Akindele Jeleel Ayodeji (born 2 April 1983 in Abeokuta) is a Nigerian professional basketball player formerly with Italy's Scavolini Spar Pesaro and the Nigeria national basketball team. He represented Nigeria at the 2007 and 2009 African Championships averaging 8.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game^[1]

[edit] Collegiate career

Akindele chose Chicago State over Rutgers, St. Peters and St. Marys. During Akindele's first season in Chicago, the 7'1" center averaged 7.1 points per game (ppg),5.6 rebound (rpg) and 1.94 blocks per game (bpg).^[2] In his second season, Akindele improved his block total by 8 in 4 fewer games (2.50 bpg), as well as improving his scoring average to 12 ppg.^[3] His best game, statistically, was when he registered 28 points (10-for-13 field goals), 21 rebounds, and 4 blocks in 79-71 loss to Green Bay on December 1, 2004.^[4] He was also named the Mid-Continent Conference defensive player of the year for 2004-2005.

Akindele left Chicago State after his sophomore year, declaring himself eligible for the 2005 NBA Draft. Going unselected in 2005,had a short sting with the NBA Golden State Warriors. Akindele was selected in the fourth round of the Development League's Draft by the Fort Worth Flyers.^[5]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Deji Akindele's draft profile at DraftExpress.com
• Deji Akindele's draft profile at NBA.com

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