Anthony Duruji
{{short description|American basketball player}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Anthony Duruji
| image = Anthony Duruji.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Duruji with Florida in 2022
| position = Small forward / power forward
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 7
| weight_lbs = 209
| league = LNB Pro B
| team = Saint-Chamond Basket
| number = 15
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|7|22}}
| birth_place = The Bronx, New York, U.S.
| high_school = St. Andrew's Episcopal
(Potomac, Maryland)
| college =
- Louisiana Tech (2017–2019)
- Florida (2020–2022)
| draft_year = 2022
| career_start = 2022
| years1 = 2022–2023
| team1 = Greensboro Swarm
| years2 = 2023–2024
| team2 = Libertadores de Querétaro
| years3 = 2024
| team3 = Rip City Remix
| years4 = 2024–present
| team4 = Saint-Chamond Basket
| highlights =
- Conference USA All-Freshman team (2018)
}}
Anthony M. Duruji (born July 22, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for Saint-Chamond Basket of the LNB Pro B. He played college basketball for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and the Florida Gators.
High school career
Duruji is a native of Germantown, Maryland, and played basketball at St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Potomac, Maryland.{{cite web |last1=Hall |first1=Graham |title=Anthony Duruji is one of Florida's players to watch at NCAA Tournament |url=https://www.gatorsports.com/story/basketball/2021/03/18/anthony-duruji-forward-leads-florida-gators-into-ncaa-tournament/4745784001/ |website=Gator Sports |access-date=September 23, 2022 |date=March 21, 2021}} He reached the 1,000 career points mark in three seasons. Duruji was a nationally ranked triple jumper but chose to focus on his basketball career.{{cite web |last1=Harry |first1=Chris |title=Duruji & Appleby Won't Sit Idly During Sit-out Seasons |url=https://floridagators.com/news/2019/8/27/mens-basketball-transfers-duruji-appleby-won-t-sit-idly-in-sit-out-seasons |website=Florida Gators |access-date=September 23, 2022 |date=August 27, 2019}} He competed in the American Family Insurance High School Slam Dunk competition in 2017 and finished in second place.{{cite web |title=Dunkin' Dog Signee to Compete in National High School Slam Dunk Contest |url=https://latechsports.com/news/2017/3/31/Dunkin_amp_8217_Dog_Signee_to_Compete_in_National_High_School_Slam_Dunk_Contest |website=Louisiana Tech Sports |access-date=September 23, 2022 |date=March 31, 2017}}{{cite web |last1=Woods |first1=David |title=Butler recruits miss finals of 3-point, dunk contests |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/butler/2017/03/31/butler-recruits-miss-finals-3-point-dunk-contests/99887632/ |website=IndyStar |access-date=September 23, 2022 |date=March 31, 2017}} Duruji was recruited especially by college programs near his hometown but chose to commit to Louisiana Tech due to their coaching staff.
College career
As a freshman for the Bulldogs, Duruji became known for his athleticism. He was selected to the Conference USA All-Freshman team.{{cite web |title=MBB: C-USA Announces All-Conference Teams |url=https://conferenceusa.com/news/2018/3/5/mens-basketball-mbb-c-usa-announces-all-conference-teams.aspx |website=Conference USA |access-date=September 23, 2022 |date=March 5, 2018}} Duruji averaged 12.2 points and 6.2 rebounds during his sophomore season.
Duruji transferred to the Florida Gators and sat out the 2019–20 season.{{cite web |title=Duruji lands at Florida; Glover, Jitoboh join signing class |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2019/04/17/duruji-lands-at-florida-glover-jitoboh-join-signing-class/39359797/ |website=USA Today |access-date=September 23, 2022 |date=April 17, 2019}} He became a valuable contributor for the Gators after they lost forward Keyontae Johnson early in the 2020–21 season. Duruji started 17 of 25 games and averaged 6.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. He started alongside Colin Castleton in the low post during the 2021–22 season and averaged 8.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
On April 1, 2022, Duruji declared for the 2022 NBA draft to forgo his final season of college eligibility.{{cite web |last1=Hall |first1=Graham |title=Anthony Duruji to enter NBA Draft, won't return for Florida Gators basketball team |url=https://www.gatorsports.com/story/basketball/2022/04/01/florida-forward-anthony-duruji-wont-return-uf-basketball-nba-draft/7248985001/ |website=Gator Sports |access-date=September 23, 2022 |date=April 1, 2022}}
Professional career
=Greensboro Swarm (2022–2023)=
Duruji worked out for the Washington Wizards prior to the 2022 NBA draft but was not selected.{{cite web|first=Jacob Calvin|last=Meyer|title=Former Terrapins Ayala, Morsell among players invited to Wizards' first pre-draft workout|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/may/31/former-terrapins-ayala-morsell-among-players-invit/|work=The Washington Times|date=May 31, 2022|access-date=September 23, 2022}} He played with the Atlanta Hawks at the 2022 NBA Summer League.{{cite web|first=Lauren|last=Williams|title=Cooper, Griffin, Martin headline Hawks' Summer League roster|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/cooper-griffin-martin-headline-hawks-summer-league-roster/WPL6OW4N3JEQFG4JD4DJD2JFCM/|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=July 3, 2022|access-date=September 23, 2022}}
On September 12, 2022, Duruji signed with the Charlotte Hornets.{{cite web|title=Charlotte Hornets Sign Crutcher, Duruji, Sims And Whaley|url=https://www.nba.com/hornets/news/charlotte-hornets-sign-crutcher-duruji-sims-and-whaley|website=NBA.com|date=September 12, 2022|access-date=September 23, 2022}} He appeared in two preseason games before he was waived on October 14, 2022.{{cite web|title=Hornets Waive Anthony Duruji And Jaylen Sims|url=https://www.nba.com/hornets/news/hornets-waive-anthony-duruji-and-jaylen-sims|website=NBA.com|date=October 14, 2022|access-date=October 17, 2022}} On November 4, 2022, Duruji was named to the opening night roster for the Greensboro Swarm.{{cite web|title=Greensboro Swarm Announce 2022-23 Opening Night Roster|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/greensboro-swarm-announce-2022-23-opening-night-roster/n-5895692|website=OurSportsCentral.com|date=November 4, 2022|access-date=November 4, 2022}}
=Libertadores de Querétaro (2023–2024)=
Duruji returned to the Charlotte Hornets for the 2023 NBA Summer League.{{cite web|title=Hornets Announce Summer League Minicamp Roster|url=https://www.nba.com/hornets/news/hornets-announce-summer-league-minicamp-roster|website=NBA.com|date=June 30, 2023|access-date=July 8, 2023}} On September 23, 2023, he signed with the Libertadores de Querétaro of the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional.{{cite news|first=Francisco|last=González|title=Libertadores anuncia a Anthony Duruji como nuevo elemento|url=https://www.diariodequeretaro.com.mx/deportes/libertadores-anuncia-a-anthony-duruji-como-nuevo-elemento-10737873.html|work=Diario de Querétaro|date=September 23, 2023|access-date=October 1, 2023|language=Spanish}}
=Rip City Remix (2024)=
=Saint-Chamond Basket (2024–present)=
On July 30, 2024, Duruji signed with Saint-Chamond Basket of the LNB Pro B.{{cite news|author=scabbasket|title=𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗗𝗨𝗥𝗨𝗝𝗜 est la dernière recrue du SCABB ! Américano-nigérian de 26 ans, Anthony Duruji (2m01, poste 4) a évolué en NCAA avec les Louisiana Tech Bulldogs où il a été repéré pour ses qualités athlétiques. Il poursuit ensuite son cursus universitaire avec les Florida Gators. Il débute ensuite sa carrière professionnelle avec les Greensboro Swarm en 2022-2023. Il évoluait la saison dernière au Mexique avec les Libertadores de Quéretaro puis termine la saison 23/24 avec le Rip City Remix. Il découvrira la France et la ProB la saison prochaine avec notre équipe ! Bienvenue Anthony ! #MarquonsNotreEmpreinte 🔴⚪|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C-ChOQ-sJBX/?img_index=1|website=Instagram.com|date=July 30, 2024|access-date=September 8, 2024|language=French}}
Career statistics
{{NBA player statistics legend}}
=College=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18
| style="text-align:left;"| Louisiana Tech
| 32 || 19 || 21.3 || .451 || .394 || .597 || 4.1 || .8 || .4 || 1.4 || 7.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19
| style="text-align:left;"| Louisiana Tech
| 33 || 33 || 29.9 || .468 || .339 || .673 || 6.2 || .9 || .9 || 1.2 || 12.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20
| style="text-align:left;"| Florida
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="11"| File:Redshirt.svg Redshirt
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21
| style="text-align:left;"| Florida
| 25 || 17 || 22.0 || .438 || .263 || .483 || 4.4 || .6 || .6 || .4 || 6.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22
| style="text-align:left;"| Florida
| 30 || 28 || 24.6 || .530 || .338 || .741 || 4.1 || 1.1 || .9 || .5 || 8.6
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 120 || 97 || 24.6 || .472 || .342 || .649 || 4.7 || .9 || .7 || .9 || 8.7
{{S-end}}
Personal life
Duruji is the son of Esther Obioha who participated in track, high jump and javelin for her home country of Nigeria.{{cite web |title=Tech Triumph: Meet Anthony Duruji |url=https://latechsports.com/news/2018/10/4/mens-basketball-tech-triumph-meet-anthony-duruji |website=Louisiana Tech Sports |access-date=September 23, 2022 |date=October 4, 2018}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://floridagators.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/anthony-duruji/14464 Florida Gators bio]
- [https://latechsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/anthony-duruji/2888 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Duruji, Anthony}}
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen
Category:American expatriate basketball people in France
Category:American expatriate basketball people in Mexico
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:American basketball players of Nigerian descent
Category:Basketball players from Montgomery County, Maryland
Category:Greensboro Swarm players
Category:Florida Gators men's basketball players
Category:Libertadores de Querétaro players
Category:Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball players
Category:Sportspeople from Germantown, Maryland
Category:Rip City Remix players