Akwasi Yeboah
{{short description|British basketball player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Akwasi Yeboah
| image = Akwasi Yeboah.jpg
| caption = Yeboah in February 2020
| number = 15
| position = Small forward / Power forward
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lbs = 230
| league = Lega Basket Serie A
| team = Trapani Shark
| nationality = British
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|6|15}}
| birth_place = Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana
| high_school = Barking Abbey School
(London, England)
| college =
- Stony Brook (2016–2019)
- Rutgers (2019–2020)
| draft_year = 2020
| career_start = 2014
| years1 = 2014–2015
| team1 = Kent Crusaders
| years2 = 2020–2021
| team2 = Saint-Quentin
| years3 = 2021–2022
| team3 = Saint-Chamond Basket
| years4 = 2022–2023
| team4 = Darüşşafaka
| years5 = 2023–2024
| team5 = Galatasaray
| years6 = 2024–present
| team6 = Trapani Shark
| highlights =
- First-team All-America East (2019)
- Second-team All-America East (2018)
| medal_templates =
}}
Akwasi Abeyie Yeboah (born June 15, 1997) is a British professional basketball player for Trapani Shark of the Lega Basket Serie A. Yeboah competed for the Kent Crusaders of the English National Basketball League (NBL) and led the team to a championship in 2015. Yeboah played three seasons of college basketball for the Stony Brook Seawolves before transferring to play for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights as a graduate student for his final season of eligibility.
Early life and career
Yeboah was born in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana but moved to the London suburb of Chigwell, England at the age of nine after his mother Winifred found a nursing job to better provide for him and older brother Kwame. Yeboah started out as a soccer player and did not begin playing basketball until the age of 13. He was, by his admission, terrible at basketball at first. His physical education teacher told him that he was not competitive, which motivated him to improve.{{cite news |last1=Herrmann |first1=Mark |title=The rise of Akwasi Yeboah at Stony Brook |url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/college/college-basketball/akwasi-yeboah-stony-brook-1.26275952 |access-date=March 25, 2020 |work=Newsday |date=January 22, 2019}}
He competed for the Kent Crusaders of the English National Basketball League (NBL) after the Barking Abbey School, which he attended, partnered with the Crusaders to give their top players the ability to play in the NBL. He had a season-high 21 points twice, against the Bradford Dragons and Essex Leopards, and scored 19 points in a 12-point comeback win against the Reading Rockets.{{cite web |last1=Gains |first1=Bradley |title=Akwasi Yeboah Aiming to Lead Young Crusaders to Final Fours Glory |url=https://www.hoopsfix.com/2015/04/akwasi-yeboah-aiming-to-lead-young-crusaders-to-final-fours-glory/ |website=Hoopsfix.com |access-date=March 25, 2020 |date=April 17, 2015}} Yeboah was a key piece of the team that won the 2015 NBL Division I Playoff Championship. He averaged 12.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.{{cite web |last1=Peck |first1=Adam |title=Seawolves Add Ghanaian-Born Wingman To Roster |url=https://brook.land/seawolves-add-ghanaian-born-wingman-to-roster-dbb701bf7851 |website=BrookLand |access-date=March 25, 2020 |date=April 30, 2015}} In the league final, Yeboah scored 21 points and had seven rebounds. He received his only NCAA Division I offer from Stony Brook's head coach Steve Pikiell.{{cite news |last1=Carino |first1=Jerry |title=Rutgers basketball: Akwasi Yeboah, Stony Brook grad transfer, reunites with Pikiell |url=https://www.app.com/story/sports/college/2019/05/02/rutgers-basketball-akwasi-yeboah-stony-brook/3648175002/ |access-date=March 25, 2020 |work=Asbury Park Press |date=May 2, 2019}}
College career
=Stony Brook (2016–2019)=
Yeboah redshirted his first season at Stony Brook, which was Pikiell's last at the school before accepting the job at Rutgers. Stony Brook made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history as Yeboah sat out the season due to lack of projected playing time.{{cite web |last1=Breitman |first1=Aaron |title=Akwasi Yeboah making seamless transition with Rutgers basketball |url=https://www.onthebanks.com/2019/10/31/20941717/akwasi-yeboah-making-seamless-transition-with-rutgers-basketball-stony-brook-steve-pikiell-big-ten |website=On the Banks |publisher=SB Nation |access-date=March 25, 2020 |date=October 31, 2019}} As a redshirt freshman, Yeboah averaged 9.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game and was named to the America East All-Freshman Team.{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Lamar |title=Maryland men's basketball vs. Stony Brook preview: Terps open 2017-18 on the road |url=https://www.testudotimes.com/maryland-terps-basketball/2017/11/10/16628706/season-opener-vs-stony-brook-game-stats-preview |website=Testudo Times |publisher=SB Nation |access-date=March 25, 2020 |date=November 10, 2017}} He scored 21 points and had 16 rebounds in the first round of the America East Tournament in a 70–60 win against Binghamton.{{cite news |title=Stony Brook beats Binghamton 70-60 in America East quarters |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400944430 |access-date=April 12, 2020 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=March 1, 2017}}
In his sophomore season, Yeboah averaged 15.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.{{cite news |last1=Tam |first1=Ethan |title=Yeboah’s historic drive guides Men’s Basketball to victory |url=https://www.sbstatesman.com/2019/02/13/yeboahs-historic-drive-guides-mens-basketball-to-victory/ |access-date=March 25, 2020 |work=Stony Brook Statesman |date=February 13, 2019}} He had nine 20-point games as a sophomore and was named to the Second Team All-America East.{{cite web |title=Olaniyi Named America East Rookie of the Year, Yeboah All-Second Team |url=https://news.stonybrook.edu/alumni/olaniyi-named-america-east-rookie-of-the-year-yeboah-all-second-team/ |website=Stony Brook University |access-date=March 25, 2020 |date=March 2, 2018}} He scored a career-high 30 points to go with eight rebounds against Columbia on December 7, 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2017/12/07/yeboah-has-career-high-stony-brook-rallies-to-beat-columbia/108420112/|title=Yeboah has career-high, Stony Brook rallies to beat Columbia|website=USA Today|agency=Associated Press|language=en-US|date=December 7, 2017|access-date=March 30, 2020}}
Yeboah averaged 20.4 points through the first 12 games of his junior season.{{Cite web|url=https://stonybrookathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/akwasi-yeboah/5539|title=Akwasi Yeboah - Men's Basketball|website=Stony Brook University Athletics|language=en|access-date=March 30, 2020}} On December 22, 2018, against Quinnipiac, Yeboah suffered a hyperextended knee but returned to the lineup after missing a game. Yeboah averaged 16.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game as a junior for the Seawolves while shooting 41.3 percent from the floor and 31.6 percent from three-point range.{{cite news |last1=Nalwasky |first1=Chris |title=RU grad transfer Akwasi Yeboah having no problems with deeper 3-point line |url=https://rutgers.rivals.com/news/ru-grad-transfer-akwasi-yeboah-having-no-problems-with-deeper-3-point-line |access-date=April 12, 2020 |work=Rivals.com |date=October 6, 2019}} He was named to the First Team All-America East.{{Cite web|url=https://americaeast.com/news/2019/3/7/2018-19_MBB_Awards.aspx|title=Lamb Unanimously Chosen Player of Year to Highlight 18-19 Men's #AEHoops Awards|website=americaeast.com|language=en|access-date=March 30, 2020}}
In three seasons at Stony Brook, Yeboah scored 1,317 points, the sixth-most in program history.{{cite news |last1=Kratch |first1=James |title=Rutgers’ Steve Pikiell breaks down grad transfer Akwasi Yeboah’s game |url=https://www.nj.com/rutgersbasketball/2019/05/rutgers-steve-pikiell-breaks-down-grad-transfer-akwasi-yeboahs-game.html |access-date=March 25, 2020 |work=NJ.com |date=May 14, 2019}}
=Rutgers (2019–2020)=
Yeboah entered the transfer portal in March 2019 as an impending graduate student, but retained his eligibility at Stony Brook for the 2019–20 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/college/stony-brook/akwasi-yeboah-transfer-1.28834574|title=Akwasi Yeboah mulls transfer from Stony Brook|last=Herrman|first=March |website=Newsday|date=March 22, 2019|access-date=March 30, 2020}} He was listed as the 36th-best graduate transfer according to Stadium's Jeff Goodman.{{Cite web|url=https://www.onthebanks.com/2019/5/2/18526852/stony-brook-grad-transfer-akwasi-yeboah-commits-to-rutgers-basketball-steve-pikiell-big-ten|title=Stony Brook Grad Transfer Akwasi Yeboah Commits To Rutgers Basketball|last=Breitman|first=Aaron|date=May 2, 2019|website=On the Banks|language=en|access-date=March 30, 2020}}
On May 2, 2019, Yeboah announced that he would transfer to Rutgers, reuniting with his former head coach Steve Pikiell and choosing the Scarlet Knights over SMU and TCU. He was eligible immediately as a graduate transfer. Pikiell called Yeboah "a huge addition to our program,” and he was a key piece in helping Rutgers have one of the best homecourt records and its first winning season since 2006.{{cite news |last1=Deren |first1=Bobby |title=Addition of Akwasi Yeboah has been key in Rutgers' rise |url=https://247sports.com/college/rutgers/Article/Addition-of-Akwasi-Yeboah-has-been-key-in-Rutgers-Basketball-rise-143160719/ |access-date=March 25, 2020 |work=247 Sports |date=January 31, 2020}} Yeboah scored 20 points, including a three-pointer to tie the game at 72 with two minutes to play, in a 75–72 win against Nebraska on January 26, 2020, and surpassed the 1,500-point milestone.{{cite news |last1=Fonseca |first1=Brian |title=How ‘old man’ Akwasi Yeboah quietly led Rutgers to tight win while reaching career milestone vs. Nebraska |url=https://www.nj.com/rutgersbasketball/2020/01/how-old-man-akwasi-yeboah-quietly-led-rutgers-to-tight-win-over-nebraska.html |access-date=March 25, 2020 |work=NJ.com |date=January 26, 2020}} In his senior season, Yeboah averaged 9.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game and earned the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.{{cite news |last1=Deren |first1=Bobby |title=Addition of Akwasi Yeboah has been big for Rutgers |url=https://247sports.com/college/rutgers/Article/Addition-of-Akwasi-Yeboah-Rutgers-Basketball--144863685/ |access-date=March 25, 2020 |work=247 Sports |date=March 11, 2020}}
Professional career
On August 12, 2020, Yeboah signed his first professional contract with Saint-Quentin of the French LNB Pro B.{{cite web |last1=Bessiere |first1=Kévin |title=Akwasi Yeboah complète le puzzle du SQBB |url=https://premium.courrier-picard.fr/id120587/article/2020-08-12/akwasi-yeboah-complete-le-puzzle-du-sqbb |website=Courrier picard |access-date=August 26, 2020 |language=French |date=August 12, 2020}} He averaged 12.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.0 steal per game. On August 3, 2021, Yeboah signed with Saint-Chamond Basket.{{cite web |title=St-Chamond signs Akwasi Yeboah |url=https://www.eurobasket.com/France/news/697804/St-Chamond-signs-Akwasi-Yeboah |website=Eurobasket |access-date=August 3, 2021 |date=August 3, 2021}}
On June 19, 2022, he has signed with Darüşşafaka of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL).{{Cite web|url=https://darussafakabasketbol.com/dackaya-hosgeldin-akwasi-yeboah/|title=Daçka’ya hoşgeldin Akwasi Yeboah|last=|first=|date=June 19, 2022|website=darussafakabasketbol.com|publisher=|language=tr|access-date=June 19, 2022}}
On July 7, 2023, he signed with Galatasaray Ekmas of the Basketball Super League (BSL).{{Cite web|url=https://www.galatasaray.org/haber/basketbol/erkek-basketbol/akwasi-yeboah-galatasaray-nefte/53517|title=Akwasi Yeboah Galatasaray Nef'te!|last=|first=|date=July 7, 2023|website=|publisher=Galatasaray S.K.|language=tr|access-date=July 7, 2023}}
On July 23, 2024, he signed with Trapani Shark of the Lega Basket Serie A.{{Cite web|url=https://trapanishark.it/news-dal-club/trapani-shark-firma-akwasi-yeboah/|title=Trapani Shark firma Akwasi Yeboah|last=|first=|date=July 23, 2024|website=trapanishark.it|publisher=|language=it|access-date=August 8, 2024}}
National team career
Yeboah competed for Great Britain on its U16, U18 and U20 teams. In the 2017 FIBA U20 European Championship Division B, he averaged 14.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game.{{cite web |title=Akwasi Abeyie Yeboah |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/europe/u20b/2017/player/Akwasi-Abeyie-Yeboah |website=FIBA |access-date=March 25, 2020}} Yeboah scored 22 points and collected 6 rebounds in the third-place game, an 81–65 win against Russia, and was named to the All-Star Five.{{cite web |title=Romania nose out Croatia for historic Division B triumph, Great Britain earn promotion |url=http://www.fiba.basketball/europe/u20b/2017/news/romania-nose-out-croatia-for-historic-division-b-triumph-great-britain-earn-promotion |website=FIBA |access-date=August 17, 2020 |date=July 23, 2017}}
Career statistics
{{NBA player statistics legend}}
=College=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2015–16
| style="text-align:left;"| Stony Brook
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="11"| File:Redshirt.svg Redshirt
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17
| style="text-align:left;"| Stony Brook
| 31 || 10 || 21.2 || .372 || .341 || .797 || 5.1 || .6 || .5 || .5 || 9.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18
| style="text-align:left;"| Stony Brook
| 32 || 31 || 28.5 || .452 || .355 || .803 || 5.1 || 1.4 || .9 || .2 || 15.3
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19
| style="text-align:left;"| Stony Brook
| 32 || 31 || 31.8 || .413 || .316 || .785 || 7.7 || 1.4 || .9 || .5 || 16.7
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20
| style="text-align:left;"| Rutgers
| 31 || 22 || 23.8 || .435 || .352 || .781 || 4.8 || .9 || .8 || .5 || 9.8
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 126 || 94 || 26.4 || .419 || .338 || .792 || 5.7 || 1.1 || .7 || .4 || 12.9
{{S-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://scarletknights.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/akwasi-yeboah/7693 Rutgers Scarlet Knights bio]
- [https://stonybrookathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/akwasi-yeboah/5539 Stony Brook Seawolves bio]
{{Trapani Shark current roster}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yeboah, Akwasi}}
Category:Basketball players from London
Category:Black British sportsmen
Category:British expatriate basketball people in France
Category:British expatriate basketball people in the United States
Category:British men's basketball players
Category:Galatasaray S.K. (men's basketball) players
Category:Ghanaian emigrants to the United Kingdom
Category:Sportspeople from Sekondi-Takoradi
Category:Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball players
Category:Stony Brook Seawolves men's basketball players
Category:Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball players