Chimezie Metu

Chimezie Metu
Metu playing for USC in 2016
No. 7 – San Antonio Spurs
Position Power forward
League NBA
Personal information
Born (1997-03-22) March 22, 1997
Los Angeles, California
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight 225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school Lawndale (Lawndale, California)
College USC (2015–2018)
NBA draft 2018 / Round: 2 / Pick: 49th overall
Selected by the San Antonio Spurs
Playing career 2018–present
Career history
2018–present San Antonio Spurs
Career highlights and awards
  • Pac-12 Most Improved Player (2017)
  • First-team All-Pac-12 (2018)
  • Second-team All-Pac-12 (2017)

Chimezie Metu (born March 22, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the USC Trojans.

High school career

Metu attended Lawndale High School in Lawndale, California. A four-star recruit, he committed to the USC Trojans on May 12, 2014.

College career

As a freshman, Metu played in 34 games, starting 2. He averaged 6.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. He also had 54 blocks, which was the 2nd most blocks by a USC freshman since Taj Gibson. He also played 10 minutes in USC's loss to Providence in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.

Metu started in all 36 games as a sophomore, averaging 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. He led the team to the 2nd round of the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. He was named 2017 Pac-12 Most Improved Player, 2nd Team All-Pac-12 and All-Academic Honorable Mention.

Metu played in 34 games as a junior, starting 33. He averaged 15.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. On February 23, 2018, he was named in a federal document that linked him to an alleged $2,000 payment from a sports agency, but was cleared by USC.[1] On March 5, 2018, he was named 1st Team All-Pac-12 along with teammate Jordan McLaughlin.[2] Being set to graduate in three years and after sitting out the 2018 National Invitation Tournament to avoid injury, he declared for the 2018 NBA draft.[3]

Professional career

San Antonio Spurs (2018–present)

On June 21, 2018, Metu was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs with the 49th pick in the 2018 NBA draft. Metu was later included in the 2018 NBA Summer League roster of the San Antonio Spurs.[4] On September 4, 2018, Metu signed with the San Antonio Spurs.[5]

Personal life

Born in Los Angeles, he spent the first years of his life in California before moving to Nigeria with his father at the age of six. He then lived in Nigeria the following six years. In Nigeria, he played soccer.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Thiry, Lindsey (March 7, 2018). "Even with all the turmoil, USC's Chimezie Metu says he's glad he returned for his junior season". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  2. ↑ "2017-18 Pac-12 Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams announced". Pac-12 Conference. Pac-12 Conference.
  3. ↑ Kaufman, Joey (March 22, 2018). "USC junior Chimezie Metu declares for NBA draft". Orange County Register. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  4. ↑ "SPURS ANNOUNCE 2018 UTAH SUMMER LEAGUE ROSTER". NBA.com. June 28, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  5. ↑ "SPURS SIGN 2018 SECOND ROUND PICK CHIMEZIE METU". NBA.com. September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  6. ↑ Holm, Max. "The High School Player Who Dunked on a Miami Heat Superstar". OZY. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
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