Chima Oduocha (203-C-1998, college: Columbia, MO, agency: Promo Sport ID) is a 26 year old 203cm that has the American and Nigerian citzenship. This season he played with Pajarraco CB Santfeliuenc (Spain-Segunda FEB) averaging 4,9ppg and 6,4rpg. Last season he balled with Akranes IA (Iceland-Division I) averaging 9.0ppg, 6.3rpg, 2FGP: 61.9%, 3FGP: 66.7%, FT: 82.4%. He played his rookie season with ABC Santo Andre (Portugal-Proliga) averaging 13.5ppg, 9.7rpg, FGP: 56.6%, FT: 78.3%.He began his basketball career at James B. Conant High School. He then played at 2 JUCO schools with Harper College (JUCO) averaging 9.8ppg, 7.2rpg, FGP: 56.9%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 56.1% and at John Wood Community College (JUCO). He then played 2 seasons at Missouri University of Science and Tech (NCAA2) averaging 6.7ppg, 6.0rpg, FGP: 38.0%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 77.0% and 4.5ppg, 3.3rpg, FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 50.0%. He finished at Columbia College, MO (NAIA) averaging 14.6ppg, 7.5rpg, FGP: 59.4%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 72.3%

Thanks Chima for talking to eurobasket.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?

Thank you Miles for the interview. I’m currently in Chicago, which is located in the state of Illinois in the United States. But basketball life is treating me well, it’s the game I love so getting to do it at a high level is nothing but a blessing.

After playing a full rookie season, you haven´t played a full season the last 2 seasons. Are you suffering some growing pains as a player at the moment?

My career as a player has gone through its ups and downs, and I see this as part of my development. My rookie season gave me a lot of experience,and despite the last two seasons not being full ones. I’ve continued to improve my game, stay ready, and learn from every situation I was in. Whether it’s adjusting to different roles, or refining my skills, I’m focused on staying prepared and making an impact when I’m on the court. I know that my next opportunity is coming, and when it does, I’m going to make the most of it and show how much I’ve grown as a player and the impact I bring to a game.

You began this season with at Pajarraco CB Santfeliuenc (Spain-Segunda FEB) signing at the end of November. You averaged 4,9ppg and 6,4rpg in 21 minutes. What kind of experience were these 2 months. You only won 1 game out of 10. Did they expect more from you?

It was nice though the club was located just outside of downtown Barcelona. So there was a lot to do outside of basketball as well as, Barcelona has a very rich cultur. So it was exciting to dive into that as I was playing basketball for the club. But in terms of playing I expected more out of myself, I’m a double double guy and I want to go places to create a winning culture. The team ended up going bankrupt and they informed me they couldn’t afford to pay for my work visa so I had to come home, hence why I only played 2 months. It’s sad I wasn’t able to achieve what I know I’m capable of at this club, but I take it more as a learning experience. Experience I intend to use as a sort of chip on my shoulder, for wherever I land next.

Now your preparing for the March Madness Invitational Event. Is your season over now? A Danish team is looking at you. Are you focusing on getting the best possibly opportunity for next season or possibly finish elsewhere this season?

Yeah I’m really excited to attend the March Madness invitational, I see it as sort of a rebrand. I consider myself a “diamond in the rough” and the Handy agency has a way of discovering these types of players such as myself. I´m a underdog but I plan on waking a lot of people up soon. As far as my season I don’t believe it’s over; I would like to finish the season up elsewhere, help a team out in anyway I can. The Danish team that expressed interest is definitely something on my radar as well. I’m focused on finding the best possible opportunity to show people who I really am, which is a hard worker, a great teammate, and a dominant player.

Let´s talk about your game. Your listed as a 203cm center. You are a bit undersized but can score and get rebounds well. What is your biggest strength on the court?

Yeah playing the 4 / 5 positions at 6’8/ 6’9 I found different ways to impact the game outside just my low post scoring or my midrange game. I’m a huge rebounder, offensively and defensively. It’s one of my biggest strengths on the court. A double double is what I aim for every time I step on the court, because I know how much rebounding impacts winning. It’s considered dirty work but I enjoy doing the little things to help my team get that edge.

Are you merely a back to the basket and pick and role player? You hardly shoot the three. Is becoming more of a modern day player a goal?

I’m definitely more than a back to the basket player. I have a midrange game, as well as a mid post game. Haven’t been able to show my ability to shoot the three. But I work on it and have it, just haven’t had the confidence to shoot it as much. Definitely something I’m looking to utilize moving forward, as it’ll add more options to my game..

How would you describe your defensive game? You don´t stand out with steals or blocks in the stats. Do you do many things that the stat sheet don´t get?

I would use a couple of words to describe my defensive game and they would be positioning, effort, and awareness. I pride myself on staying in front of my man, and preventing them from scoring, cutting off driving lanes using my lateral quickness, and switching 1-5. I’m really good at team defense calling out screens and being active in the help, as well as contesting without fouling. I believe the steals and blocks will come, just a matter of timing and continuing to put myself in the right positions to do so.

On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue to improve your game?

I’ve really been working on shooting the three a lot. Really honing in on the mechanics and having proper follow through on my shots. Being a inside and outside threat is what I believe will make my game most lethal

Last season you balled with Akranes IA (Iceland-Division I) averaging 9.0ppg, 6.3rpg, 2FGP: 61.9%, 3FGP: 66.7%, FT: 82.4%. You were there for only a few months and had a few good games. Why was this stay so short?

I was there for a short time because the team ultimately decided to go in a different direction in terms of the player they wanted. No hard feelings with the club, I’m grateful for the opportunity they gave me in the little time I had.

You played your rookie season with ABC Santo Andre (Portugal-Proliga) averaging 13.5ppg, 9.7rpg, FGP: 56.6%, FT: 78.3%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?

My rookie club I will always have love, I grew so much as a person there. My wake up call was when they closed the door at night and I heard nothing but silence outside. I’m from a big city so I wasn’t familiar with a peaceful life, there was always something going on in Chicago. But I thank Santo André for easing my nerves with that and really making me feel like I was a part of a family.

What memories do you have of the tough 3 games playoff series loss to Portimonense? You had a monster game of 24/17 in game 3 but lost 85-79?

Yeah those battles were fond memories I have of my journey, just heartbreaking how it ended. I actually hit the two free throws to send game 3 into overtime. But I fouled out at the start of overtime, and we ended up losing. I couldn’t end my rookie season with the championship, but it taught me a lot about myself and showed me that I belong in this game.

You played at 2 JUCO schools Harper College and John Wood Community College. Every player that I have interviewed that played JUCO have said that it was a very tough grind, but an experience that they wouldn´t have traded for the world- How was it for you?

Juco was so critical for my development I definitely wouldn’t trade it for the world either. I was a late bloomer, and juco was a opportunity to help me grow and develop. Juco helped me develop a workhorse mentality, nothing is given to you ; so you you have to work even harder to get noticed. Juco is a world where players often have something to prove, me being one of them. Juco basketball built my character. And rewarded me for being willing to outwork everyone. I embraced the grind and developed toughness and work ethic that translated to the next level-not just in basketball, but in life.

You were a NJCAA D2 District XVI Finalist in 2018 with John Wood Community College. What do you remember being so special with that team?

I think what was most special was the love we had for each other, we were a family. That kind of chemistry translated on the court as well. I still speak with some of those guys till this day.

What kind of an impact did Brad Hoyt have on you that season? How did he help you make the next step to the NCAA 2?

He was big in helping me understand what a university would need from you in terms of effort day in and out. He refined my skills and gave me key insights on the more technical side of the game.

You then played at Missouri University of Science and Tech (NCAA2) averaging 6.7ppg, 6.0rpg, FGP: 38.0%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 77.0% and 4.5ppg, 3.3rpg, FGP: 47.5%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 50.0%. Your minutes actually got cut down from 20 to 12 in your last season. What kind of a role did you have there?

My role as Missouri S&T was a rebounder hustle guy, I had good touch around the rim and great rebounding instincts but my role was limited on the team. A role I’m happy I experienced because it shaped how I play today. I know everytime I step on the court I got to give everything, and that’s a mentality I stayed with.

You then took a step back to play at Columbia College, MO (NAIA) averaging 14.6ppg, 7.5rpg, FGP: 59.4%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 72.3%. When looking back how important was it making this decision? How did your game grow there?

I don’t think NAIA is a step back, a lot of players from that level played D1 or move on to go play D1 or D2. It’s really underrated in terms of talent. But choosing to play at Columbia College was huge for my development. I went from being a hustle guy to the number 1 option. I had a team depending on me producing night in and out, and I didn’t take that lightly. Columbia helped with my confidence and expectations in the terms of output needed to impact winning; Columbia opened my eyes on what turns a good player to a great player. As an import at the pro level, a lot of these things I still use today.

You reached the AMC final. How tough was the 66-65 loss to MBU? Is that a game that you couldn´t forget so easily?

Yeah, that game was really tough. Our opponent MBU was the host so they were essentially playing a home game in a sold out arena. Definitely a game that was hard to forget and we lost on a buzzer beater. I sometimes reminisce about what could’ve been. But you learn and move on.

How did head coach Tomas Brock groom and prepare you best for a professional career?

Coach Brock prepared me mentally. He held me to a high standard, pushing me to stay locked in through adversity, fatigue, and pressure situations. He also taught me about professionalism-how to take care of my body, study film, and approach the game like a job. Really just changed my mindset, so I’m forever grateful to him for that.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Mitch Fairless?

Funny part is Mitch never wanted to play 1 on 1 against me, I was a hard person to guard my teammates have always told me.

Who the toughest player you battled that reached the NBA?

Toughest person I’ve battled was honestly a couple people, both Alex Stein as well as Brodic Thomas. Broderick playing for the Boston Celtics and Alex playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers as well as their G League affiliate.

Who are your 5 best teammates of all-time?

I would say Aziz Fadika (Juco), Troy Burrows (Juco), Keith Carter (Pro liga MVP), Tyler Henry (Spain), and Kevin Legardy ( College)

Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore?

Alright in no order

LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Micheal Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, and Magic Johnson

Who is your Goat?

I know I’m going to get a lot of hate for this but LeBron is my GOAT. Just what he’s been able to do for the game and for this long, we’ll never see anyone like that again. I know the old heads don’t want to hear that though ??

Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?

Actually I haven’t seen the sequel, but that’s because I think they should have left it alone. The movie ended just fine, but now I might check it out if you recommend it. I love coming to America.

Thanks Chima for the chat.