ISU Ejim to try out for Nigerian Olympic basketball squad
Photo: Jake Lovett/Iowa State Daily
ISU forward Melvin Ejim goes up for a layup during the second half of Iowa State’s 77-64 win over Connecticut during second round play of the NCAA Tournament. The Cyclones will play No. 1 Kentucky on Saturday night in Louisville, Ky.
June 4, 2012
ISU basketball forward Melvin Ejim has been invited to compete for a spot at the 2012 London Olympics on the Nigerian basketball team.
Both of Ejim’s parents are Nigerian.
Ejim will be one of 15 players in contention of the 12-man team. Ejim will leave this week for a three-week series of workouts and games in China.
Coach Fred Hoiberg said in an interview with the Des Moines Register that Ejim will gain experience from the older athletes by participating in the trials and possibly the Olympic Games.
Hoiberg thought to his knowledge that Ejim will be the only collegiate athlete playing on the team.
Only 12 countries will have teams compete in basketball at this year’s Olympics. Of the 12 positions, nine teams have qualified and the rest should be decided by June 30.
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