Semi Ojeleye

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Semi Ojeleye

| image = Semi Ojeleye (cropped).jpg

| caption = Ojeleye with the Boston Celtics in 2018

| position = Small forward / power forward

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 6

| weight_lb = 240

| league = Liga ACB

| team = Crvena Zvezda MeridianBet

| number = 37

| nationality = Nigerian / American

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|12|5}}

| birth_place = Overland Park, Kansas, U.S.

| high_school = Ottawa (Ottawa, Kansas)

| college =

Duke (2013–2015)
SMU (2016–2017)

| draft_year = 2017

| draft_round = 2

| draft_pick = 37

| draft_team = Boston Celtics

| career_start = 2017

| years1 = {{nbay|2017|start}}–{{nbay|2020|end}}

| team1 = Boston Celtics

| years2 = {{nbay|2021|full=y}}

| team2 = Milwaukee Bucks

| years3 = {{nbay|2021|end}}

| team3 = Los Angeles Clippers

| years4 = 2022–2023

| team4 = Virtus Bologna

| years5 = 2023–present

| team5 = Valencia

| highlights = * All-EuroCup Second Team (2025)

Italian Supercup winner (2022)
Italian Supercup MVP (2022)
AP Honorable mention All-American (2017)
AAC Player of the Year (2017)
First-team All-AAC (2017)
AAC tournament MVP (2017)
First-team Parade All-American (2013)

}}

Jesusemilore Talodabijesu "Semi" Ojeleye ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ʃ|ɛ|m|i|_|ˈ|oʊ|dʒ|ə|l|eɪ}} {{respell|SHEM|ee|_|OH|jə|lay}};{{cite news|last=Katz|first=Fred|date=July 7, 2018|url=https://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2018/07/boston_celtics_summer_leaguer.html|title=Boston Celtics summer leaguer Semi Ojeleye provides Las Vegas game announcer with tough test|work=MassLive|access-date=February 26, 2018}} born December 5, 1994) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player for Valencia of the Spanish Liga ACB. He played college basketball for both Duke University and Southern Methodist University.

Early life and college career

Ojeleye's parents emigrated from Nigeria to Ottawa, Kansas.{{cite magazine|last1=Hamilton|first1=Brian|title=From Duke to SMU, Semi Ojeleye's long, crooked journey is finally paying off|url=https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2017/02/28/semi-ojeleye-smu-mustangs|access-date=April 8, 2017|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=March 27, 2017}} He starred at Ottawa High School and in 2013 was named the Parade Magazine National Player of the Year.{{cite news|last1=McLaughlin|first1=Brian|title=Semi Ojeleye is Parade's 2012-13 Boys Basketball Player of the Year|url=https://parade.com/15098/brianmclaughlin/semi-ojeleye-is-parades-2012-13-boys-basketball-player-of-the-year/|access-date=April 8, 2017|work=Parade Magazine|date=May 17, 2013}} He chose national power Duke for college, but played sparingly for two seasons. Looking for a larger role, he transferred to SMU, and in 2016–17 he led the team to both American Athletic Conference (AAC) regular season and Tournament Championships. Ojeleye averaged 18.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game and was named AAC Player of the Year.{{cite news|last1=Baby|first1=Ben|title=SMU's Semi Ojeleye named AAC Player of the Year|url=http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/smumustangs/2017/03/09/smus-ojeleye-named-aac-player-year|access-date=April 8, 2017|work=Dallas Morning News|date=March 9, 2017|archive-date=April 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423104449/https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/smumustangs/2017/03/09/smus-ojeleye-named-aac-player-year|url-status=dead}}

Professional career

=Boston Celtics (2017–2021)=

Following the close of his redshirt junior season, Ojeleye entered his name for the 2017 NBA draft but did not hire an agent, leaving open the possibility of a return to the Mustangs.{{cite news|title=SMU's Tim Jankovich thinks Semi Ojeleye is taking smart approach to NBA draft|url=http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/smumustangs/2017/03/27/smus-tim-jankovich-thinks-semi-ojeleye-taking-smart-approach-nba-draft|access-date=April 8, 2017|work=Dallas Morning News|date=March 27, 2017}} Ojeleye was invited to the 2017 NBA Draft Combine, one of 67 participants. After some promising performances he announced that he would commit to the draft, ending his college career. Ojeleye was chosen by the Boston Celtics in the second round with the 37th overall pick.{{cite web|first=Chris|last=Forsberg|url=http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19711028/2017-nba-draft-boston-celtics-take-jayson-tatum-no-3-overall-pick|title=Duke's Jayson Tatum selected No. 3 overall by Celtics|work=ESPN.com|date=June 22, 2017|access-date=April 28, 2018}}

Ojeleye made his professional debut on October 17, 2017, in a 102–99 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400974437|title=Celtics vs. Cavaliers - Box Score|work=ESPN.com|date=October 17, 2017|access-date=April 28, 2018}} During the regular season, he averaged 2.7 points per game and shot 34.6 percent from the field, but emerged as a defensive presence. He started in Game 5 of the playoff series versus the Milwaukee Bucks and held Giannis Antetokounmpo to 16 points.{{cite news|last1=Souza|first1=Scott|title=Celtics notes: Forward Semi Ojeleye uses defensive prowess to make stars look bad|url=http://www.telegram.com/news/20180428/celtics-notes-forward-semi-ojeleye-uses-defensive-prowess-to-make-stars-look-bad|access-date=May 1, 2018|work=Worcester Telegram|date=April 28, 2018}}

= Milwaukee Bucks (2021–2022)=

On August 6, 2021, Ojeleye signed with the Milwaukee Bucks on a one-year, veteran's minimum contract.{{cite web|title=Milwaukee Bucks Sign Three Players|url=https://www.nba.com/bucks/news/milwaukee-bucks-sign-three-players|website=NBA.com|date=August 6, 2021|access-date=August 6, 2021}}

=Los Angeles Clippers (2022)=

On February 10, 2022, Ojeleye was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of a four-team trade.{{cite web|title=LA Clippers Finalize Four-Team Trade, Send Ibaka To Milwaukee|url=https://www.nba.com/clippers/news/la-clippers-finalize-four-team-trade-send-ibaka-milwaukee|work=NBA.com|date=February 10, 2022|access-date=February 10, 2022}} On March 26, he was waived.{{cite web|first=Andrew|last=Greif|title=Clippers promote Amir Coffey, who is eligible for postseason|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2022-03-26/clippers-roster-moves-amir-coffey-promoted-semi-ojeleye-waived|website=Los Angeles Times|date=March 27, 2022|access-date=March 27, 2022}}

=Virtus Bologna (2022–2023)=

On July 28, 2022, Ojeleye signed a two-year deal with Virtus Bologna of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) and the EuroLeague.{{cite web|url=https://www.virtus.it/news/semi-ojeleye-e-un-nuovo-giocatore-di-virtus-segafredo-bologna/|website=virtus.it|title=Semi Ojeleye è un nuovo giocatore di Virtus Segafredo Bologna|date=July 21, 2022|access-date=July 28, 2022}} On 29 September 2022, after having ousted Olimpia Milano in the semifinals, Virtus won its third Supercup, defeating 72–69 Banco di Sardegna Sassari and achieving a back-to-back, following the 2021 trophy.{{cite web |title=Supercoppa, trionfa la Virtus Bologna! Canestro decisivo di Mickey, Sassari cede 72-69|url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Basket/SerieA/29-09-2022/basket-supercoppa-trionfa-virtus-bologna-sassari-ko-72-69-450409276762.shtml|website=Gazzetta dello Sport|date=29 September 2022}} Ojeleye was nominated MVP of the competition.[https://sportando.basketball/frecciarossa-supercoppa-2022-mvp-semi-ojeleye-virtus-bologna/ Frecciarossa Supercoppa 2022 | Mvp | Semi Ojeleye, Virtus Bologna], Sportando

However, despite good premises Virtus ended the EuroLeague season at the 14th place, thus it did not qualify for the playoffs.[https://bolognabasket.org/virtus-il-punto-a-fine-eurolega/ Virtus, il punto a fine EuroLega]. BolognaBasket Moreover, the team was defeated in the Italian Basketball Cup final by Brescia. In June, after having ousted 3–0 both Brindisi and Tortona, Virtus was defeated 4–3 by Olimpia Milan in the national finals, following a series which was widely regarded among the best in the latest years of Italian basketball.[https://video.repubblica.it/sport/basket-milano-batte-bologna-nella-decisiva-gara-7-e-vince-il-suo-30esimo-scudetto-gli-highlights/447915/448883 Basket, Milano batte Bologna nella decisiva gara 7 e vince il suo 30esimo scudetto. Gli highlights]. la Repubblica[https://www.rainews.it/articoli/2023/06/basket-serie-a-playoff-olimpia-milano-batte-virtus-bologna-in-gara-7-e-vince-lo-scudetto-al-forum-assago-c279332e-c2fa-46be-a199-3ff966b78a99.html Basket, Milano batte Bologna 67-55 nella finalissima e si conferma campione per la trentesima volta]. Rai News

=Valencia (2023–present)=

On July 1, 2023, Ojeleye's contract with Bologna was bought out by Spanish club Valencia for a sum of $300,000.

Career statistics

File:Semi Ojeleye 2022.jpg in 2022]]

=NBA=

==Regular season==

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2017}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Boston

| 73 || 0 || 15.8 || .346 || .320 || .610 || 2.2 || .3 || .3 || .1 || 2.7

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2018}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Boston

| 56 || 3 || 10.6 || .424 || .315 || .615 || 1.5 || .4 || .2 || .1 || 3.3

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2019}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Boston

| 69 || 6 || 14.7 || .408 || .378 || .875 || 2.1 || .5 || .3 || .1 || 3.4

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2020}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Boston

| 56 || 15 || 17.0 || .403 || .367 || .750 || 2.6 || .7 || .3 || .0 || 4.6

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"|{{nbay|2021}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Milwaukee

| 20 || 0 || 15.4 || .257 || .268 || .769 || 2.9 || .3 || .3 || .3 || 2.9

| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Clippers

| 10 || 0 || 9.8 || .414 || .444 || .813 || 1.6 || .4 || .2 || .1 || 4.1

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career

| 284 || 24 || 14.5 || .384 || .344 || .717 || 2.2 || .4 || .3 || .1 || 3.4

==Playoffs==

| style="text-align:left;"| 2018

| style="text-align:left;"| Boston

| 17 || 3 || 13.5 || .303 || .273 || .857 || 1.6 || .1 || .2 || .0 || 1.9

| style="text-align:left;"| 2019

| style="text-align:left;"| Boston

| 6 || 0 || 5.7 || .444 || .600 || 1.000 || .3 || .3 || .0 || .0 || 2.2

| style="text-align:left;"| 2020

| style="text-align:left;"| Boston

| 13 || 0 || 9.4 || .350 || .217 || 1.000 || .9 || .1 || .2 || .0 || 1.6

| style="text-align:left;"| 2021

| style="text-align:left;"| Boston

| 2 || 0 || 6.0 || .000 || .000 || .500 || .0 || .0 || .5 || .5 || .5

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 38 || 3 || 10.5 || .284 || .264 || .846 || 1.1 || .1 || .2 || .1 || 1.8

=EuroLeague=

| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23

| style="text-align:left;"| Bologna

| 24 || 21 || 23.5 || .530 || .461 || .870 || 3.8 || .6 || .5 || .1 || 10.5 || 10.8

| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24

| style="text-align:left;"| Valencia

| 27 || 12 || 22.2 || .493 || .471 || .869 || 4.4 || .4 || .8 || .2 || 13.3 || 14.2

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career

| 51 || 33 || 22.8 || .509 || .466 || .869 || 4.2 || .5 || .7 || .2 || 12.0 || 12.6

=College=

| style="text-align:left;"| 2013–14

| style="text-align:left;"| Duke

| 17 || 0 || 4.7 || .500 || .571 || .909 || .9 || .1 || .2 || .2 || 1.6

| style="text-align:left;"| 2014–15

| style="text-align:left;"| Duke

| 6 || 0 || 10.5 || .278 || .250 || .571 || 2.3 || .2 || .5 || .0 || 3.0

| style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17

| style="text-align:left;"| SMU

| 35 || 35 || 34.1 || .487 || .424 || .785 || 6.9 || 1.5 || .4 || .4 || 19.0

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career

| 58 || 35 || 23.1 || .479 || .415 || .785 || 4.6 || 1.0 || .4 || .3 || 12.3

References

External links

[http://www.smumustangs.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4055 SMU Mustangs bio]
{{Instagram|id=semi|name=Semi Ojeleye}}
[https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/ojelese01.html Career statistics] at basketball-reference.com

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Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:American basketball players of Nigerian descent

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Italy

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Spain

Category:Basketball players from Kansas