Tunji Awojobi

Tunji Awojobi
Personal information
Born (1973-07-30) 30 July 1973 (age 53)
Lagos, Nigeria
Listed height
2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
Listed weight
110 kg (243 lb)
Career information
High schoolTrinity (Manchester, New Hampshire)
CollegeBoston University (1993–1997)
1997: undrafted
Playing career
1997–2008
PositionPower forward
Career history
1997Meysuspor
1998–1999Kuşadası
1999–2000Châlons en Champaign
2000–2001Cibona
2001–2002Union Olimpija
2002Imola
2002–2003Ironi Ramat Gan
2003–2004Hapoel Jerusalem
2004–2005Spirou Charleroi
2005Crvena zvezda
2005–2006Ironi Ramat Gan
2006Maccabi Givat Shmuel
2007–2008Hapoel Gilboa/Afula
2008–2009Avtodor Saratov
2012Union Bank
Career highlights

Tunji Femi Awojobi Listenⓘ(born July 30, 1973) is a Nigerian former professional basketball player. A former boxer,[citation needed] Awojobi attended Trinity High School, graduating in 1993. He attended Boston University from 1993 to 1997. Following graduation, he played in several European countries, most notably in Israel. Awojobi was also a member of the Nigerian national team, and participated in the 1998 and 2006 FIBA World Championship. His best achievement in European basketball was winning the ULEB Cup as the starting center for Hapoel Jerusalem from Israel. In the finals, Jerusalem beat Real Madrid 83:72.

Basketball career

Trinity

During the 1992-1993 New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association basketball season, Awojobi was named New Hampshire Player of the Year. The Trinity Pioneers won 15 games that season, but lost the Class L quarterfinals to Manchester High School West.

Boston

Awojobi played college basketball at Boston University (BU) for four years (1993–1997). He is the first player in New England college basketball history to register career totals of 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 300 blocked shots, one of only six NCAA Division I players to do so as of 2026.

Awojobi established 13 BU records, including points (2,308), rebounds (1,237), blocked shots (302), and field goals (871). His rebounding and scoring totals also rank among the best[according to whom?] in the history of the America East.[when?]

In 1996–97, Awojobi led BU to a school-record 25 victories and America East regular-season and tournament titles, and to the NCAA tournament. In recognition of his efforts, Awojobi was a four-time team MVP and first-team all-conference selection. In his senior year, he was named the league's Player of the Year as well as the MVP of the conference's tournament, while adding New England Division I Player of the Year and first-team All-ECAC honors. He was inducted into the BU Hall of Fame in 2002.

Personal life

Awojobi lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his two sons. In 2021, he had heart bypass surgery. In 2026, he underwent a kidney transplant.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Other players who have achieved this include Alonzo Mourning, while playing for Georgetown; Pervis Ellison, while playing for Louisville; Derrick Coleman, while playing for Syracuse; and David Robinson while playing for the United States Naval Academy.

References

Sources

  • Brown, R (23 February 2021). "Roger Brown's State of Sports: Tunji Awojobi needs some help". New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved 3 October 2026.
  • Hall, Alex (27 February 2026). "Rebound, Awojobi: Former Trinity, BU basketball star grateful for support after kidney transplant". New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved 3 October 2026.