Nigeria is aiming high with its star-studded roster

[by Kris SANTIAGO] - When I've read the news that John Lucas would be the new head coach of the D'Tigers, I was baffled.

Now with such a well-known coach, the possibility of attracting the best players out of Nigeria should be no problem and the recently revealed list of pre-selected players for the national-team camp in the U.S. proves exactly this.

The guards:

Nigeria has no shortage on experienced guards unlike other countries like Senegal, Cameroon or the Ivory Coast. Thanks to the Nigerian Diaspora in the United States, they can choose from a deep pool of players with college and professional experience.

At point guard, previously used (World Championships in Japan) Josh Akognon should be a lock while shooting guard Ime Udoka of the San Antonio Spurs is set to represent Nigeria again after being instrumental in the D'Tigers' success story in Japan. After a rather disappointing season in Giessen (Germany) Michael Umeh should be considered as a back-up to Akognon while Tony Skinn and Ben Uzoh could be alternatives too.

Especially Skinn did a great job in Gravelines and is also a similar scoring threat like Akognon.

Champ Oguchi bounced back with a strong year in Illinois to prove his readiness to contribute on the two-spot. Ebi Ere is another big-time scorer on the list who was Australia's import of the year and is able to move also to small forward if needed. Nigerian-Jamaican rookie Weyinmi Efejuku may has small chance to make the team while Churchill Odia had another season to forget in Oregon and may lacks on-court experience although he was always productive when called up for Nigeria.

From the outside looking in are probably Kingsley Oguchi, Mike Efevberha, Jayson Obazuaye and Stanley Asumnu.

Stats:
Josh Akognon, PG, Fullerton, 23,9ppg, 3,2rpg, 1,6apg
Ben Uzoh, PG, Tulsa, 14ppg 4,9rpg, 3,6apg
Michael Umeh, PG, Giessen, 13,8ppg, 3,2rpg, 1,8apg
Anthony Skinn, PG, Gravelines, 16,0ppg, 2,5rpg, 3,5apg
Kingsley Oguchi, PG, South Carolina-Aiken, 9,0 ppg, 3,2rpg, 3,0apg
Ime Udoka, SG, San Antonio, 4,5ppg, 3,0rpg, 0,9apg
Stanley Asunmu, SG, Rio Grande Valley, 10,5ppg, 4,6rpg, 1,8apg
Churchill Odia, SG, Oregon, 3,2ppg, 2,3rpg
Jayson Obazuaye, PG, Milton Keynes (ENG)
Ebi Ere, SG/SF, Carolina (PUR), 20,7ppg, 5,9rpg, 2,3apg
Weyinmi Efejuku, SG, Providence, 15,7ppg, 4,0rpg, 2,3apg, 1,5spg
Chamberlain Oguchi, SG, Illinois State, 15,2ppg, 5,4rpg, 1,0spg
Mike Efevberha, SG, Wellington (NZL)

The forwards:

Touted veteran and premium blogger Gabe Muoneke should be making the team, as well as newcomer Ike Diogu from the Sacramento Kings.

Muoneke, who would love to erase the past season in China from his vita (Although being one of the top-scorers of the CBA), and who recently being released in Puerto Rico, is providing leadership and is a constant threat on offense while not being selfish with the ball in his hands. Diogu, who has represented the U.S. in the Pan-American Games in 2003, has been rarely used in the NBA until the Kings gave him a chance to prove he belongs to the league. The 9th pick of the NBA-Draft in 2005 scored 32 points on Denver and 28 points on Minnesota recording in both of the games double-doubles. Another cornerstone of the team will be Uche Nsonwu who already re-signed with Roanne where he put up solid numbers after arriving from the Ukraine.

Often used defensive specialist Aloysius Anagonye and World Championship-experienced Ekene Ibekwe could both be in, while Abdullahi Kuso, Uche Echefu and Ejike Ugboaja will be having a hard time to battle for the remaining spots on the team.

Stats:
Aloysius Anagonye, PF, Galil Gilboa (ISR), 5,5ppg, 4,3rpg
Uche Echefu, PF, Florida State, 8,1ppg, 5,2rpg
Gabe Mouneke, SF, Guaynabo (PUR), 20,8ppg, 6,2rpg
Ike Diogu, PF, Sacramento, 9,2ppg, 3,9rpg (only Sacramento)
Ekene Ibekwe, PF, Carolina (PUR), 11,2ppg, 8,2rpg, 1,7bpg
Ejike Ugboaja, PF, Azad Univ. (IRN)
Abdullahi Kuso, PF, Sumy (UKR), 11,6ppg, 7,6rpg, 1bpg
Uche Nsonwu, PF/C, Roanne, 11,4ppg, 8,0rpg

The centers:

Longtime friends Olumide Oyedeji and Ben Eze should be both dominant factors for Nigeria as both bring a lot of intensity and experience to the game. Oyedeji has proven in recent years that he can play tough on both sides of the court while Eze emerged as one of the best players in the Euroleague.

It has to be seen if Eze is really going to represent Nigeria after years of abstinence. If so, Deji Akindele is more then ready to contribute. The Italy-bound center had a great year in Pesaro and proved to belong to the best centers in Italy if not in Europe. Benson Egemonye showed flashes in the past season while playing for the University of Niagara and Sani Ibrahim is a fierce competitor under the boards, but both will probably not going to Libya this year.

Stats:
Sani Ibrahim, C, Leuven (BEL), 6ppg, 5,2rpg
Deji Akindele, C, Pesaro, 11,1ppg, 6,7rpg, 1,6bpg, 2,1spg
Olumide Oyedeji, C, Shanxi (CHN), 20,3ppg, 19,8rpg, 1,8bpg
Ben Eze, PF/C , Siena, 8,8ppg, 8,2rpg, 1,4bpg
Benson Egemonye,C, Niagara, 12,7ppg, 7,1rpg, 1,6bpg

There will also be the best ten Nigeria-based players invited to the camp but I doubt that one of the called-up players will be able to crack the roster with such a high number of internationally-experienced players in the mix for Libya.


My ideal team for Libya would be looking as follows:
Guards: Akognon, Udoka, Skinn, Ere and C. Oguchi
Forwards: Muoneke, Diogu, Ibekwe and Nsonwu
Centers: Oyedeji, Eze and Akindele

With such a roster, Nigeria's chances to grab one of the medals in Libya should be high. Now it's up to the coach to form a team out of this crop of excellent players and build a team-chemistry as well a new hierarchy to put back Nigeria on the basketball map after its failure in 2007.

I'm out like no-names.