Kaodirichi "Kao" Nkemjika Akobundu-Ehiogu (born October 7, 1999) is a Nigerian professional basketball player who plays for Bàsquet Manresa of the Spanish Liga ACB. Standing at 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m), he plays as a center.
 Akobundu-Ehiogu with Manresa in 2025 | |
| No. 0 – Bàsquet Manresa | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| League | Liga ACB |
| Personal information | |
| Born | October 7, 1999 Aboh Mbaise, Nigeria |
| Listed height | 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) |
| Listed weight | 110 kg (243 lb) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Poteet (Mesquite, Texas, U.S.) |
| College |
|
| NBA draft | 2023: undrafted |
| Playing career | 2023–present |
| Career history | |
| 2023–2024 | Tigers Tübingen |
| 2024–2025 | Varese |
| 2025–present | Manresa |
| Career highlights | |
Early life and high school career
editBorn in Aboh Mbaise, Nigeria, Akobundu-Ehiogu grew up in his hometown before moving to Lagos with his siblings after the passing of his parents.[1][2] He didn't start playing basketball until he moved to the United States with his family in 2012.[3][4] He played high school basketball for Poteet in Mesquite, Texas.[5]
College career
editIn 2018, he played his first year of college basketball for Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) in Waxahachie, Texas, a member of the NAIA.[4]
After not playing basketball for a year, he joined UT Arlington of the NCAA Division I in 2020. In two seasons with the Mavericks, Akobundu-Ehiogu recorded 134 blocks.[3]
He played a final year of college basketball for the University of Memphis in the 2022–23 season.[5]
Professional career
editAfter finishing his college basketball career, Akobundu-Ehiogu signed a one-season contract with German side Tigers Tübingen in August 2023. With Tübingen, he took part in the 2023–24 season of the Basketball Bundesliga.[6]
In July 2024, he signed for Pallacanestro Varese of the Italian Serie A.[7]
Bàsquet Manresa (2025–present)
editNational team career
editAkobundu-Ehiogu has represented the Nigerian national team internationally, taking part in the 2025 AfroBasket in Angola.[10][11]
References
edit- ↑ "L'autodescobriment d'Akobundu-Ehiogu". barranoucongost.com (in Catalan). 31 July 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- 1 2 Fuentes, Raúl (5 November 2025). "El jugador que desafía a la gravedad". marca.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- 1 2 "Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu profile". utamavs.com. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- 1 2 Davis, Riley (3 March 2022). "Discovering Kao: The rise of UT-Arlington defensive anchor Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu". heatcheckcbb.com. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- 1 2 "Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu profile". gotigersgo.com. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- ↑ Fischer, Tobias (17 August 2023). "Von den Memphis Tigers zu den Tigers Tübingen – Kaodirichi "Kao" Akobundu-Ehiogu komplettiert Tigers-Kader". tigers-tuebingen.de (in German). Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ↑ "KAODIRICHI AKOBUNDU-EHIOGU E' UN NUOVO GIOCATORE DI VARESE". pallacanestrovarese.it (in Italian). 8 July 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ↑ "Akobundu-Ehiogu: jump and fight for the BAXI Manresa hoops". basquetmanresa.com. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ↑ "¡Qué locura! Akobundu-Ehiogu 'Kao' y uno de los mates del año en la Liga Endesa 2025/26". dazn.com (in Spanish). 1 November 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ↑ "Akobundu-Ehiogu entra a la llista final de Nigèria per a l'Afrobasket d'Angola". regio7.cat (in Catalan). 12 August 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ↑ "Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu has played in Afrobasket in Angola". basquetmanresa.com. 13 August 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.