Chineze Nwagbo|
| Born | November 28, 1982 (1982-11-28) (age 42)
Iowa City, Iowa, U.S. |
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Chineze Uzoamaka Nwagbo (born November 28, 1982, in Iowa City) is a Nigerian-American who played on Syracuse University’s women's basketball team from 2000 - 2005, and played professional basketball internationally for a 11 years worldwide. Her most recent role was serving as the Director of Player Programs and Engagement with the National Football League Players Association. [1]
Early life and education
Chineze was born in Iowa City, Iowa to the family of Samuel and Cordelia Nwagbo. She studied Biology at Syracuse University obtaining her Bachelor of Science degree, and later pursued an 11-year International Professional Basketball career in sports after her graduation.[2]
High school
Chineze Nwagbo began her basketball career at Duval Senior High School in Lanham, Maryland, where she excelled as a four-year varsity letter recipient and two-time team captain. Her accomplishments include leading her team to back-to-back State Championship Titles, receiving All-American Honorable Mention, All-County First Team, All-Gazette, USA Today's Most Improved Player, and being recognized as the Most Important Player to Scout in Maryland, among numerous other accolades.
Collegiate Career
As a Senior
Chineze was the only Orange player to start all 29 games … Led the team in scoring and rebounding at 10.3 points per game and 7.6 boards per game … Finished eighth in the BIG EAST in rebounding … Finished the BIG EAST season second in free throw percentage at 83.3 and ranked eighth overall at 72.6 percent … Led SU with eight double-doubles … Started the final 52 games of her career … Had 19 double-digit scoring games in her last 34 outings … Finished 11th all-time at SU in rebounding (620) and is one of only 11 Orange players to notch 700 career points and 600 career rebounds … Led the Orange with 14 points and eight rebounds in the season-opener versus Niagara … Scored eight of her points in the second half … Had her first double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds at Yale … Led the team with a season-high 17 points against Manhattan … Also had six rebounds, including four on the offensive end … Notched her second double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds at Quinnipiac … Tied her career best with 18 points against Binghamton … Also had a career-best six assists and seven rebounds versus the Bearcats … Notched her third double-double of the season with a career-high 19 points and a career-best tying 14 rebounds at Massachusetts … Scored nine points and snared four rebounds against Albany … Scored 10 points and led the team with six rebounds against Kent State … Held scoreless for the first time in 13 games with no points against Auburn … Had six points and eight rebounds at Sacred Heart … Notched her fourth double-double fo the season with 11 points and 13 rebounds against Cornell … Scored six points and grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds versus Pittsburgh … Had four points and a team-high seven rebounds at Notre Dame … Scored 15 points, snared six boards and blocked a career-high four shots against Providence … Notched her fifth double-double of the season with 14 points and 13 rebounds in the win at Pittsburgh … Had 15 points and five rebounds in the home loss to Notre Dame … Scored a career-high 22 points and snared 12 rebounds at St. John’s … Scored two points in 13 minutes after getting poked in the eye at West Virginia … Had 11 points and five rebounds in the Orange’s victory at home versus Villanova … Notched a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds at Rutgers … Eight points and four rebounds in the home loss to Rutgers … Had eight points and eight rebounds versus Seton Hall in her final home game … Had 14 points and eight rebounds at Georgetown … Scored 19 points and had 13 rebounds against the Hoyas in the BIG EAST Tournament … Had 11 points and seven rebounds versus Connecticut in her final game.
As a Junior
Started 26 of the 27 games she played in … Ranked third on the team in scoring at 7.9 points per game … Was the team’s leading rebounder at 6.1 boards per contest … Had five of SU’s six double-doubles of the season, four of them in BIGEASTplay … Her double-doubles against Pittsburgh and St. John’s marked the first time in her career that she had back-to-back double-doubles … Recorded a career-best seven consecutive double-digit scoring game streak (Yale through West Virginia) … Scored six points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds at Binghamton, playing her first game since tearing her ACL versus West Virginia in the 2002 BIGEASTTournament … Also had two assists and did not turn the ball over against the Bearcats … Grabbed five rebounds, had two assists and one steal against Massachusetts … Recorded a career-high 11 defensive rebounds against Navy … Completed the double-double with 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting against the Mids … Was held scoreless for the first time in 2003-04 at Cornell … Got in foul trouble, picking up four fouls in only seven minutes … Played from tip-to-buzzer for the first time in her career at #24/23 Vanderbilt … Snapped a two-game scoreless drought with eight points against the Commodores … Also had eight boards and her first blocked shot of the season against at Vandy … Scored a season-best 14 points and made a career-high five steals against Yale … Also snared six rebounds and had a blockes shot and an assist against the Bulldogs … Set career highs with seven field goals, 14 field goal attempts and 18 points versus St. John’s … Recorded 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists in a career-high 45 minutes against Rutgers … Scored a team-high 18 points and added 10 rebounds against Providence for her third double-double in four games … Netted a game-high 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting and added six rebounds versus Notre Dame … Had her fifth double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds against West Virginia … Blocked a season-high two shots against the Mountaineers … Recorded eight points and six rebounds versus Villanova … Posted eight points and two caroms while playing all 40 minutes versus #23/22 Virginia Tech … Recorded five points, six rebounds, one assist and two steals at West Virginia … Was held scoreless for the first time in 11 games against Connecticut … Contributed five rebounds and a steal versus the Huskies … Scored 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting and grabbed three rebounds in 37 minutes against Miami, snapping a six-game streak of single-digit scoring efforts … Scored 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting, and had five rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot against Boston College … Led Syracuse in the BIG EAST Tournament game against the Eagles with 11 points and seven rebounds ... Named to the SU Athletic Director's Honor Roll in both semesters ... BIG EAST Academic All-Star.
2002-03
Sat out the season while rehabbing a knee injury suffered in the 2002 BIG EAST Tournament.
As a Sophomore
Suffered a torn ACL in the first half of SU’s BIG EAST Tournament win versus West Virginia … Did not play for the remainder of the season … Ranked second on the team in rebounding average, pulling down 6.4 boards per game … Team’s fifth-leading scorer at 8.4 points per contest … Second on the team with three double-doubles (Pepperdine, Harvard, West Virginia) … Second on the team with a 49.1 field goal percentage (81-for-165) … Recorded her first career double-double with a career-high 17 points and 12 rebounds versus Pepperdine … Left the Auburn game with a head injury and did not play at South Carolina … Started versus Harvard in her first game back since suffering a concussion at Auburn … Tallied her second career double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds versus the Crimson … Led SU with 16 points and eight rebounds versus Vermont … Shot 6-of-9 from the floor for 12 points versus San Francisco … Missed the Cincinnati game with a foot injury … Did not play versus Providence because of a bruised knee … Started for the first time since Virginia Tech (1/5/02) in SU’s win versus Villanova … Scored 13 points and had four rebounds in 36 minutes … Recorded her third double-double of the season with 11 points and a career-high 14 rebounds in Syracuse’s regular-season matchup with West Virginia … Missed all or parts of 11 games.
As a Freshman
Played in 26 games, starting three … Scored career-high eight points, grabbed four rebounds, had one assist and a steal against Providence … Reached double figures in rebounds for the first time against Seton Hall, grabbing 10 … Also scored four points, had two assists and two steals versus the Pirates … Had three steals against South Carolina … Ranks 12th in rebounding on the SU rookie list … Averaged 2.9 points and 3.4 rebounds.
https://archive.today/20130721215941/http://www.suathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3108#selection-1329.0-1416.0
Professional Career
As a Pro Player
Following her graduation, she embarked on a successful 11-year professional basketball career, playing in Spain, Chile, Brazil, Poland, Portugal, and Israel. During this time, she won four MVP titles, made appearances in championship games, and proudly represented her parents' native country, Nigeria, in the 2006 World Championship Games.
Years Club Name Appearances
2005–2006 ADBA de Avilés (Spain)
2006–2007 Fundal Alcobendas (Spain)
2007 Moguerza Real Canoe (Spain)
2007–2008 Uni CajaCanaria (Spain)
2008–2009 Alvargómez (Spain)
2009–2010 Baloncesto Pío XII (Spain)
2010–2011 Vagos (Portugal)
2011–2012 Cadí La Seu
2012–2014 AZS AJP Gorzów Wielkopolski 48
2014–2015 Artego Bydgoszcz 13
2015 Ślęza Wrocław 11
2015 Los Leones Quilpe (Chile)
2016 Hapoel Rishon LeZion (Israel)
After Playing
After retiring from professional basketball in 2016, Chineze ("Chinny") became involved with the NBA and engaged in various ventures. In China, she played a crucial role in developing grassroots implementation of an NBA-based basketball curriculum. She contributed to Jr. NBA programs and the NBA's Basketball Without Borders developmental camps, and she served as a youth development coach and mentor for esteemed organizations such as the Atlanta Hawks, NY Knicks, Washington Wizards, and the National Basketball Players Association.
As an Envoy for the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Sports Diplomacy program, Chinny passionately utilized the transformative power of sports to create positive change worldwide. She fostered cultural understanding, supported women's empowerment and gender equality, advocated for safe environments for children with disabilities to participate in sports, and championed the importance of creating a more equitable and peaceful society. In her capacity as an Envoy, Chinny traveled extensively, building relationships with U.S. Embassies, Sports Federations, administrators, coaches, and elite players.
Furthermore, Chinny dedicated her time to inspiring and motivating youth through her work as a motivational speaker for various youth programs and notable non-profit organizations, particularly those focused on providing resources for underrepresented and underserved youth globally. Additionally, she made appearances as a guest sports analyst on New Channel 8's SportsTalk show.
In 2020, Chineze joined PeacePlayers International, an organization committed to utilizing the transformative power of sports to bridge divides in historically conflicted communities worldwide. Serving as the Director of Youth Programs & Development (Executive Director of Baltimore's site) for Baltimore city, she provided underserved young people of color with after-school programming aimed at fostering community connection and providing equitable experiences and tools to mitigate conflicts.
Through her diverse experiences and passion for empowering athletes and people worldwide, Chineze has found her place at the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), where she currently holds the position of Director of Player Programs and Engagement. In this role, she is dedicated to overseeing organizational-wide programs and resources that ensure the long-term success of professional athletes far beyond the playing field
References
3.) https://archive.today/20130721215941/http://www.suathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3108#selection-1329.0-1416.0
External links
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