Rivers Hoopers

Rivers Hoopers is a Nigerian basketball team based in Port Harcourt, Rivers. The team plays in the Nigerian Premier League. Established in 2009 as Royal Hoopers,[1] the team has played in the Premier League since its inception. Hoopers have won the national championship four times, with titles in 2011, 2012, 2019 and 2021.

Rivers Hoopers
NicknameThe KingsMen
ConferenceAtlantic
LeaguesNigerian Premier League
Founded2009
ArenaRivers State Basketball Complex
Capacity2,000
LocationPort Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Team managerIfie Ozaka
Head coachOgoh Odaudu
Team captainBelema Alamina
OwnershipRivers State
Championships4 Nigerian Premier League (2011, 2012, 2019, 2021)
Websiterivershoopers.com

History

The club was established in 2009 as Royal Hoopers, with Ogoh Odaudu at the reins as head coach. The team won its first NPL championship in 2011.

In December 2018, Hoopers played in the FIBA Africa Zone 3 Championship and won all five games to emerge as its Champions and went on to play in the 2019 Africa Basketball League in March. On 17 November 2019, the Hoopers won its third Nigerian title when it beat Raptors in the final. With this achievement, the team qualified directly for the inaugural season of Basketball Africa League (BAL).[2]

To strengthen the team for the inaugural BAL season, the Hoopers acquired former NBA-player Ben Uzoh and Festus Ezeli.[3] Ezeli, however, got injured before the season and did not join. Hoopers finished third in Group A of the BAL, beating only GNBC from Madagascar. Uzoh led the team in scoring with 14.7 points.

In the 2021 season, the Hoopers won the Premier League for a fourth time after edging Gombe Bulls in the final.[4] Anaiye Johnson was named the league's MVP. However, the Hoopers were denied to play in the BAL by FIBA Africa, that cited the organised league was invalid.[5]

Honours

Nigerian Premier League

Crown Elite Basketball Championship

  • Champions (2): 2021, 2022

In African competitions

FIBA Africa Clubs Champions Cup (3 appearances)

Basketball Africa League (1 appearance)

  • 2020 – Group Stage

Players

Current roster

The following roster was the Rivers Hoopers team in the 2021 BAL season.

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

Rivers Hoopers roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
G 00 Balogun, Emmanuel 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 23 – (1998-12-17)17 December 1998
SG 2 Alalibo, Ronald 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 27 – (1994-05-08)8 May 1994
F 10 Nwaiwu, Buchi 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 23 – (1998-08-20)20 August 1998
C 11 Koko, Victor 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 29 – (1992-12-14)14 December 1992
F 12 Ajegbeyi, Solomon 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 26 – (1995-11-02)2 November 1995
PG 14 Uzoh, Ben 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 34 – (1988-03-18)18 March 1988
G 15 Opong, Robinson (I) 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 32 – (1989-05-10)10 May 1989
SF 21 Osigbodi, Precious 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 26 – (1995-07-07)7 July 1995
PG 22 Ikechukwu, Benjamin 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 24 – (1997-06-14)14 June 1997
PG 23 James, Victor 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 26 – (1996-02-06)6 February 1996
F 24 Sullivan, Taren (I) 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 26 – (1995-07-30)30 July 1995
PG 33 Owoicho, Simon 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 26 – (1995-11-23)23 November 1995
C 55 Daniels, Chris (I) 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 37 – (1984-11-19)19 November 1984
Head coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (I) Import player
  • Injured
Updated: 16 May 2021

References
  1. "About". Rivershoopers.com. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  2. "River Hoopers win 2019 NBBF President's Cup, qualify for Basketball Africa League". 18 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  3. "Festus Ezeli signs with Rivers Hoopers in NBA/FIBA's Basketball Africa League". Sportando.basketball. April 17, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  4. Saliu, Mohammed (18 November 2021). "Rivers Hoopers Knock Bulls to Claim Championship, BAL TIcket". Brila.net. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  5. "FIBA Africa stops Rivers Hoopers from BAL". The Nation Newspaper. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
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