Assem Marei

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Assem Marei

| image = Assem Marei 50 Pınar Karşıyaka TSL 20181204.jpg

| caption = Marei with Karşıyaka in 2018

| position = Center

| league = Basketball Africa League

| team = Al Ahli Tripoli

| number = 50

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 9

| weight_lbs = 250

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|06|16}}

| birth_place = Giza, Egypt

| college = Minnesota State (2011–2015)

| draft_year = 2015

| career_start = 2015

| career_end =

| years1 = 2010–2011

| team1 = Zamalek SC

| years2 = 2015–2016

| team2 = Šiauliai

| years3 = 2016–2018

| team3 = Bayreuth

| years4 = 2018–2019

| team4 = Karşıyaka

| years5 = 2019–2020

| team5 = Brose Bamberg

| years6 = 2020

| team6 = Metropolitans 92

| years7 = 2020–2021

| team7 = Galatasaray

| years8 = 2021–present

| team8 = Changwon LG Sakers

| years9 = 2025–present

| team9 = Al Ahli Tripoli

| highlights = * BAL champion (2025)

BAL rebounding leader (2025)
KBL champion (2025)
Turkish League MVP (2019)
FIBA Europe Cup rebounding leader (2019)
BBL All-Star (2018)
Lithuanian League rebounding leader (2016)
BBL champion (2016)

}}

Assem Ahmed Marei (Arabic: عاصم مرعي) is an Egyptian professional basketball player for Al Ahli Tripoli of the Basketball Africa League (BAL). He also represents the senior Egyptian national team internationally.

Marei first played for Egyptian side Zamalek SC, before being recognized by other leagues at the FIBA U-19 world Championship. He averaged 3rd most points per game, most steals per game, and 2nd most rebounds in the tournament right after Jonas Valančiūnas. Marei played for NCAA Division II side Minnesota State Mavericks for a scholarship at the Minnesota State University.

Early life

Marei was born on June 16, 1992, from parents who were both former basketball players at Zamalek SC. His father, Ahmed Marei, who played pivot as well, competed for the Egyptian Olympic team at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and averaged 2.3 points per game.

Marei started playing basketball at the age of 8 after his father encouraged both him and his brother to play the sport. Marei joined the national team at the age of 16.

Professional career

= Zamalek SC (2010–2011) =

Marei played for his home club Zamalek until 2011, when he left for the Minnesota State University.

= Šiauliai (2015–2016) =

In September 2015, Marei signed with BC Šiauliai of the Lithuanian LKL.[http://www.msumavericks.com/news/2015/9/10/MBB_0910152013.aspx?path=mbball Marei Signs with BC Siauliai in Lithuania]

= Medi Bayreuth (2016–2018) =

On June 17, 2016, Marei signed with Medi Bayreuth of the German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).{{Cite web|title=Ägyptischer Center für Bayreuth|url=https://www.sport1.de/news/basketball/bbl/2016/06/medi-bayreuth-verpflichtet-aegyptischen-center-assem-marei|website=sport1.de|language=de|date=June 17, 2016|accessdate=August 25, 2023}} He re-signed with the team on May 22, 2017.{{Cite web|title= Nächsten Leistungsträger gehalten: Center Assem Marei wühlt ein weiteres Jahr für Bayreuth unter den Körben|url=https://www.easycredit-bbl.de/de/n/news/2017/mai/assem-marai-bleibt-in-bayreuth|website=easycredit-bbl.de|language=de|date=May 22, 2017|accessdate=August 25, 2023}}

= Pınar Karşıyaka (2018–2019) =

On July 19, 2018, Marei signed with Pınar Karşıyaka of the Turkish Basketball Super League (BSL).{{Cite web|url=http://basketdergisi.com/assem-marei-pinar-karsiyakada.html|title=Assem Marei, Pınar Karşıyaka’da|date=July 19, 2018|publisher=Basket Dergisi|language=tr|access-date=April 18, 2019}} He was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2018–19 season after averaging 17.4 points and 9.6 rebounds in the regular season.{{cite news |title=BSL'de MVP Assem Marei |url=http://www.basketbolig.com/haber/bslde-mvp-assem-marei/21687/ |access-date=9 May 2022 |work=www.basketbolig.com |language=tr-TR}}

=Bamberg (2019–2020)=

On July 21, 2019, Marei signed a two-year contract with German powerhouse Brose Bamberg.{{cite web|url=https://www.eurohoops.net/en/fiba-champions-league/910299/brose-bamberg-adds-egyptian-power-with-assem-marei/|title=Brose Bamberg adds Egyptian power with Assem Marei|date=21 July 2019|work=Eurohoops|access-date=10 August 2019}} Marei averaged 10.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.

=Metropolitans 92 (2020)=

On September 21, 2020, Marei signed with Metropolitans 92 of LNB Pro A.{{Cite web|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/boulougne-metropolitans-92-sign-assem-marei/|title=Boulougne Metropolitans 92 sign Assem Marei|date=September 21, 2020|publisher=Sportando|language=En|access-date=September 21, 2020}}

=Galatasaray (2020–2021)=

On December 29, 2020, Marei signed with Galatasaray of the Turkish Basketball Super League (BSL).{{Cite web|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/galatasaray-sign-assem-marei-amile-jefferson-travis-trice/|title=Galatasaray sign Assem Marei, Amile Jefferson, Travis Trice|date=December 29, 2020|publisher=Sportando|language=En|access-date=December 29, 2020}}

=Changwon LG Sakers (2021–2025)=

On June 17, 2021, Marei signed with Changwon LG Sakers of the Korean Basketball League (KBL). He helped Changwon win the 2024–25 KBL season championship, the first title in the team's 28-year history.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-18 |title=Sakers nab first KBL Championship title in 28 years with win over Knights |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-05-18/sports/basketball/Sakers-nab-first-KBL-Championship-title-in-28-years-with-win-over-Knights/2309732 |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=koreajoongangdaily.joins.com |language=en}}

= Al Ahli Tripoli (2025–present) =

In May 2025, Marei joined the Libyan champions Al Ahli Tripoli for the Basketball Africa League (BAL).{{cite web |title=‘LG 첫 우승의 주역’ 마레이, 리비아 소속 알 아흘리와 계약···2경기 연속 더블더블 작성 |url=https://jumpball.co.kr/news/newsview.php?ncode=1065573110146511 |website=점프볼 |access-date=28 May 2025 |date=26 May 2025}} He helped Al Ahli win its first ever BAL championship. On June 14, 2025, Marei played a crucial role in the championship game, as he had a double-double of 22 points and 19 rebounds in the final game against Petro de Luanda.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-14 |title=Al Ahli Tripoli are the 2025 BAL Champions |url=https://bal.nba.com/news/al-ahli-tripoli-are-the-2025-bal-champions |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=The BAL |language=en}} He also finished the season as the league's leading rebounder with 12.4 per game.{{Cite web |title=Statistics |url=https://bal.nba.com/statistics |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=The BAL |language=en}}

International career

Marei played at the AfroBasket 2011, 2013 and 2015 with Egypt.

Marei led the AfroBasket 2013 in rebounding, averaging 11.6 per game. He was also named to the AfroBasket All-Tournament Team.[http://sunnewsonline.com/new/afrobasket-2013-angola-reclaims-african-title/ AfroBasket 2013: Angola reclaims African title ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202204711/http://sunnewsonline.com/new/afrobasket-2013-angola-reclaims-african-title/ |date=February 2, 2016 }}

Honours

=[[Egypt men's national basketball team|Egyptian senior national team]]=

AfroBasket 2013 All-Tournament Team
AfroBasket 2013 Rebounding leader

=Egyptian junior national team=

2011 U-19 World championship Steals leader

=[[Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference|NSIC]]=

2012–13 season

Second Team All-NSIC, NSIC All-Tournament Team, NCAA All-Central Region Team, 2012 NSIC Winter All-Academic Team

2013–14 season

First Team All-NSIC, DII Bulletin All-American Honorable Mention, NSIC All-Tournament Team

2014–15 season

First Team All-NSIC, Daktronics Central Region First Team, NABC Central Region First Team

References

{{Cite web|title = Assem Marei - 2014-15 Men's Basketball|url = http://www.msumavericks.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5354|access-date = 2016-02-12}}

External links

{{Eurobasket.com player|226187}}
[http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Assem-Marei/Summary/28587 RealGM profile]
[https://msumavericks.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/assem--marei/5354 Minnesota State Mavericks bio]

Category:1992 births

Category:Living people

Category:2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup players

Category:21st-century Egyptian sportsmen

Category:Al Ahli Tripoli basketball players

Category:BC Šiauliai players

Category:Bamberg Baskets players

Category:Centers (basketball)

Category:Changwon LG Sakers players

Category:Egyptian expatriate sportspeople in Germany

Category:Egyptian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey

Category:Egyptian expatriate sportspeople in the United States