NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Former Belmont University men's basketball standout Amanze Egekeze ('18) has signed a professional playing contract with Joensuun Kataja in Finland, multiple media reports confirmed Thursday.
The 6-8 forward averaged 8.9 points and 3.9 rebounds per game for Donar Groningen in Holland last season. He and former Belmont point guard Austin Luke teamed up to lead Donar to the DBL League Cup.
Egekeze averaged 10.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game for Gries Oberhoffen in France during the 2020-21 season.
The Lake in the Hills, Illinois native is also a member of the Nigeria national men's basketball team.
Egekeze averaged 7.7 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds per game for Nigeria in FIBA Afrobasket 2021.
Egekeze saw action 20 games for PAOK Thessaloniki in Greece during the 2019-20 season after beginning his career in Japan.
He helped Belmont to 89 victories, including three Ohio Valley Conference championship teams and signature victories over Marquette, Georgia, Vanderbilt and nationally-ranked Murray State.
As a senior in 2018, Egekeze led Belmont and ranked fifth in the OVC in scoring at 16.8 points per game. He posted 26 double figure scoring games en route to All-OVC First Team honors.
Egekeze, who earned his bachelor's degree in business administration, finished sixth among all active NCAA Division I frontcourt players in career 3-point field goals made (222). Â
Belmont University men's basketball has earned postseason invitations 15 of the last 17 seasons, including nine berths to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins have won 20 conference championships since 2006 - third-most nationally over that span (Gonzaga, Kansas). Belmont has won 20 or more games in 12 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas, Oregon). Belmont is one of only five NCAA Division I programs outside power conferences to post Top 100 rankings 12 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Saint Mary's (CA), San Diego State, Wichita State). Belmont University men's basketball boasts an NCAA-leading 19 CoSIDA Academic All-America selections since 2001 and is the only NCAA Division I program to make the NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) Honor Roll every year of existence
