Junior Joseph grew up in Benin City, Nigeria and was friends with future NBA player Charles Bassey. At the age of 13, a local coach noticed his height and suggested he play basketball. Junior Joseph initially declined, as he wanted to focus on soccer, but was able to dunk after two weeks of practice. He attended high school for a year in Japan. Former NBA player Olumide Oyedeji informed NBA Academy Africa director Roland Houston about Junior Joseph, and he joined the academy after impressing Houston at a tryout. Junior Joseph played at the academy for two years and occasionally competed against NBA players such as Gorgui Dieng. Junior Joseph initially committed to playing college basketball for Wichita State, but received a late offer from Iona coach Rick Pitino, and he switched his commitment to the Gaels.[1]
College careeredit
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, embassies in Africa were closed, and Junior Joseph was unable to secure a visa to the United States. He was eventually able to reach Iona on October 29, 2020, shortly before the season started.[1] Junior Joseph averaged 11.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game as a freshman.[2] He was named MAAC Freshman of the Week four times, and earned MAAC Freshman of the Year honors at the conclusion of the regular season.[3] On November 13, 2021, Junior Joseph scored a career-high 28 points in a 90–87 overtime win against Harvard.[4] He was named to the First Team All-MAAC as a sophomore.[5] As a junior, Junior Joseph averaged 14.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, repeating on the First Team All-MAAC. After coach Rick Pitino left the team to coach St. John's, Junior Joseph transferred to New Mexico to play for Pitino's son Richard.[6]
^ abBraziller, Zach (March 20, 2021). "How last-minute suggestion got Rick Pitino to recruit Iona star". New York Post. from the original on 2021-03-20. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
^Edelson, Stephen (October 19, 2021). "Iona unanimous MAAC basketball choice; Monmouth tabbed 4th, lands two on preseason All-MAAC". Asbury Park Press. Archived from the original on 2022-02-11. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
^Rapay, Eugene (March 10, 2001). "Men's Basketball: Iona's Nelly Junior Joseph named MAAC Rookie of the Year". The Journal News. Archived from the original on 2022-02-11. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
^"Junior Joseph leads Iona past Harvard 90-87 in OT". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. November 13, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
^Catlin, Nick (April 11, 2023). "UNM basketball land Iona forward Nelly Junior Joseph". KOAT. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
External linksedit
Iona Gaels bio
March 16, 2024
nelly, junior, joseph, born, november, 2001, nigerian, college, basketball, player, mexico, lobos, mountain, west, conference, previously, played, iona, gaels, metro, atlantic, athletic, conference, maac, junior, joseph, with, mexico, 2024new, mexico, lobospos. Nelly Junior Joseph born November 20 2001 is a Nigerian college basketball player for the New Mexico Lobos of the Mountain West Conference He previously played for the Iona Gaels of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference MAAC Nelly Junior JosephJunior Joseph with New Mexico in 2024New Mexico LobosPositionPower forwardLeagueMountain West ConferencePersonal informationBorn 2001 11 20 November 20 2001 age 22 Lagos NigeriaListed height6 ft 9 in 2 06 m Listed weight240 lb 109 kg Career informationCollegeIona 2020 2023 New Mexico 2023 present Career highlights and awardsMAAC Rookie of the Year 2021 2 First team All MAAC 2022 2023 Contents 1 Early life 2 College career 3 Career statistics 3 1 College 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editJunior Joseph grew up in Benin City Nigeria and was friends with future NBA player Charles Bassey At the age of 13 a local coach noticed his height and suggested he play basketball Junior Joseph initially declined as he wanted to focus on soccer but was able to dunk after two weeks of practice He attended high school for a year in Japan Former NBA player Olumide Oyedeji informed NBA Academy Africa director Roland Houston about Junior Joseph and he joined the academy after impressing Houston at a tryout Junior Joseph played at the academy for two years and occasionally competed against NBA players such as Gorgui Dieng Junior Joseph initially committed to playing college basketball for Wichita State but received a late offer from Iona coach Rick Pitino and he switched his commitment to the Gaels 1 College career editDue to the COVID 19 pandemic embassies in Africa were closed and Junior Joseph was unable to secure a visa to the United States He was eventually able to reach Iona on October 29 2020 shortly before the season started 1 Junior Joseph averaged 11 1 points and 7 5 rebounds per game as a freshman 2 He was named MAAC Freshman of the Week four times and earned MAAC Freshman of the Year honors at the conclusion of the regular season 3 On November 13 2021 Junior Joseph scored a career high 28 points in a 90 87 overtime win against Harvard 4 He was named to the First Team All MAAC as a sophomore 5 As a junior Junior Joseph averaged 14 9 points and 9 3 rebounds per game repeating on the First Team All MAAC After coach Rick Pitino left the team to coach St John s Junior Joseph transferred to New Mexico to play for Pitino s son Richard 6 Career statistics editLegend 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 highCollege edit Year Team GP GS MPG FG 3P FT RPG APG SPG BPG PPG2020 21 Iona 18 16 27 7 596 000 638 7 5 1 3 6 1 6 11 1References edit a b Braziller Zach March 20 2021 How last minute suggestion got Rick Pitino to recruit Iona star New York Post Archived from the original on 2021 03 20 Retrieved February 11 2022 Edelson Stephen October 19 2021 Iona unanimous MAAC basketball choice Monmouth tabbed 4th lands two on preseason All MAAC Asbury Park Press Archived from the original on 2022 02 11 Retrieved February 11 2022 Rapay Eugene March 10 2001 Men s Basketball Iona s Nelly Junior Joseph named MAAC Rookie of the Year The Journal News Archived from the original on 2022 02 11 Retrieved February 11 2022 Junior Joseph leads Iona past Harvard 90 87 in OT The Seattle Times Associated Press November 13 2021 Retrieved February 11 2022 MAAC Reveals 2021 22 Men s Basketball All MAAC Teams Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference March 7 2022 Retrieved March 14 2022 Catlin Nick April 11 2023 UNM basketball land Iona forward Nelly Junior Joseph KOAT Retrieved May 7 2023 External links editIona Gaels bio Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nelly Junior Joseph amp oldid 1199226848, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
