Troy University Athletics
Trojans Add Former UTEP Forward Efe Odigie
4/21/2021 3:27:00 PM | Basketball (M)
TROY, Ala. – The Troy men's basketball program and head coach Scott Cross announced the addition of former UTEP forward and 2018-19 All-Conference USA Freshman Team selection Efe Odigie Wednesday afternoon.
A 6-9, 240 pound forward from Houston Texas, Odigie spent all three of his college seasons playing for the Miners.
"Coach Mangrum and I actually recruited Efe coming out of high school, but in the end, he selected Fresno State. Coach (Byron) Jones (current assistant at Troy), was on staff at Fresno at the time, and has been involved in the recruitment of Efe as well. When the head coach of Fresno, Rodney Terry, moved on to UTEP, Efe decided to go with him and had a phenomenal freshman year, averaging 12 points and 10 rebounds. He was a player that I absolutely loved watching play both in high school and in AAU. Efe has great size, great hands, and he really uses his body well. Efe has the ability to finish with either hand around the basket and can post and seal anyone in the Sun Belt Conference. He's a guy that can really be a force for us inside and can play with his back to the basket but can also face up and knock down 15- footers."
The Texan played in 66 games over his three years in El Paso, averaging 8.7 points and 6.0 rebounds a game. A contender for C-USA Freshman of the Year back in 2018-19, Odigie averaged 12.7 points and a C-USA best 10.1 rebounds a game that season. The forward led the Miners in rebounding (252) and was one of just two players in Conference USA to average a double-double.
Odigie finished his freshman campaign 16th in the country in rebounding and recorded the second-most rebounds by a freshman in UTEP history. The Houston native tallied 22 points and 20 rebounds at Marshall during that season, becoming the first UTEP player to record a 20/20 game since 1997.
Battling injuries the last two seasons, the forward was still effective, averaging 6.0 points and 3.8 rebounds in 2019-20 and 5.1 points and 2.8 rebounds a season ago.
Efe arrived in El Paso as a top-25 player (No. 22) in the state by TexasHoops.com and after averaging 14.2 points and 7.4 rebounds for the Houston Hoopstars during the 2017 summer circuit. The forward joins an already strong front court for the Trojans that includes returning senior Nick Stampley, junior Zay Williams and freshman Christian Turner.
"When Efe entered the transfer portal it was a no-brainer for us," Cross added. "Between coach Jones, myself and coach Mangrum, we had a good relationship with both him and his mom, so it was a great fit all the way around. He'll be a guy that will alleviate a lot of pressure for us because he's going to be able to score with his back to the basket. He's also going to allow Stamp and Zay to face-up a little bit more and do what they do best. He's also going to give us a threat inside that we need."
A 6-9, 240 pound forward from Houston Texas, Odigie spent all three of his college seasons playing for the Miners.
"Coach Mangrum and I actually recruited Efe coming out of high school, but in the end, he selected Fresno State. Coach (Byron) Jones (current assistant at Troy), was on staff at Fresno at the time, and has been involved in the recruitment of Efe as well. When the head coach of Fresno, Rodney Terry, moved on to UTEP, Efe decided to go with him and had a phenomenal freshman year, averaging 12 points and 10 rebounds. He was a player that I absolutely loved watching play both in high school and in AAU. Efe has great size, great hands, and he really uses his body well. Efe has the ability to finish with either hand around the basket and can post and seal anyone in the Sun Belt Conference. He's a guy that can really be a force for us inside and can play with his back to the basket but can also face up and knock down 15- footers."
The Texan played in 66 games over his three years in El Paso, averaging 8.7 points and 6.0 rebounds a game. A contender for C-USA Freshman of the Year back in 2018-19, Odigie averaged 12.7 points and a C-USA best 10.1 rebounds a game that season. The forward led the Miners in rebounding (252) and was one of just two players in Conference USA to average a double-double.
Odigie finished his freshman campaign 16th in the country in rebounding and recorded the second-most rebounds by a freshman in UTEP history. The Houston native tallied 22 points and 20 rebounds at Marshall during that season, becoming the first UTEP player to record a 20/20 game since 1997.
Battling injuries the last two seasons, the forward was still effective, averaging 6.0 points and 3.8 rebounds in 2019-20 and 5.1 points and 2.8 rebounds a season ago.
Efe arrived in El Paso as a top-25 player (No. 22) in the state by TexasHoops.com and after averaging 14.2 points and 7.4 rebounds for the Houston Hoopstars during the 2017 summer circuit. The forward joins an already strong front court for the Trojans that includes returning senior Nick Stampley, junior Zay Williams and freshman Christian Turner.
"When Efe entered the transfer portal it was a no-brainer for us," Cross added. "Between coach Jones, myself and coach Mangrum, we had a good relationship with both him and his mom, so it was a great fit all the way around. He'll be a guy that will alleviate a lot of pressure for us because he's going to be able to score with his back to the basket. He's also going to allow Stamp and Zay to face-up a little bit more and do what they do best. He's also going to give us a threat inside that we need."
Players Mentioned
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