_by_Sandro_Halank%25E2%2580%2593041.jpg) Ejim playing forCanada in 2023 | |
| No. 3 – Força Lleida | |
|---|---|
| Position | Small forward /power forward |
| League | Liga ACB |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1991-03-04)March 4, 1991 (age 34) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian / Nigerian |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | |
| College | Iowa State (2010–2014) |
| NBA draft | 2014:undrafted |
| Playing career | 2014–present |
| Career history | |
| 2014–2015 | Virtus Roma |
| 2015–2016 | Erie BayHawks |
| 2016–2017 | Reyer Venezia |
| 2017–2019 | UNICS |
| 2019–2020 | Unicaja |
| 2020–2021 | Budućnost |
| 2021–2022 | Cedevita Olimpija |
| 2022–2025 | Unicaja |
| 2025–present | Força Lleida |
| Career highlights | |
| |
Stats atBasketball Reference  | |
Melvin Obinna Ejim (born March 4, 1991) is a Nigerian-Canadian[1] professionalbasketball player forForça Lleida of theLiga ACB. He playedcollege basketball for theIowa State Cyclones before playing professionally in Italy, Russia and Spain, as well as theNBA G League.
Ejim was born inToronto, Ontario,[2] to Nigerian parents.[1] He started playing basketball in grade 7. Playing for a team in theAmateur Athletic Union after his first year of high school in Canada, Ejim began garnering interest from high school coaches at boarding schools in the United States.[1]
Ejim attendedSt. Mary's Ryken High School inLeonardtown, Maryland, where he made the 2007 Provincial team before transferring toBrewster Academy in New Hampshire. In 2008–09, he averaged 12.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game for Brewster. In his final year in 2009–10, he averaged 13.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.5 assists per game, leading Brewster to a 34–4 record and a National Prep School championship.[2]
Ejim started 30 games out of 32 in his freshman campaign forIowa State, averaging 10.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, shooting 48.6 percent from the field (121–249 FG) and tallied 39 steals, second-best total on the team. He became one of just 13 Iowa State freshmen in school history to average double figures in scoring, and his 214 rebounds was the third-best rookie total in school history.[2]
One of Iowa State's top post players, Ejim started 29 games out of 34 in 2011–12, averaging 9.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He earned Big 12 Honorable Mention accolades and was a first team Academic All-Big 12 selection.[2]
One of the best forwards in the Big 12 in 2012–13, Ejim earned All-Big 12 third team honors and was a NABC All-District 8 second team selection; he was also honored as the inaugural Big 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year Award winner and was a Capital One Academic All-District 6 selection. He became the first Cyclone to lead the Big 12 in rebounding (9.3 rpg) sinceJackson Vroman (2004) and was just the third player in Big 12 history to lead the league in rebounding at 6'6" or shorter (Terry Black, Baylor;P. J. Tucker, Texas).[2]
As a senior in 2013–14, Ejim had one of the best seasons in school history, earning Big 12 Player of the Year honors (coaches & AP) and All-America honors from five organizations. He was a finalist for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, became the fifth Academic All-American in school history, earned Capital One first team Academic All-America honors and was named the Big 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year for the second time. He became just the fourth player in league history to record 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career, finishing his career with the most wins of any Cyclone men's basketball player at 88 wins. He also finished 12th in scoring (1,643), second in rebounding (1,051), tied for 10th in steals (146) and 15th in blocks (59); he also broke the school record for games played (135) and games started (126).[2][3]
On February 8, 2014, Ejim scored a Big 12-record 48 points against theTCU Horned Frogs in theHilton Coliseum, surpassingMichael Beasley andDenis Clemente who had 44 points in 2008 and 2009 respectively.[4]
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 | Iowa State | 32 | 30 | 27.8 | .486 | .232 | .695 | 6.7 | 1.2 | 1.2 | .2 | 10.3 |
| 2011–12 | Iowa State | 34 | 29 | 23.7 | .489 | .220 | .762 | 6.6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .3 | 9.3 |
| 2012–13 | Iowa State | 35 | 34 | 27.6 | .504 | .348 | .697 | 9.3 | 1.5 | 1.0 | .5 | 11.3 |
| 2013–14 | Iowa State | 34 | 33 | 32.1 | .505 | .346 | .761 | 8.4 | 1.8 | 1.2 | .7 | 17.8 |
After going undrafted in the2014 NBA draft, Ejim played for theSan Antonio Spurs during theLas Vegas Summer League.[5][6] He then moved to Italy for the2014–15 season, signing withVirtus Roma.[7][8] In 29league games for Virtus, he averaged 7.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.[9] He also averaged 8.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 18EuroCup games.[10]
After initially signing with German teamMedi Bayreuth for the 2015–16 season,[11] an impressive stint with theOrlando Magic during the2015 NBA Summer League led to a training camp contract.[12][13][14] He was waived by the Magic on October 21 after appearing in four preseason games,[15] and subsequently joined theErie BayHawks of theNBA Development League.[16] He was waived by Erie on March 16, 2016.[17] In 39 games, he averaged 14.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Days later, he signed with Italian teamReyer Venezia Mestre for the rest of theseason.[18] In 16 games for Reyer Venezia, he averaged 9.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.
On June 17, 2016, Ejim re-signed with Reyer Venezia Mestre for the2016–17 season.[19] In June 2017, he helped Reyer Venezia win theItalian League championship while earning theFinals MVP.[20] In 46 league games, he averaged 10.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He also averaged 10.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.4 steals in 22BCL games.
On July 12, 2017, Ejim signed with Russian clubUNICS for the 2017–18 season.[21] In 30league games, he averaged 9.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. He also averaged 9.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 19 EuroCup games.
In June 2018, Ejim re-signed with UNICS for the 2018–19 season.[22] In 23 league games, he averaged 8.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He also averaged 7.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 14 EuroCup games.
On July 25, 2019, Ejim signed a 1+1 deal with Spanish clubUnicaja.[23] In 17league games during the 2019–20 season, he averaged 5.9 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. He also averaged 7.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 10 EuroCup games.
On June 27, 2020, Ejim signed with Montenegrin clubKK Budućnost.[24]
On July 11, 2021, Ejim signed with Slovenian clubKK Cedevita Olimpija.[25]
On July 23, 2022, Ejim signed withUnicaja of theLiga ACB.[26] He signed a contract extension in April 2023.[27] With Unicaja in 2024–25, he averaged 5.1 points in 32 games.[28]
On July 11, 2025, Ejim signed a two-year deal withForça Lleida.[28]
In June 2012, Ejim played for theNigerian national team on their tour of China.[29] In July 2013, he played for theCanadian national team at theWorld University Games, where he averaged eight points and four rebounds per game.[2] In July 2015, he was named on the Canadian national team roster for thePan American Games.[30] He also played at theTuto Marchand Cup andFIBA Americas Championship in 2015. In 2016, he represented Canada at theFIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament.[31]
On May 24, 2022, Ejim agreed to a three-year commitment to play with the Canadian senior men's national team.[32] He was named to Canada's roster for the2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[33]
Ejim is the son of Elizabeth Omoghan.[2] His brothers Ryan,Kenny and Deon as well as his sisterYvonne all played basketball professionally.[34] He was a member of thePhi Kappa Phi academic honours society.[2]
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