2024 Rivers Hoopers season

Rivers Hoopers
2024 season
Head coachOgoh Odaudu
NPLTo be played
BALThird Place
← 2021 (BAL)
2023
2025 →

The 2024 Rivers Hoopers season is the 19th season in club history and the second season of the team in the Basketball Africa League (BAL). The Hoopers will play in the Nigerian Premier League (NPL) once again as defending champions.

The Hoopers enforced their team with American guard Will Perry,[1] as well as with Devine Eke.[2] Eke and Perry were named to the All-BAL Second Team after the conclusion of the season.[3] They were allocated in the Sahara Conference, and surprisingly won the conference and sealed their first ever playoff spot.[4] In the quarterfinals, they defeated US Monastir, and in the semi-finals they lost to Al Ahly Ly in overtime.[5] The Hoopers defeated South Africa's Cape Town Tigers to clinch the third place, becoming the first Nigerian team in the BAL to finish with a medal.[6]

Roster

BAL roster

The final roster was revealed by the BAL on 4 May 2024.[7]

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

2024 Rivers Hoopers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Age
CG 2 Nigeria Offia, Abel 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 19 – (2005-02-14)14 February 2005
SF 4 Nigeria Daramola, Michael 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 22 – (2002-10-20)20 October 2002
PG 5 Nigeria Anaiye, Johnson 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) 27 – (1997-11-06)6 November 1997
F 6 Nigeria Ike, David (E) 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) 17 – (2007-07-16)16 July 2007
SF 7 Nigeria Nwaiwu, Onyebuchi 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 26 – (1998-08-20)20 August 1998
G 10 Nigeria Oyebanji, Mustapha 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 23 – (2001-04-20)20 April 2001
PG 12 United States Perry, Will (I) 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 31 – (1993-10-11)11 October 1993
G 13 Nigeria Amayo, Kelvin 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 33 – (1992-01-09)9 January 1992
C 14 Nigeria Olisemeka, Peter 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 33 – (1991-12-09)9 December 1991
PF 15 Nigeria Koko, Victor Anthony (C) 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 32 – (1992-12-14)14 December 1992
SF 23 Nigeria Eke, Devine 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 28 – (1996-07-29)29 July 1996
PF 34 France Wilkins, John (I) 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 35 – (1989-07-13)13 July 1989
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (I) Import player
  • (E): BAL Elevate player
  • Injured Injured
Updated: 4 May 2024

Games

BAL

Main article: 2024 BAL season

Sahara Conference

Main article: 2024 BAL Sahara Conference
Pos Team
 Pld W L GF GA GD PCT Qualification
1 Nigeria Rivers Hoopers 6 4 2 441 413 +28 .667 Advance to playoffs
2 Senegal AS Douanes (H) 6 3 3 409 385 +24 .500[a]
3 Tunisia US Monastir 6 3 3 437 450 −13 .500[a]
4 Rwanda APR 6 2 4 432 471 −39 .333
Source: BAL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head: AS Douanes 1–1 US Monastir, AS Douanes won on aggregrate point difference (+1).
May 4, 2024 AS Douanes Senegal 68–77 Nigeria Rivers Hoopers Dakar Arena, Dakar
5:30 PM Scoring by quarter: 23–18, 16–19, 9–19, 20–21
Pts: Akec 19
Rebs: Obekpa 14
Asts: Boissy 4 		Livestats Pts: Eke 31
Rebs: Eke 12
Asts: Amayo 8 		Attendance: 8,543
Referees: Tyler Mirkovich, Aboolo Amr, Hassan Kamate
May 5, 2024 APR Rwanda 82–86 Nigeria Rivers Hoopers Dakar Arena, Dakar
2:30 PM Scoring by quarter: 18–19, 22–21, 22–23, 20–23
Pts: Noel 32
Rebs: Noel 7
Asts: Filer, Robeyns 4 		Livestats Pts: Perry 31
Rebs: Eke, Ike 8
Asts: Amayo 7 		Attendance: 734
Referees: Kaitlynn Versoza, Kalume Tonton Banza, Adlen Larouci
May 7, 2024 US Monastir Tunisia 63–84 Nigeria Rivers Hoopers Dakar Arena, Dakar
4:00 PM Scoring by quarter: 13–24, 16–25, 22–18, 12–17
Pts: Doucouré 21
Rebs: Crawford 7
Asts: Crawford 14 		Livestats Pts: Amayo 30
Rebs: Eke 12
Asts: Amayo, Perry 9 		Attendance: 973
Referees: Tyler Mirkovich, Kalume Tonton Banza, Hassan Kamate
May 9, 2024 Rivers Hoopers Nigeria 54–56 Senegal AS Douanes Dakar Arena, Dakar
7:00 PM Scoring by quarter: 5–14, 21–19, 15–7, 13–16
Pts: Perry 17
Rebs: Olisemeka 18
Asts: Perry 5 		Livestats Pts: Akec 17
Rebs: Thomas 9
Asts: Boissy 4 		Attendance: 6,876
Referees: Cameron Gelinas, Yann Vezo Davidson, Natascha Onono
May 11, 2024 Rivers Hoopers Nigeria 78–712OT Rwanda APR Dakar Arena, Dakar
2:30 PM Scoring by quarter: 16–19, 15–11, 10–20, 17–8, Overtime: 17–8, 20–3
Pts: Eke 18
Rebs: Eke 20
Asts: Perry 6 		Livestats Pts: Nshobozwabyosenumukiza 16
Rebs: Hunt 14
Asts: Hunt 7 		Attendance: 750
Referees: Cameron Gelinas, Aboolo Amr, Kalume Tonton Banza
May 12, 2024 Rivers Hoopers Nigeria 62–73 Tunisia US Monastir Dakar Arena, Dakar
2:30 PM Scoring by quarter: 13–19, 20–19, 9–18, 20–17
Pts: Eke 13
Rebs: Olisemeka 10
Asts: Amayo 7 		Livestats Pts: Crawford 21
Rebs: Majok 16
Asts: Crawford 9 		Attendance: 2,604
Referees: Kenny Jones, Kalume Tonton Banza, Walelign Fikadu Gebeto

Playoffs

Main article: 2024 BAL playoffs
Seeding game (3rd–4th seed)
25 May 2024 Rivers Hoopers Nigeria 57–63 Senegal AS Douanes BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda
5:30 PM Scoring by quarter: 9–22, 14–15, 5–13, 29–13
Pts: Ike 11
Rebs: Olisemeka 13
Asts: Amayo 7 		Livestats Pts: Harouna 16
Rebs: Akec, Fofana 7
Asts: Akec 4 		Attendance: 5,992
Referees: Hortensia Sanchez-Carrizales, Wael Ibrahim Mostafa, Amir Taboubi
Quarterfinal
27 May 2024 Rivers Hoopers Nigeria 92–88 Tunisia US Monastir BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda
5:00 PM Scoring by quarter: 20–21, 25–19, 23–22, 24–26
Pts: Perry 33
Rebs: Eke 12
Asts: Amayo 11 		Livestats Pts: Crawford 31
Rebs: Majok 7
Asts: Crawford 10 		Attendance: 3,032
Referees: Chelisa Painter, Wael Ibrahim Mostafa, Aboolo Amr
Semifinal
29 May 2024 Rivers Hoopers Nigeria 83–89OT Libya Al Ahly Ly BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda
5:00 PM Scoring by quarter: 21–27, 16–21, 23–8, 13–70, Overtime: 10–16
Pts: Amayo 26
Rebs: Amayo 15
Asts: Amayo 6 		Livestats Pts: Lual-Acuil 27
Rebs: Deng 13
Asts: Golden 5 		Attendance: 4,037
Referees: Chelisa Painter, Yann Vezo Davidson, Mbaye Seye
Third-place game
31 May 2024 Rivers Hoopers Nigeria 80–57 South Africa Cape Town Tigers BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda
8:00 PM Scoring by quarter: 25–8, 18–21, 20–9, 17–19
Pts: Amayo 25
Rebs: Koko 11
Asts: Perry 8 		Livestats Pts: Deing 17
Rebs: Sibanyoni 15
Asts: Manyang, Whitbread 2 		Attendance: 4,379
Referees: Julian Scott, Wael Ibrahim Mostafa, Kalume Tonton Banza

Player statistics

Legend
  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

BAL

Rivers Hoopers statistics
Player GP MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
John Wilkins 10 26.0 .250 .232 .429 3.0 0.7 0.8 0.4 6.4
Will Perry 9 35.2 .443 .375 .919 4.2 5.4 2.3 0.1 17.2
Mustapha Oyebanji 9 8.0 .207 .231 .500 0.6 0.1 0.2 0.0 2.2
Peter Olisemeka 9 31.3 .536 .000 .516 12.2 2.1 2.0 1.2 10.0
Buchi Nwaiwu 7 5.9 .125 .000 .750 2.0 0.4 0.1 0.4 0.7
Victor Mohammed 2 3.7 .200 .000 .000 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0
Victor Koko 10 8.7 .444 .000 .571 3.2 0.3 0.1 0.8 2.0
David Ike 10 14.7 .444 .500 .250 4.1 0.5 0.4 0.8 4.5
Devine Eke 10 36.1 .444 .182 .531 10.8 2.6 1.8 0.3 16.6
Michael Daramola 2 3.4 .000 .000 .500 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.5
Offia Abel Chidiebere 7 5.7 .263 .100 1.000 1.0 0.4 0.6 0.0 2.0
Johnson Anaiye 9 9.3 .176 .125 .500 1.6 1.4 1.1 0.0 1.2
Kelvin Amayo 10 37.0 .343 .227 .391 5.3 6.7 2.2 0.5 16.0

References

  1. ^ Sikubwabo, Damas (24 February 2024). "Patriots star Perry joins Rivers Hoopers ahead of BAL 2024". The New Times. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  2. ^ "D'Tigers Forward, Devine Eke, Joins Rivers Hoopers For BAL". leadership.ng. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  3. ^ Mabunda, Sindiswa (6 June 2024). "Eke banks on Hoopers' BAL run to lift image of Nigerian basketball". The Big Tip Off. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Rivers Hoopers clinch playoffs spot in first BAL double-overtime game". The BAL. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Al Ahly Ly are one win away from the 2024 BAL title". The BAL. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Rivers Hoopers finish third at 2024 BAL". The BAL. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Rivers Hoopers (NIGERIA)". The BAL. Retrieved 6 May 2024.