Sea Bears standout has sights set on NBA

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This article was published 03/07/2023 (810 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

E.J. Anosike already has enough material to write a book about his basketball journey despite being just a second-year pro.

The latest chapter would surely focus on the impact he’s had on the expansion Winnipeg Sea Bears, the talk of the Canadian Elite Basketball League as their 8-5 record is tied with the Ottawa Blackjacks for first place in the 10-team circuit. The Sea Bears lost 89-85 to the Montreal Alliance at the Verdun Auditorium on Monday night.

Before Anosike tells any tales from the hardwood, the 6-7 power forward from East Orange, N.J. would dedicate the first few pages to his mom, Ngozi, and the work ethic he learned from her.

“I grew up in a single-parent household. My mother is an immigrant from Nigeria. She came to the U.S. in 1978 and I’m the youngest of eight children. She raised us all by herself,” Anosike said in a recent interview.

“I was blessed because before I was born, we were very poor. My mom raised seven kids on government assistance. When my mom was pregnant with me, she decided to put herself through school and shortly after she got her nursing degree and became a registered nurse.”

Anosike was introduced to basketball at an early age when his sister Nicky was helping the Tennessee Volunteers win back-to-back national championships (2007-08) under legendary coach Pat Summitt. Anosike, now 24, was around the team so much that he was practically a ball boy. Fast forward to 2020, Anosike — after three standout years at Sacred Heart University — followed in his sister’s footsteps and committed to Tennessee. He’d play a season there before transferring to Cal State Fullerton for his senior year where he averaged 16.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game en route to leading the team to the NCAA tournament as a No. 15 seed.

Their first round opponent? The Duke Blue Devils in what was coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final season.

Duke prevailed 78-61.

“Coach K showed love to me before the game in interviews and after the game. Me and Paolo (Banchero, who was picked first overall in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic) went at it, we both had double-doubles,” said Anosike. “It was a very competitive game and it was great to be on that stage.”

It was around that time when Anosike started training with one of the most colourful characters in the entire sport: LaVar Ball, the CEO of Big Baller Brand. Anosike even lived in the Ball household in Chino Hills, Ca., for a bit where he would practice and work out with LaVar’s three sons Lonzo (Chicago Bulls), LaMelo (Charlotte Hornets), and LiAngelo (NBA G League).

“(LaVar) definitely taught me a lot about the game, about my body, and how to maximize the abilities and gifts that I have. It was definitely rigorous training,” said Anosike. “He made me guard Melo (who recently signed a five-year, US$260 million contract extension with the Hornets) all the time to improve my defence and guard the perimeter. So, moments like that I’m very thankful for.”

His time with the Balls got him ready for the pro ranks. Anosike played last season in the Korean Basketball League for Suwon KT Sonicboom and was named the KBL Cup MVP with an impressive 32 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and three steals in the championship game.

Anosike also spent some time in the NBA G League between the Salt Lake City Stars and Texas Legends.

After the season, he was splitting time between Las Vegas and Miami to train before getting a call from Sea Bears head coach and general manager Mike Taylor asking him to come to Winnipeg.

“He asked me if I wanted to hoop, and I said ‘I love to hoop, I’m coming.’ It was just that simple,” said Anosike with a laugh. “I didn’t know much about Canada, or Winnipeg to be exact, but I knew it was a great stepping stone to see the world and experience a new country.”

Heading into yesterday’s tilt in Montreal, Anosike was second on the team in points per game (17.7) and third in rebounds (6.5). He’s been one of Taylor’s most important signings.

“We wanted the image of our team to be big, physical and versatile, and we thought E.J. could create some matchup problems with his skill package,” said Taylor.

“We’re really proud of how E.J. has played, he’s developed into that productive player. And while I think Teddy (Allen) gets a lot of recognition as the go-to guy and the No. 1 scorer, I love the blue collar part of our team with guys like E.J. and Chad (Posthumus), the physicality part. I think that’s been really key to our success.”

Anosike — who also has two Master’s degrees and works with the Sini Foundation to help provide support and opportunities to the next generation of African athletes — believes the Sea Bears are a team that can win it all this year. Whether that comes to fruition or not, he’s confident he’ll be playing at the highest level in the near future.

“I feel like the NBA is no longer a goal for me, it’s like my reality now. I know it’s going to come, that opportunity is going to come,” said Anosike. “So, it’s about me now being the best basketball player that I can be… Ultimately, that’s where I feel I belong.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31