BeeJay Anya

Chukwunonso Nduka "BeeJay" Anya (born March 9, 1995) is an American former basketball player. He played college basketball for the NC State Wolfpack.[1] He was named Atlantic Coast Conference Sixth Man of the Year in 2015. Anya represented the United States youth team at the 2012 FIBA Under-17 World Championship, winning the gold medal.[2][3]

BeeJay Anya
Anya reacts after scoring big for NC State in 2014
Personal information
Born (1995-03-09) March 9, 1995
Cheverly, Maryland
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight325 lb (147 kg)
Career information
High schoolDeMatha (Hyattsville, Maryland)
CollegeNC State (2013–2017)
NBA draft2017: undrafted
PositionPower forward / center
Career history
2020TLN Kalev
2021Torta del Casar Extremadura
Career highlights and awards
  • ACC Sixth Man of the Year (2015)
  • ACC All-Defensive Team (2015)
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing the  United States
FIBA U17 World Championship
Gold medal – first place 2012 Lithuania National team

College career

Anya played college basketball for NC State where he was best known for his shot blocking ability. During his sophomore season in a game against Jacksonville, he set the NC State school record for blocks in a single game with 10.[4] In setting the record, Anya at one point recorded 4 blocks in a single possession. His 91 blocks during the 2014–2015 season put him second on the NC State single season blocks list, behind Thurl Bailey's 95 blocks in 1983. Anya entered the 2015–2016 season in 5th place on NC State's career blocks list with 137 career blocks.[5][4] He finished his career with the Wolfpack in 2017[6] with 243 career blocked shots, a school record.[7]

Anya also holds the record for longest wingspan recorded for a non-7-foot player in the NBA Draft Express database for basketball prospects, with a wingspan of 7 ft 9 in.[8][9]

Professional career

In January 2020, Anya signed with TLN Kalev of the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League[10] where he appeared in two games.[11] In January 2021, Anya signed with Torta del Casar Extremadura of the Spanish Liga EBA[12] where he appeared in one game.[13]

Personal

Anya is of Nigerian descent, his father Ben Anya having played soccer while growing up. His sister Stephanie competed as a basketball center for American University.[14]

References
  1. "NC State forward BeeJay Anya to miss Florida State game". News & Observer. February 8, 2017.
  2. "BeeJay Anya Player Profile". RealGM. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  3. "BeeJay Anya Bio". GoPack.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  4. "BeeJay Anya - 2015-16 Men's Basketball". Retrieved 2015-08-06.
  5. "New year, new shape for NC State's BeeJay Anya". Charlotte Observer. October 2, 2015.
  6. Brian Geisinger (28 February 2017). "BeeJay Anya's career ending with many "what-ifs"". accsports.com. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  7. "Beejay Anya Career Stats", gopack.com, 2018-3-25
  8. Smith, Cameron (June 17, 2013). "Yahoo Sports!". Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  9. "BeeJay Anya declares for NBA draft, won't hire agent". News & Observer. April 16, 2016.
  10. Ville Arike (16 January 2020). "Kalev/TLÜ tõi korvi alla blokimasinast noorte maailmameistri, kel on üks probleem". postimees.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  11. "BeeJay Anya - Profile". estlatbl.com. Latvian-Estonian Basketball League. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  12. "Un campeón del mundo para el Torta del Casar". hoy.es (in Spanish). 24 January 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  13. "Competiciones FEB". baloncestoenvivo.feb.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  14. Zagoria, Adam (2011-06-17). "Beejay Anya's Phone is Blowing Up". ZagsBlog.com. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
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