Kenneth Ogbe
{{Short description|German basketball player (born 1994)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Kenneth Ogbe
| image = 2022-04-22 ALBA Berlin gegen Brose Bamberg (Basketball-Bundesliga 2021-22) by Sandro Halank–023.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Ogbe in 2022
| position = Shooting guard
| height_m = 1.98
| weight_kg = 86
| league = Basketball Bundesliga
| team = Veolia Towers Hamburg
| number = 25
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|11|16|df=y}}
| birth_place = Munich, Germany
| high_school =
| college = *Utah (2013-2016)
- Utah Valley (2016-2018)
| draft_year = 2018
| career_start = 2012
| career_end =
| years1 = 2012–2013
| team1 = Ehingen Urspring
| years2 = 2018–2020
| team2 = Alba Berlin
| years3 = 2020–2022
| team3 = Brose Bamberg
| years4 = 2022–2024
| team4 = EWE Baskets Oldenburg
| years5 = 2024–present
| team5 = Hamburg Towers
| highlights = * German League champion (2020)
- German Cup winner (2020)
- First-team All-WAC (2018)
}}
Kenneth Ogbe (born 16 November 1994) is a German professional basketball player for Hamburg Towers of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).
Early life
Ogbe was born in Munich, the son of a Nigerian father and German mother.{{cite web |title=Deutsches Guard-Talent Kenneth Ogbe verstärkt ALBA BERLIN |url=https://www.albaberlin.de/news/deutsches-guard-talent-kenneth-ogbe-verstaerkt-alba-berlin-8197.html |website=Alba Berlin |accessdate=16 March 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622140221/https://www.albaberlin.de/news/deutsches-guard-talent-kenneth-ogbe-verstaerkt-alba-berlin-8197.html |archivedate=22 June 2018 |date=22 June 2018}} He grew up in Ehingen, Germany and played basketball for the youth team of Ehingen Urspring. He was named the MVP of the 2012 Arby's Classic after scoring 24 points with eight rebounds in the championship game as Ehingen became the first international team to win the tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.ksl.com/article/24833762/runnin-utes-add-three|title=Runnin' Utes add three|first=Drew|last=Wiseman|website=KSL.com|date=17 April 2013|accessdate=15 March 2020}}
College career
Ogbe began his collegiate career at the University of Utah. He played in 30 games as a reserve and average 2.9 points and 1.1 rebounds per game during his freshman year.{{cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/2014/11/4/20551938/2014-15-utah-men-s-basketball-at-a-glance|title=2014-15 Utah men's basketball at a glance|work=Deseret News|date=4 November 2014|accessdate=15 March 2020}} As a sophomore, Ogbe averaged 4.5 points and 1.4 rebounds per game off the bench.{{cite web|url=http://blocku.com/2016/7/7/12124402/kenneth-ogbe-to-transfer|title=Kenneth Ogbe to Transfer|website=BlockU.com|accessdate=15 March 2020}} His play was hampered by osteitis pubis, an inflammation in the pubic bone, making them more susceptible to damage.{{cite news |last1=Goon |first1=Kyle |title=Utah basketball: UVU's Kenneth Ogbe makes his return to Utah after 'fresh start' |url=https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=4674769&itype=CMSID |accessdate=16 March 2020 |work=Salt Lake Tribune |date=5 December 2016}} He played in five games as a junior before suffering a season-ending injury and using a medical redshirt. After the season, Ogbe opted to leave the program and transfer to Utah Valley University.{{cite web|url=https://www.ksl.com/article/40575547/runnin-ute-guard-kenneth-ogbe-to-transfer-likely-to-uvu|title=Runnin' Ute guard Kenneth Ogbe to transfer, likely to UVU|first=Robert|last=Jackson|website=KSL.com|date=8 July 2016|accessdate=15 March 2020}} He took nine classes in the summer so he could be a graduate transfer.
Ogbe was granted immediate eligibility after transferring and became a starter during his redshirt junior season, averaging 10.6 points per game.{{cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/article/865690797/UVU-basketball-Experienced-Wolverines-projecting-confidence-heading-into-2017-18-season.html|title=UVU basketball: Experienced Wolverines projecting confidence heading into 2017-18 season|first=Brandon|last=Judd|work=Deseret News|date=10 October 2017|accessdate=15 March 2020}} As a redshirt senior, Ogbe started all 33 of the Wolverines' games and averaged 13.7 points and 3.2 rebounds per game and was named first team All-Western Athletic Conference.{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Tony|url=https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2018/05/22/former-uvu-and-utah-guard-kenneth-ogbe-got-a-wake-up-call-tuesday-the-message-come-work-out-for-the-jazz/|title=Former UVU and Utah guard Kenneth Ogbe got a wake-up call Tuesday: Come work out for the Jazz|work=Salt Lake Tribune|date=22 May 2018|accessdate=15 March 2020}} In two seasons at UVU, he scored 802 points and finished with the second highest three-point field goal percentage in school history at 41.9 percent.{{cite web|url=https://gouvu.com/news/2018/6/25/mens-basketball-uvus-ogbe-signs-contract-to-play-for-germanys-alba-berlin.aspx|title=UVU'S OGBE SIGNS CONTRACT TO PLAY FOR GERMANY'S ALBA BERLIN|website=GoUVU.com}}
Professional career
=Alba Berlin=
Prior to the 2018 NBA draft, Ogbe worked out with the Utah Jazz. Ogbe signed a contract with Alba Berlin of the Basketball Bundesliga on 22 June 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/news/i/8tnjuyn64eeg6h5l/alba-announces-kenneth-ogbe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629024421/http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/news/i/8tnjuyn64eeg6h5l/alba-announces-kenneth-ogbe|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 June 2018|title=ALBA announces Kenneth Ogbe|website=eurocupbasketball.com|date=22 June 2018|accessdate=15 March 2020}} He averaged 3.9 points and 1.8 rebounds in 30 BBL games and 2.3 points and 1.2 rebounds in 18 Eurocup games.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/players/kenneth-ogbe-1.html|title=Kenneth Ogbe International Stats|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=16 March 2020}}
=Brose Bamberg=
On 17 July 2020, he has signed with Brose Bamberg of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).{{Cite web|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/kenneth-ogbe-is-a-newcomer-of-brose-bamberg/|title=Kenneth Ogbe is a newcomer of Brose Bamberg|last=|first=|date=17 July 2020|website=|publisher=Sportando|language=En|access-date=17 July 2020}} Ogbe averaged 6.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in 2021–22 Basketball Bundesliga.{{Cite web |title=Erste Neuverpflichtung: Ogbe wechselt nach Oldenburg |url=http://ewe-baskets.de/news/ogbe-verpflichtung.html |access-date=9 June 2022 |website=Erste Neuverpflichtung: Ogbe wechselt nach Oldenburg |language=de}}
= Ewe Baskets Oldenburg =
On 9 June 2021, Ogbe signed with EWE Baskets Oldenburg of the German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).
= Hamburg Towers =
On June 17, 2024, he signed with Hamburg Towers of the Basketball Bundesliga.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hamburgtowers.de/news/neuzugang-mit-reichlich-erfahrung-und-viel-potenzial/|title=Neuzugang mit reichlich Erfahrung und viel Potenzial|last=|first=|date=June 17, 2024|website=hamburgtowers.de|publisher=|language=de|access-date=September 25, 2024}}
National team career
In 2013 and 2014, Ogbe competed in the U20 European Championship with the German junior national team.{{cite web |url=http://www.fibaeurope.com/compID_UIfgjyQcGqk-fPlnl66Tj0.season_2013.roundID_9361.teamID_288.playerID_92180.html |title=Kenneth Ogbe {U20 European Championship Men (2013) |work= FIBA Europe |accessdate=16 March 2020}} In 2015 he was first appointed to the A2 national team.{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-bund.de/news/teams/a2-herren/roedl-nominiert-a2-herren-150293 |title=Rödl nominiert A2-Herren |work=Deutscher Basketball Bund |accessdate=16 March 2020 |archive-date=22 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622140326/https://www.basketball-bund.de/news/teams/a2-herren/roedl-nominiert-a2-herren-150293 |url-status=dead }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://utahutes.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kenneth-ogbe/386 Utah Utes bio]
- [https://gouvu.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/kenneth-ogbe/4880 Utah Valley Wolverines bio]
- [https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Kenneth-Ogbe/Summary/27064 RealGM profile]
{{Hamburg Towers current roster}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ogbe, Kenneth}}
Category:Bamberg Baskets players
Category:Ehingen Urspring players
Category:EWE Baskets Oldenburg players
Category:German expatriate basketball people in the United States
Category:German men's basketball players
Category:German sportspeople of Nigerian descent
Category:Hamburg Towers players
Category:Sportspeople from Tübingen (region)
Category:Utah Utes men's basketball players