Jump to content

Melvin Ejim

From Alfawiki
Melvin Ejim
Born (1991-03-04) March 4, 1991 (age 35)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
OccupationProfessional basketball player
Years active2010–present
Known forPlaying for Força Lleida in Spain's Liga ACB; collegiate basketball at Iowa State Cyclones; member of Canadian and Nigerian national teams

Melvin Obinna Ejim (born March 4, 1991) is a professional basketball athlete holding Nigerian and Canadian nationalities, currently competing for Força Lleida in Spain's Liga ACB. Before embarking on his professional journey, he played collegiate basketball with the Iowa State Cyclones, followed by professional engagements in Italy, Russia, Spain, and the NBA G League.

Early life

Born in Toronto, Ontario to Nigerian parents, Ejim started playing basketball during his seventh-grade year. After completing his initial year of high school in Canada, he joined an Amateur Athletic Union team, which drew the attention of coaches from U.S. boarding schools.

High school career

Ejim's high school education began at St. Mary's Ryken High School in Maryland before he transferred to Brewster Academy located in New Hampshire. During the 2008–09 season, he averaged 12.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. In his senior year (2009–10), he improved his performance, averaging 13.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2.5 assists per game, guiding Brewster to a 34–4 record and securing the National Prep School championship.

College career

While at Iowa State, Ejim started in 30 out of 32 games as a freshman, posting averages of 10.3 points and 6.7 rebounds with a field goal accuracy of 48.6%. He was second on the team with 39 steals and recorded the third-highest rookie rebound total in the program's history.

In the 2011–12 season, Ejim took the floor as a starter in 29 of 34 games, averaging 9.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, which earned him Big 12 Honorable Mention recognition along with first team Academic All-Big 12 accolades.

The following season (2012–13) saw him receive All-Big 12 third team and NABC All-District 8 second team honors. He was also named the first-ever Big 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year while leading the conference in rebounding (9.3 rpg), an impressive accomplishment for a player standing 6'6".

During his senior year (2013–14), Ejim was honored as Big 12 Player of the Year by both coaches and AP, alongside multiple All-America distinctions. He was a finalist for the Oscar Robertson Trophy and became Iowa State’s fifth Academic All-American as well as a two-time Big 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year recipient. He concluded his collegiate career holding school records for most wins (88), games played (135), and starts (126), ranking prominently in scoring (1,643 points), rebounds (1,051), steals (146), and blocks (59).

On February 8, 2014, Ejim set a new Big 12 single-game scoring record by tallying 48 points against the TCU Horned Frogs at Hilton Coliseum, eclipsing the previous mark of 44 points.

College statistics

|- | style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11 | style="text-align:left;"| Iowa State | 32 || 30 || 27.8 || .486 || .232 || .695 || 6.7 || 1.2 || 1.2 || .2 || 10.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2011–12 | style="text-align:left;"| Iowa State | 34 || 29 || 23.7 || .489 || .220 || .762 || 6.6 || 1.0 || 1.0 || .3 || 9.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2012–13 | style="text-align:left;"| Iowa State | 35 || 34 || 27.6 || .504 || .348 || .697 || 9.3 || 1.5 || 1.0 || .5 || 11.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2013–14 | style="text-align:left;"| Iowa State | 34 || 33 || 32.1 || .505 || .346 || .761 || 8.4 || 1.8 || 1.2 || .7 || 17.8 |-

Professional career

After not being selected in the 2014 NBA draft, Ejim participated with the San Antonio Spurs during the 2014 NBA Summer League. He subsequently signed with the Italian team Virtus Roma for the 2014–15 season, where he averaged 7.7 points and 6.3 rebounds over 29 league contests, alongside 8.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in EuroCup competition.

Ejim initially agreed to join German club Medi Bayreuth for the 2015–16 campaign but showcased his abilities during the 2015 NBA Summer League with the Orlando Magic, which led to a training camp invitation. After being released in October, he signed with the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League, posting averages of 14.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists across 39 games before his release in March 2016.

Shortly thereafter, he inked a deal with Italian outfit Reyer Venezia Mestre for the remainder of that season, where he contributed an average of 9.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.1 steals across 16 appearances.

Ejim renewed his contract with Reyer Venezia for the 2016–17 LBA season, playing a pivotal role in securing the Italian League title and earning Finals MVP recognition in June 2017. Throughout both domestic league and Basketball Champions League matches, he averaged 10.1 points and 5.5 rebounds while making significant defensive contributions.

In July 2017, Ejim joined Russian side BC UNICS for the 2017–18 season, delivering dependable performances with averages near nine points, five rebounds, and close to two assists per game in both the VTB United League and EuroCup tournaments.

He extended his contract with UNICS for the 2018–19 season, continuing to provide steady output in league play and EuroCup action.

In July 2019, Ejim transferred to Spanish club Unicaja on a one-year contract with an option for extension, averaging around six points and three rebounds in Liga ACB games while also contributing in EuroCup contests.

Ejim signed with Montenegrin team KK Budućnost in June 2020 before moving to Slovenian club KK Cedevita Olimpija in July 2021.

Returning to Unicaja Málaga in July 2022, he secured a contract extension in April 2023; during the 2024–25 season, he averaged slightly over five points per game across 32 appearances.

On July 11, 2025, Ejim committed to a two-year contract with Spanish second-division team Força Lleida CE.

National team career

In June 2012, Ejim represented the Nigerian national team during their tour of China. By July 2013, he was playing for the Canadian national team at the World University Games, where he averaged eight points and four rebounds per outing. He was selected for Canada's squad at the Pan American Games in July 2015 and also competed at both the Tuto Marchand Cup and the FIBA Americas Championship that same year. In 2016, Ejim participated in the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

On May 24, 2022, Ejim pledged to a three-year commitment with Canada's senior men's national team. Subsequently, he was named to Canada's roster for the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Personal life

Ejim is the son of Elizabeth Omoghan. His siblings Ryan, Kenny, Deon, and sister Yvonne have all pursued professional basketball careers. Additionally, he holds membership in the prestigious Phi Kappa Phi academic honor society.

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=Melvin_Ejim&oldid=70339"