canada
William Njoku also represented his country, Canada, in international competitions.
- He was part of the Canadian team at the 1994 FIBA World Championship.
- He also played in the 1998 FIBA World Championship.
- In 2007, he played for Canada's national developmental team in a tournament held in Argentina.
Life After Basketball
After retiring from playing professional basketball, William Njoku started a new career. He now works as a coach and a motivational speaker. He helps inspire others to achieve their goals.
He used to live in Toronto during his off-seasons when he was playing. Now, he lives in Moncton, New Brunswick. From 2007 to 2010, he was the Athletics Director at Crandall University. He left that role to focus on his motivational speaking company, called Will2Win.
See also
In Spanish: William Njoku para niños
