...spin move..drop step..right hand..left hand..hook shot..jump shot..fade way...turnaround jump shot..three pointer...three again, and did I say spin move...With the way this article started, you would have thought I was about to start an epistle on Mr. Hakeem Olajuwon (or at least I hoped so), but no, I’m detailing the variety of moves from Ike Diogu’s repertoire, he might not have shown us his rendition of the famous Dream shake, but he sure stirred the Nigerian team to their first ever Olympic basketball tournament in its entire history, and as a result, the Diogu story is one that must be told.

Ike Diogu was born and raised in Garland , Texas on the 11th of September 1983. Just like most Nigerians in America today, his parents had emigrated to the US to become teachers in the early 80’s. Ike has two older brothers who played college football, Eric at Tennessee as part of the 1998 national-champion Volunteers, and Eddie at Texas, he also has a sister called love. Diogu started off as an American football player, but quickly switched to basketball because of his size, he learnt the game quickly and became a dominant force in the paint. An appearance in the local AAU circuit saw his stock rise as scouts across the country started taking notes. Ike Diogu joined Arizona State in the 2002-03 season. He immediately put his stamp on the team in his first season by averaging 19 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, earning him freshman of the year honours. Diogu went on to average 21.4 points per game and 8.8 rebounds in his College career, earning himself Pac-10 honours in his last year. He continued to impress scouts with his back to the basket game, and when he entered the NBA draft, the Golden State Warriors took him at #9 that same year.

In Golden State, Diogu’s career did not flourish as it was supposed to, he was traded to the Indiana Pacers which led to further trades to Portland, Sacramento and New Orleans. At New Orleans, Diogu underwent micro fracture knee surgery and was never the same after that. He signed to the Detroit Pistons, but was later released. Diogu then got a last minute chance to play for the Clippers where he showed signs of rejuvenation, but he didn’t get a contract renewal forcing him to move again, he got a brief stint at San Antonio in January 2012 but he didn’t get signed Diogu then decided to leave the shores of America, and proceed to the Chinese league.

Everything changed for Diogu in June 2012, there is a Nigerian saying that says “when you stand with the blessings of your mother and God, it matters not who stands against you”. So when the Nigeria team came calling, he knew he had to answer the call, perfect timing timed perfectly, he would lead from the front, just like warriors do, forget High school Ike, College Ike, NBA Ike , this is Nigeria’s Ikechukwu Somto Diogu, Igbo Kwenu !!!! (okay got a bit carried away there)....He went with the team to China to start the revolution, just the perfect place, you know the Chinese have a way of getting people to reach their souls and all sorts. So after some serious soul searching ....oops I meant quality training, he leads the team to Venezuela, banging, blocking and scoring with the best of them, then came final game against Dominican Republic, all or nothing, do or die, he raises the bar, forget the pole vault, he carries his motherland on his back, role reversal, finished with 25 and 10, averaged 16.6 points and 10.8 rebounds in the tournament,....can I get an A-men ....spin move..drop step..right hand..left hand..hook shot..jump shot..fade way...turnaround jump shot..three pointer...three again, and did I say spin move...1st ever Olympic Appearance. Team Nigeria Appreciates.

http://nigerian-basketball..co.uk/2012/07/ike-diogu-ambition.html

Nice article bro. How do u know so much about ike and the fam?