Charles Bassey
No. 23 – Philadelphia 76ers | |
---|---|
Position | Center / Power forward |
League | NBA |
Personal information | |
Born | Lagos, Nigeria | October 28, 2000
Nationality | Nigerian |
Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
Listed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | |
College | Western Kentucky (2018–2021) |
NBA draft | 2021 / Round: 2 / Pick: 53rd overall |
Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers | |
Playing career | 2021–present |
Career history | |
2021–present | Philadelphia 76ers |
2021 | →Delaware Blue Coats |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats ![]() | |
Charles A. Bassey (born October 28, 2000) is a Nigerian basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. He was drafted by the 76ers in the 2021 NBA draft.
Early life[]
Bassey was born in Lagos, Nigeria, where he played soccer until age 12, standing 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) at the time.[1] At that age, he was discovered by a youth basketball coach while Bassey was selling fried chicken on the side of a road and wearing flip-flops that were too small for him.[2][3] He stopped playing soccer soon after, instead focusing on developing his basketball skills.[3] At age 14, Bassey was named most valuable player (MVP) of basketball camp Giants of Africa, a program established by Toronto Raptors executive Masai Ujiri.[2][4]
High school career[]
At age 14, Bassey stood 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) and moved to the United States to continue his basketball career at St. Anthony Catholic High School, a private school in San Antonio, Texas.[5] By then, recruiting analysts considered him one of the best prospects in his class.[6][7] As a freshman, Bassey averaged 20.2 points, 17.1 rebounds and 5.9 blocks per game, leading his team to the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) title game.[8][9] Bassey competed in the Jordan Brand Classic International Game, where he was named MVP.[10] Before his sophomore season, Bassey was ruled ineligible by the TAPPS, with St. Anthony filing an appeal.[11][12] He still made his season debut, and head coach Jeff Merritt was fired for playing an ineligible player.[13] St. Anthony withdrew from the TAPPS and joined the Texas Christian Athletic League, allowing Bassey to become eligible again.[14]
For his junior season, Bassey transferred to DeSales High School in Louisville, Kentucky and began playing basketball for Aspire Basketball Academy in Louisville. He made the decision after Hennssy Auriantal, his legal guardian and an assistant coach at St. Anthony, was dismissed from the program.[15][16] As a junior, he averaged 19.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game.[17]
Recruiting[]
Bassey was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top centers in the 2018 class. On June 13, 2018, he reclassified to the 2018 class and committed to playing college basketball for Western Kentucky.[17]
Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charles Bassey C |
Lagos, Nigeria | Aspire Academy (KY) | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | Jun 13, 2018 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals:![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals: 9 247Sports: 9 ESPN: 18 | ||||||
Sources:
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College career[]
On November 18, 2018, Bassey recorded a freshman season-high 25 points and 10 rebounds in a 78–62 loss to UCF.[18] On January 31, 2019, he posted 22 points and 18 rebounds, the most rebounds by a Western Kentucky freshman since 1972.[19] As a freshman, Bassey averaged 14.6 points, 10 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game, earning First Team All-Conference USA, Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors. He recorded the most rebounds, blocks and double-doubles by a freshman in program history.[20] Bassey's sophomore season was cut short by a tibial plateau fracture he suffered against Arkansas that required surgery. Through 10 games, he was averaging 15.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.[21]
On November 26, 2020, Bassey recorded 21 points, 14 rebounds and a career-high seven blocks in a 75–69 win over Memphis.[22] On December 10, he had a career-high 29 points and 14 rebounds in an 86–84 victory against Gardner–Webb.[23] At the close of the 2020–21 regular season, he was named the Conference USA Player of the Year, while repeating as the league's Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged 17.6 points per game, 11.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game.[24] Following the season, he declared for the 2021 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.[25]
Professional career[]
Bassey was selected in the second round of the 2021 NBA draft with the 53rd pick by the Philadelphia 76ers,[26] subsequently joining them for the 2021 NBA Summer League.[27] On September 24, 2021, he signed with the 76ers.[28]
Career statistics[]
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
College[]
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018–19 | Western Kentucky | 34 | 34 | 31.4 | .627 | .450 | .769 | 10.0 | .7 | .8 | 2.4 | 14.6 |
2019–20 | Western Kentucky | 10 | 10 | 28.1 | .533 | .167 | .787 | 9.2 | 1.3 | .8 | 1.6 | 15.3 |
2020–21 | Western Kentucky | 28 | 28 | 30.4 | .590 | .305 | .759 | 11.6 | .7 | .4 | 3.1 | 17.6 |
Career | 72 | 72 | 30.5 | .596 | .319 | .768 | 10.5 | .8 | .6 | 2.6 | 15.9 |
Personal life[]
Shortly after arriving in the United States at age 14, Bassey's mother died. At the time, Bassey considered moving back to Nigeria, but his father Akpan Ebong Bassey encouraged him to stay for financial reasons.[7][29][30]
Canadian-born basketball coach, Hennssy Auriantal, who runs the Yes II Success organization that brings international players to American private schools, helped bring Bassey to the United States.[1][31] On March 31, 2017, Auriantal and his wife were granted conservatorship over Bassey.[30] Bassey's father later filed a petition to reopen the case and give Nigerian basketball tournament organizer John Faniran custody over his son, but the petition was dropped due to lack of verification.[9][30]
References[]
- ^ a b Estes, Gentry (February 14, 2018). "How one of the nation's top 2019 prospects, Charles Bassey, ended up playing in Louisville". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ a b Rosser, Evan (October 11, 2015). "All Access: In Africa with Raptors GM Masai Ujiri". Sportsnet. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ a b "Charles Bassey: From Selling Fried Chicken In Nigeria At Age 12 To Top Prospect In Four Years". lex18. January 9, 2017. Archived from the original on June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ Hickman, Jason (November 20, 2015). "6-foot-10 Nigerian import Charles Bassey could be high school basketball's best freshman". MaxPreps. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ Hille, Bob (June 14, 2018). "5-star C Charles Bassey commits to WKU, reclassifies to class of 2018". Sporting News. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
- ^ Burlison, Frank (November 12, 2015). "My Top 35, and more, Pangos Frosh/Soph wrap-up". Burlison on Basketball. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
- ^ a b Harvey, Buck (October 31, 2015). "The next Shaq? Road runs through San Antonio again". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
- ^ Harris, Don (February 26, 2016). "Move over Shaq, meet San Antonio's next basketball superstar". WOAI-TV. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
- ^ a b Zuvanich, Adam (June 23, 2017). "Ticket to the top". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
- ^ Halley, Jim (April 15, 2016). "Nigerian Charles Bassey makes up for late start, lifts Black team in International game at Jordan Classic". USA Today High School Sports. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
- ^ Bossi, Eric (November 17, 2016). "Nation's top sophomore Charles Bassey ruled ineligible". Rivals. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
- ^ Zuvanich, Adam (November 18, 2016). "St. Anthony names ineligible players, awaits response from TAPPS". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
- ^ Zuvanich, Adam (December 1, 2016). "St. Anthony fires coach for playing ineligible Bassey". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
- ^ Marquez, RJ (December 6, 2016). "Charles Bassey, other players now eligible as St. Anthony HS leaves TAPPS". KSAT. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
- ^ Zuvanich, Adam (July 25, 2017). "St. Anthony coach Hennssy Auriantal dismissed after Charles Bassey controversy". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
- ^ Zuvanich, Adam (August 26, 2017). "Boys basketball: Aspire Academy introduces former St. Anthony players". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
- ^ a b Borzello, Jeff (June 13, 2018). "Charles Bassey commits to Western Kentucky, reclassifies to 2018". ESPN. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "UCF beats WKU 78-62 for Myrtle Beach title". Associated Press. November 18, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "Surging Bassey Wins Sixth C-USA Freshman of the Week Award". Western Kentucky University Athletics. February 4, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ Stephens, Brad (January 25, 2019). "Bassey climbing up Hilltopper freshman record lists". The Daily News. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ Borzello, Jeff (December 9, 2019). "Western Kentucky's Charles Bassey out with tibia fracture". ESPN. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
- ^ MacDonald, Jared (November 26, 2020). "Bassey's Back: Hilltoppers beat Memphis to advance to Crossover Classic final". The Daily News. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
- ^ Kim, David J. (December 10, 2020). "Charles Bassey scores career-high 29 points, helps WKU escape Gardner-Webb with a win". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "MBB: Superlative Awards Announced" (Press release). Conference USA. March 9, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
- ^ Givony, Jonathan (April 1, 2021). "Western Kentucky center Charles Bassey entering 2021 NBA draft". ESPN. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ Narducci, Marc (July 31, 2021). "Sixers second-round pick Charles Bassey willing to show he has a shot". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
- ^ "Philadelphia 76ers 2021 MGM Resorts NBA Summer League Roster". NBA.com. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
- ^ "76ers Sign Second-Round Pick Charles Bassey". NBA.com. September 24, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
- ^ "Nike Hoop Summit, World Team notebook: Florida commit Andrew Nembhard is a wizard with the ball". OregonLive. April 11, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
- ^ a b c Zuvanich, Adam (July 14, 2017). "St. Anthony coach wins custody battle over Bassey". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
- ^ Klibanoff, Eleanor (June 22, 2018). "Louisville's Aspire Academy splits with partner school, controversial recruiter". College Heights Herald. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
External links[]
- 2000 births
- Living people
- All-American college men's basketball players
- Centers (basketball)
- Delaware Blue Coats players
- Nigerian expatriate basketball people in the United States
- Nigerian men's basketball players
- Philadelphia 76ers draft picks
- Philadelphia 76ers players
- Power forwards (basketball)
- Sportspeople from Lagos
- Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball players