Devine Eke
Devine Eke | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 28, 1996 |
| Nationality | American, Nigerian |
| Occupation | Professional basketball player |
| Known for | Playing for ASC Ville de Dakar, Rivers Hoopers, Feyenoord, Palencia, college basketball for Maine Black Bears, Rider Broncs, Radford Highlanders |
Devine Chukwuemeka Eke (born July 28, 1996) is a professional basketball athlete holding American and Nigerian nationalities, currently playing for ASC Ville de Dakar in the Nationale 1 (NM1) league as well as the Basketball Africa League (BAL). During his collegiate career, he represented the Maine Black Bears, Rider Broncs, and Radford Highlanders teams.
High school and college career
Eke participated in track and field events at Union Catholic Regional High School, contributing to the team's conference championship. While attending The Robinson School, he posted averages of 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 blocks per game, which earned him recognition as a Jordan Brand Classic Regional Player.
His collegiate journey began at Maine, where he led in rebounds with an average of 6.8 per game, topped the team in field goal efficiency at .612, and recorded 1.6 blocks per contest. After transferring to Rider University, he observed the mandatory NCAA redshirt year before competing for two seasons. In his concluding college season at Radford, Eke was the team's leader in both rebounds and blocked shots.
Professional career
Following his graduation, Eke faced challenges securing a professional contract amid the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He participated in workouts with several National Basketball Association (NBA) franchises, including the Chicago Bulls, before signing with Spain’s Palencia competing in the LEB Oro league.
In January 2023, Eke signed with Dutch outfit Feyenoord. He made his first appearance in March after receiving his work permit, contributing 5 points during an away defeat to Brussels.
By May 2024, Eke joined Nigerian side Rivers Hoopers for the Basketball Africa League (BAL). Playing a pivotal role, he helped secure third place for the Hoopers and was named to the All-BAL Second Team, posting averages of 16.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
Capitalizing on his BAL achievements, Eke participated with the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2024 NBA Summer League. On October 26, 2024, he was drafted by the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA G League draft but was waived on December 2. Subsequently, on January 10, 2025, he briefly joined the Delaware Blue Coats roster but was released after a single game.
Following these stints, Eke signed with ASC Ville de Dakar for participation in the upcoming 2025 BAL season.
National team career
Eke made his debut representing the Nigeria national team in February 2024 amid qualifiers for the FIBA AfroBasket 2025. On February 24, he posted a stat line of 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists during a loss to Uganda. The next day, he scored 31 points despite Nigeria falling to Cape Verde.
Personal life
Son to Charles and Lilian Eke, Devine has four siblings. His cousins include professional WNBA athletes Chiney Ogwumike and Nneka Ogwumike. Academically, he pursued a major in radio and television at Radford University.