 Chomche in 2023 | |
| No. 22 – Toronto Raptors | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (2005-12-30)30 December 2005 (age 19) Bafang, Cameroon |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | NBA Academy Africa (Saly, Senegal) |
| NBA draft | 2024: 2nd round, 57th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Memphis Grizzlies |
| Playing career | 2022–present |
| Career history | |
| 2022 | FAP |
| 2023 | REG |
| 2024–present | Toronto Raptors |
| 2024–present | →Raptors 905 |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Ulrich Kamka Chomche (born 30 December 2005) is a Cameroonian professionalbasketball player for theToronto Raptors of theNational Basketball Association (NBA), on atwo-way contract withRaptors 905 of theNBA G League. At 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m), he plays thecenter andpower forward positions.
Graduated from theNBA Academy Africa, Chomche is the first formerBasketball Africa League (BAL) player to be drafted into the NBA. He has been labeled byESPN as the best Cameroonian prospect of his generation, and the best sinceJoel Embiid.[1]
Chomche was born inBafang, in theWest Province of Cameroon, and picked up basketball at age 11 due to peer pressure because he was the tallest kid in his neighborhood. One year later, he joined theNBA Academy Africa inSaly,Senegal and started studying English.[1] Chomche played at the 2022Basketball Without Borders camp inCairo and was named the Defensive MVP among boys at the camp.[1][2]
Chomche made his debut in theBasketball Africa League (BAL) at age 16 in 2022, playing for Cameroonian clubFAP under the BAL Elevate program. This program allocated players from theNBA Academy Africa to professional teams. He averaged 2.1 points and 3.7 rebounds in 11.3 minutes per game,[3] and was part of FAP's run to fourth place.[4] On 16 April, he grabbed a career-high seven rebounds againstPetro de Luanda.[4]
The next year, in2023, Chomche was drafted by the Rwandan teamREG to play in his second consecutive BAL season. During the tournament, he received praise from former NBA playerJoakim Noah.[1]
In March 2024, Chomche was drafted by Rwandan clubAPR for the2024 BAL season.[5] He was eventually left off of the roster to prepare for the2024 NBA draft.[6]
On 15 April 2024, Chomche declared for the2024 NBA draft.[7] He was the youngest player in the draft.[8]
On 27 June 2024, Chomche was selected with the 57th overall pick by theMemphis Grizzlies in the2024 NBA Draft, however, immediately on draft night, he was traded to theToronto Raptors.[9] He became the firstNBA Academy Africa prospect to be drafted, as well as the first player to be drafted directly out of any NBA Academy. He is also the first former BAL player to be selected.[10] On 10 July, he signed atwo-way contract with the Raptors.[11] In 7 games for Toronto, Chomche averaged 0.7 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.3 assists. On 19 February 2025, Chomche was ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering a partial proximalMCL tear in his right knee.[12]
In February 2023, Chomche was first selected for theCameroon senior national team for the2023 World Cup qualifiers.[13] He made his debut on 24 February 2023 inAlexandria, playing eight minutes in an 85–56 win overDR Congo.[14][15]
Standing at 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) with a 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) wingspan, Chomche is best at the defensive end of the court and has been praised for his defensive and shot blocking abilities. His offensive game was described to need a lot of work ahead of the2024 NBA draft.[8]
| 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 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | Toronto | 7 | 0 | 4.6 | .400 | – | .500 | 1.1 | .3 | .0 | .1 | .7 |
| Career | 7 | 0 | 4.6 | .400 | – | .500 | 1.1 | .3 | .0 | .1 | .7 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | FAP | 7 | 1 | 11.3 | .304 | .200 | – | 3.7 | .1 | .3 | 1.6 | 2.1 |
| 2023 | REG | 6 | 0 | 19.0 | .345 | .125 | .545 | 4.8 | .7 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 4.5 |
| 2022-23 | NAA QF | 3 | 3 | 22.3 | .188 | .111 | .300 | 6.7 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 3.3 |
| 2023-24 | NAA QF | 3 | 3 | 30.1 | .424 | .381 | .750 | 9.0 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 13.0 |