Eugene Omoruyi
Eugene Omoruyi (born February 14, 1997) is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Capital City Go-Go of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Oregon Ducks.
No. 97 – Washington Wizards | |
---|---|
Position | Small forward |
League | NBA |
Personal information | |
Born | Benin City, Nigeria | February 14, 1997
Nationality | Canadian |
Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
Listed weight | 235 lb (107 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | |
College | |
NBA draft | 2021: undrafted |
Playing career | 2021–present |
Career history | |
2021 | Dallas Mavericks |
2021 | →Texas Legends |
2022–2023 | Oklahoma City Thunder |
2022–2023 | →Oklahoma City Blue |
2023 | Detroit Pistons |
2023–present | Washington Wizards |
2023–present | →Capital City Go-Go |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Early life and high school career
Omoruyi was born in Benin City, Nigeria and immigrated to Canada with his family as a one-year-old. He grew up playing soccer and began playing basketball during his second year of high school at Monsignor Percy Johnson.[1] Omoruyi attended Orangeville Prep in Orangeville, Ontario, averaging 16.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game and earning Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association First Team All-Star honours in his final season. He played alongside Jamal Murray and Thon Maker.[2] He competed for Advantage Titans on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit.[3] Omoruyi committed to playing college basketball for Rutgers over an offer from Loyola (Illinois).[4]
College career
As a freshman at Rutgers, Omoruyi averaged 2.4 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.[5] On November 28, 2017, he scored a sophomore season-high 22 points in a 78–73 loss to Florida State.[6] As a sophomore, Omoruyi averaged 7.9 points and five rebounds per game. For his junior season, he was named a team co-captain.[7] During the offseason, he improved his shooting by taking 1,000 shots for six mornings per week. On November 11, 2018, he recorded a junior season-high 24 points and 10 rebounds in a 95–66 win over Drexel.[8] On November 23, Omoruyi posted 20 points and 17 rebounds in a 54–44 win over Boston University.[9] He averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game as a junior. He was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and Second Team All-Met selection.[10]
For his senior season, Omoruyi transferred to Oregon and sat out for his next season due to National Collegiate Athletic Association transfer rules.[11] His decision to transfer from Rutgers was described by the media as unexpected.[12] On December 2, 2020, he made his debut for Oregon and recorded a career-high 31 points and 11 rebounds in an 83–75 loss to Missouri.[13] As a senior, he averaged 17.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game, earning First Team All-Pac-12 honors. Following the season, Omoruyi declared for the 2021 NBA draft.[14]
Professional career
Dallas Mavericks (2021)
After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, Omoruyi signed a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks on August 13, 2021, splitting time with their G League affiliate, the Texas Legends.[15] On December 15, he suffered a season-ending injury while playing with the Legends, and on December 26, he was waived by the Mavericks.[16][17]
Oklahoma City Thunder (2022–2023)
On July 2, 2022, Omoruyi signed a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder.[18] His contract was converted to a multi-year deal on February 10, 2023.[19] On February 26, Omoruyi was waived by the Thunder.[20]
Detroit Pistons (2023)
On March 3, 2023, Omoruyi signed a 10-day contract with the Detroit Pistons.[21] On March 13, he signed a second 10-day contract with the Pistons.[22] On March 23, Omoruyi signed a rest-of-season contract with the Pistons.[23]
On June 29, 2023, the Detroit Pistons exercised Omoruyi’s team option for the 2023–24 NBA season.[24] He was waived two days later.[25]
Washington Wizards / Capital City Go-Go (2023–present)
On July 12, 2023, Omoruyi signed a two-way contract with the Washington Wizards.[26]
Career statistics
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 |
Regular season
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021–22 | Dallas | 4 | 0 | 4.5 | .400 | .500 | .500 | 1.8 | .5 | .0 | .0 | 1.8 |
2022–23 | Oklahoma City | 23 | 2 | 11.8 | .468 | .258 | .607 | 2.3 | .5 | .6 | .0 | 4.9 |
2022–23 | Detroit | 17 | 4 | 21.9 | .425 | .293 | .723 | 3.5 | 1.0 | .8 | .2 | 9.7 |
Career | 44 | 6 | 15.1 | .442 | .286 | .671 | 2.7 | .7 | .6 | .1 | 6.5 |
College
Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016–17 | Rutgers | 33 | 11 | 12.0 | .349 | .000 | .625 | 2.2 | 1.0 | .5 | .3 | 2.4 |
2017–18 | Rutgers | 32 | 7 | 21.7 | .473 | .000 | .541 | 5.0 | 1.0 | .9 | .8 | 7.9 |
2018–19 | Rutgers | 28 | 26 | 29.2 | .445 | .311 | .714 | 7.2 | 2.4 | .7 | .3 | 13.8 |
2019–20 | Oregon | Redshirt | ||||||||||
2020–21 | Oregon | 28 | 28 | 30.6 | .473 | .376 | .765 | 5.4 | 2.3 | 1.5 | .6 | 17.1 |
Career | 121 | 72 | 22.8 | .453 | .324 | .674 | 4.8 | 1.6 | .9 | .5 | 9.9 |
References
- Hansen, Chris (November 9, 2020). "After a year on the bench, two veteran men's basketball transfers ready for their Oregon debuts". The Register-Guard. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- "Eugene Omoruyi Signs with Rutgers Basketball". Rutgers University Athletics. August 9, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Hellman, Sam (August 11, 2016). "Pikiell: Omoruyi Versatility "Off the Charts"". 247Sports. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Carino, Jerry (August 3, 2016). "Rutgers hoops adds 2016 wing from Canada". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- "Eugene Omoruyi – Men's Basketball". University of Oregon Athletics. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Fonseca, Brian (November 28, 2017). "Eugene Omoruyi Flashes Potential in Loss to Florida State". On the Banks. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Breitman, Aaron (May 31, 2018). "Rutgers Men's Basketball Names Captains For Next Season". On the Banks. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Carino, Jerry (November 11, 2018). "Rutgers basketball: Eugene Omoruyi leads offensive explosion in romp of Drexel". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Carino, Jerry (November 23, 2018). "Rutgers basketball: Omoruyi, defense enough to hold off Boston University". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Carino, Jerry (May 29, 2019). "Rutgers basketball: In an absolute stunner, Eugene Omoruyi to transfer". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Schnyderite, Richard (September 24, 2019). "Eugene Omoruyi talks for the first time since his transfer". Rivals. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Kratch, James (May 29, 2019). "No, you read that right: Rutgers' Eugene Omoruyi apparently wants out in shocking transfer push". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Young, Ashley (December 2, 2020). "Eugene Omoruyi was worth the long wait for Oregon MBB". NBC Sports. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- Reubenking, Dylan (April 12, 2021). "Eugene Omoruyi Declares for the NBA Draft". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
- "Mavericks Sign Rookie Free Agent Forward Eugene Omoruyi to A Two-Way Contract". Mavs.com. August 13, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
- "Mavs' Eugene Omoruyi out 4–6 months after toe surgery". USA Today. December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
- "Dallas Mavericks waive two-way rookie forward Eugene Omoruyi". The Dallas Morning News. December 26, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
- Creider, Ben. "OKC Thunder Sign Eugene Omoruyi to Two-Way Deal". Sports Illustrated Oklahoma City Thunder News, Analysis and More. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
- "Thunder Signs Eugene Omoruyi to Multi-Year Contract". NBA. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
- "Brandon Rahbar on Twitter: "Thunder has waived Eugene Omoruyi."". Twitter. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- "James L. Edwards III on Twitter: "Pistons have signed Eugene Omoruyi to a 10-day contract"". Twitter. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- "Detroit Pistons impressed with Eugene Omoruyi, sign him to second 10-day contract". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
- "Mike Curtis on Twitter: "The #Pistons announce that they've signed Eugene Omoruyi to a contract following his two 10-day contracts. He'll be with the team for the rest of the season."". Twitter. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
- Pistons PR [@Pistons_PR] (June 29, 2023). "The Detroit Pistons have picked up its team options for Isaiah Livers, Alec Burks and Eugene Omoruyi for the 2023-24 season" (Tweet). Retrieved August 2, 2023 – via Twitter.
- "Pistons waive forward Eugene Omoruyi". The Detroit News. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
- "Wizards Sign Eugene Omoruyi to Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. July 12, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.