Jean Jacques Nshobozwabyosenumukiza

Jean Jacques "J. J." Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza (born 26 June 1998) is a Rwandan basketball player who currently plays for REG on loan from APR of the Rwanda Basketball League (RBL). He is also a member of the Rwanda national basketball team.

Jean Jacques Nshobozwabyosenumukiza

Nshobozwabyosenumukiza during an interview in 2023
APR
Position	Point guard
League	NBL Rwanda BAL
Personal information
Born	(1998-06-26) 26 June 1998 (age 25) Kigali, Rwanda
Nationality	Rwandan
Listed height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Career information
Playing career	2016–present
Career history
2016–2018	Espoir
2018–2022	REG
2021	→Patriots
2022–present	APR
2023–present	→REG
Career highlights and awards
BAL All-Defensive Team (2022) BAL Ubuntu Award (2022) 3× RBL champion (2021–2023) RBL Playoffs MVP (2023) 2× Rwandan Cup winner (2019, 2020)
Medals Men's basketball Representing  Rwanda FIBA AfroCan Angola 2023 3x3 basketball Representing  Rwanda FIBA 3x3 Africa Cup Cairo 2022

Early life

Born in the Nyarugenge District of Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. His role model was NBA player Kyrie Irving.^[1]

Club career

After an impressive performance at the 2016 FIBA Africa Under-18 Championship, Nshobozwabyosenumukiza was recruited by most top teams from the NBL Rwanda.^[1] He decided to join Espoir BBC, his dream team since his childhood, in 2016 and immediately became a starter for the team.

In 2018, Nshobozwabyosenumukiza became a member of REG BBC, a newly established team in Rwanda. He was sent on loan to play for Patriots BBC ahead of the inaugural season of the BAL.^[2][3] He came off the bench for the Patriots, averaging 3.3 points in 12.1 minutes per game.

Nshobozwabyosenumukiza returned to REG and joined the team for the 2022 BAL season. On 9 March 2022, he scored a buzzer-beating three pointer to give his team the 82–80 win over SLAC, while also adding 15 points.^[4] On 14 March, he scored a BAL career-high 28 points, including 8 three point field goals, in a win over Beira.^[5] On 27 May, he was named to the BAL All-Defensive Team, and later he also won the Ubuntu Award for his contributions to his community by helping Club Rafiki.^[6][7]

On October 6, 2022, Wilson signed a 2-year contract with APR.^[8] He rejoined REG for the 2023 BAL season, signing a temporary agreement with the team.^[9] He rejoined APR afterwards, and led the team to their first league championship in 14 years, following their sweep over his former team REG in the finals. Nshobozwa was named the Playoffs MVP, following his averages of 13.2 points and 2.1 steals per game.^[10]

National team career

Wilson was selected for the Rwanda U-16 national team in 2015, and later also played for the U-18 team.

Wilson represents the Rwandan national basketball team. On 22 March 2021, Wilson broke the world record for most steals when he had 14 steals in a qualification game against South Sudan.^[11] He won a bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA AfroCan, Rwanda's first-ever podium finish at an international tournament.^[12]

3x3 basketball

On December 4, 2022, he won a bronze medal at the FIBA 3x3 Africa Cup and was named to the Team of the Tournament.^[13]

BAL career statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2021	Patriots	6	1	12.3	.350	.444	.667	2.5	1.2	1.2	.0	3.3
2022	REG	6	0	24.7	.412	.436	.750	5.2	3.8	1.5	.2	13.7

Personal

Wilson is a Christian. Nshobozwabyosenumukiza has received attention for his long surname, which he says means "I am able to do everything because of God".^[14] He is active for Club Rafiki (CR), where he helps children and young adults integrate in society through basketball.^[7]

Awards and accomplishments

Club

REG

• 2× Rwanda Basketball League: (2021, 2022)
• 2× Heroes Cup: (2019, 2020)

Individual

• BAL All-Defensive Team: (2022)
• 2× RBL All-Star: (2021, 2022)^[15]

References

1. "Meet Nshobozwabyosenumukiza, Rwanda's fast rising basketball star". The New Times. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
2. "New coach and three Rwandan internationals headline Patriots' new signings for the BAL". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
3. "REG basketball: Club president on targets and what it means to feature in BAL 2022". 18 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021. Point guard Wilson Nshobozwabyosenumukiza (with the ball) was borrowed by Patriots in BAL 2021.
4. "Nshobozwabyosenumukiza calls buzzer-beater "biggest shot in my career". The BAL. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
5. "REG Are the 2022 Sahara Conference Champions". The BAL. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
6. "José Neto voted 2022 BAL Coach of the Year". The BAL. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
7. Sikubwabo, Damas (16 March 2023). "Nshobozwa awarded BAL's Ubuntu community support award". The New Times. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
8. Sikubwabo, Damas (6 October 2022). "Basketball: APR signs trio of Mpoyo, Ntore and Nshobozwa". The New Times. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
9. Sikubwabo, Damas (13 February 2023). "REG sign four players ahead of BAL 2023". The New Times. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
10. Sikubwabo, Damas (9 September 2023). "Nshobozwa, Trakh lead 2023 basketball league individual awards". The New Times. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
11. "Nshobozwabyosenumukiza on his record-breaking exploits in Afrobasket, future plans". The New Times. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
12. "Rwanda see off DR Congo for historic podium finish". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
13. "MVP Randriamampionona headlines men's team of the tournament at FIBA 3x3 Africa Cup 2022". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
14. "What does my name Nshobozwabyosenumukiza mean?". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
15. "All-Star Game: Ndizeye, Shyaka to captain selected teams". The New Times Rwanda. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2022.

External links

• RealGM profile