Abu Kigab

Abu Haef Kigab (born November 3, 1998) is a Sudanese-Canadian professional basketball player for the Spišskí Rytieri of the Slovak Basketball League (SBL). He played college basketball for the Oregon Ducks and for the Boise State Broncos of the Mountain West Conference. He was a key player on a Canada team that won the gold medal at the FIBA U19 World Cup in 2017.

Abu Kigab
Kigab with Boise State in 2020
Spišskí Rytieri
PositionSmall forward
LeagueSBL
Personal information
Born (1998-11-03) November 3, 1998
Khartoum, Sudan
NationalitySudanese / Canadian
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school
College
NBA draft2022: undrafted
Playing career2022–present
Career history
2022Niagara River Lions
2023Ottawa BlackJacks
2023–presentSpišskí Rytieri
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Canada
FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship
Silver medal – second place2016 ChileTeam
FIBA Under-19 World Cup
Gold medal – first place2017 EgyptTeam

High school career

Born in Khartoum, Sudan to Sultan Kigab, Kigab moved to St. Catharines, Ontario with his family at age nine.[1] He attended Queen Mary Public School and St. Francis Catholic Secondary School and joined the Prolific Prep Academy in Napa, California in 2015.[2]

Kigab was tabbed a breakout performer at Basketball Without Borders in 2016 and was ranked a four-star recruit in the class of 2017 by Scout and ESPN.[3]

He committed to playing college basketball for Oregon in March 2017,[4] having also considered Illinois, Baylor, California, Kansas, Minnesota, USC and Virginia Tech.[5]

College career

As a sophomore, Kigab averaged 2.6 points and 2.7 rebounds per game in 10 games. On January 14, 2019, it was announced that he was transferring to Boise State.[6] Kigab averaged 11.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per game as a junior.[7] As a senior, he averaged 11.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, two assists, 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks per game, earning Second Team All-Mountain West Conference honors. In the final game of the season, Kigab suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He opted to take advantage of the fifth season of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] Kigab was named to the Second Team All-Mountain West for the second consecutive season, as well as the Defensive Team.[9]

Professional career

Niagara River Lions (2022)

After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft, Kigab joined the Toronto Raptors Summer League roster in Las Vegas, recording a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds in the final game against Milwaukee.[10][11]

On October 24, 2022, Kigab joined the Fort Wayne Mad Ants training camp roster.[12] However, he did not make the final roster.

Kigab appeared in two games for Niagara River Lions during the 2022 CEBL season.

Ottawa BlackJacks (2023)

The Ottawa BlackJacks announced they had signed Kigab on May 5, 2023.[13] He tallied 7 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in his debut against Montreal.

Spišskí Rytieri (2023–present)

On August 27, 2023, Kigab signed with Spišskí Rytieri of the Slovak Basketball League.[14]

National team career

Kigab competed for Canada at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Cup and the 2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship. In July 2017, he was a key player on a Canada team that captured gold at the FIBA U19 World Cup, averaging 14.7 points and 10.6 rebounds, as well as 2.3 assists per game. For his efforts, he was named to the tournament's All-Star Five.[15]

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

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017–18 Oregon 3507.7.344.227.4091.1.2.4.21.6
2018–19 Oregon 10314.9.440.091.6002.71.8.2.02.6
2019–20 Boise State 201825.8.420.328.7343.61.0.7.311.1
2020–21 Boise State 252528.0.467.301.7165.42.01.2.911.8
2021–22 Boise State 353531.5.500.301.6775.72.41.3.414.8
Career 12581121.9.461.293.6803.81.4.8.48.9

References
  1. James, Marty. "Prolific Prep pulls out of international game in face of immigration uncertainty". Napa Valley Register. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  2. James, Marty. "Oregon next stop in worldwide journey for Prolific Prep's Kigab". Napa Valley Register. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  3. "Abu Kigab has strong showing at BWB". Scout.com. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  4. Krupke, Nick. "Abu Kigab commits to University of Oregon". Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  5. "Abu Kigab, 4-star SF, commits to Oregon Ducks". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
  6. "Broncos Add Mid-Year Transfer, Abu Kigab". Boise State University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  7. Murray, Chris (2020-11-24). "The 25 best basketball players in the Mountain West this season". Nevada Sports Net. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  8. Rains, B.J. (October 21, 2021). "Heart and Soul: Abu Kigab is Boise State's emotional leader and motivated for a grand finale". Idaho Press. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  9. "Mountain West Reveals 2021-22 Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams" (Press release). Mountain West Conference. March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  10. Zatzman, Louis (July 1, 2022). "Prepping for the Toronto Raptors' Summer League team - Raptors Republic". RaptorsRepublic.com. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  11. "Milwaukee Bucks vs Toronto Raptors Jul 17, 2022 Box Scores". NBA.com. July 17, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  12. "Mad Ants Announce 2022 Training Camp Roster". OurSportsCentral.com. October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  13. "Ottawa BlackJacks Sign Canadian Forward Abu Kigab". TheBlackJacks.ca. May 5, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  14. Antoni, Adam (August 27, 2023). "RYTIERI FINALIZUJÚ SÚPISKU, PRIBUDOL KANADSKÝ ŠAMPIÓN". SpisskiRytieri.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  15. "Payton Pritchard and Abu Kigab named to World Cup All-Star Team". DuckTerritory. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
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