Precious Achiuwa

Precious Ezinna Achiuwa (born September 19, 1999) is a Nigerian professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He attended high school in the United States, where he was a consensus five-star recruit and named a McDonald's All-American. Achiuwa played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers, earning conference player of the year honors as a freshman in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) in 2020. He was selected by the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2020 NBA draft with the 20th overall pick. After his rookie year ended in Miami, he was traded to the Raptors during the 2021 offseason.

Precious Achiuwa
Achiuwa with the Toronto Raptors in 2021
No. 5 – Toronto Raptors
PositionPower forward / Center
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1999-09-19) September 19, 1999
Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeMemphis (2019–2020)
NBA draft2020: 1st round, 20th overall pick
Selected by the Miami Heat
Playing career2020–present
Career history
2020–2021Miami Heat
2021–presentToronto Raptors
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Early life and high school career

Achiuwa was born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, to Nigerian parents of Igbo descent and grew up mainly playing soccer.[1] He started focusing on basketball while in eighth grade, when he moved to the United States.[2] As a high school freshman, Achiuwa played basketball for Our Saviour Lutheran School in Centereach, New York.[3] For his next two years, he attended St. Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey. The school had a nationally ranked basketball program and he was teammates with several NCAA Division I recruits.[4] In his junior season, Achiuwa averaged 18.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.9 blocks, and 2.2 steals per game, leading his team to a 28–2 record. He was named to the MaxPreps Junior All-American second team.[5]

Entering his senior year, Achiuwa transferred to Montverde Academy, a prep school in Montverde, Florida with a successful basketball program that held the No. 1 national ranking in the previous season.[6] He led Montverde with 14 points and 7.2 rebounds per game and helped his team reach the semifinals at GEICO High School Nationals.[7][8] Achiuwa earned MaxPreps All-American fifth team, USA Today All-USA third team, and USA Today All-USA Florida first team honors.[8][9][10] On March 27, 2019, he played for the East team in the McDonald's All-American Game, leading all scorers with 22 points.[11] On April 12, Achiuwa joined the World team at the Nike Hoop Summit.[12]

Recruiting

On May 17, 2019, Achiuwa committed to play college basketball for Memphis under head coach Penny Hardaway. He joined his former Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) teammate, Lester Quinones, and the number one player in the 2019 class, James Wiseman.[13]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Precious Achiuwa
PF/ C		 Port Harcourt, Nigeria Montverde Academy (FL) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) May 17, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 95
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 17  247Sports: 9  ESPN: 17
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Memphis 2019 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  • "2019 Memphis Tigers Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  • "2019 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 17, 2019.

College career

In his debut for Memphis, Achiuwa had 14 points and eight rebounds as the Tigers defeated South Carolina State 97–64.[14] Achiuwa scored a season-high 25 points in an 87–86 win over Ole Miss on November 23. As a result, he was named American Athletic Conference player of the week on November 25.[15] He earned conference freshman of the week honors on December 23 after recording 20 points and nine rebounds in a 77–49 victory over Jackson State.[16] At the conclusion of the regular season, Achiuwa was named AAC Player and Freshman of the Year.[17] He averaged 15.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game as a freshman.[18] He declared for the 2020 NBA draft after his freshman season.[19]

Professional career

Miami Heat (2020–2021)

Achiuwa was selected with the 20th pick in the 2020 NBA draft by the Miami Heat.[20] On November 25, 2020, Achiuwa signed his rookie scale contract with the Heat.[21]

Toronto Raptors (2021–present)

On August 6, 2021, the Toronto Raptors acquired Achiuwa and Goran Dragić from the Heat via a sign-and-trade deal in exchange for Kyle Lowry.[22] On October 20, 2021, on his season debut with the Raptors, Achiuwa had six points, seven rebounds, two assists and a steal in 19 minutes of play in a 96–83 loss to the Washington Wizards.[23] On November 24, 2021, Achiuwa made a career-high three 3-pointers while having 17 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal in a 126–113 win against the Memphis Grizzlies.[24]

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

Regular season
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020–21 Miami 61412.1.544.000.5093.4.5.3.55.0
2021–22 Toronto 732823.6.439.359.5956.51.1.5.69.1
2022–23 Toronto 551220.7.485.269.7026.0.9.6.59.2
Career 1894419.1.474.321.6055.3.9.5.57.8

Play-in
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2023 Toronto 109.4.500–1.0004.0.0.0.06.0
Career 109.4.500–1.0004.0.0.0.06.0

Playoffs
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2021 Miami 304.0.750—.2502.0.0.0.72.3
2022 Toronto 6127.8.481.313.6004.81.0.2.810.2
Career 9119.9.500.313.5003.9.7.1.87.6

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2019–20 Memphis 313130.4.493.325.59910.81.01.11.915.8
Career 313130.4.493.325.59910.81.01.11.915.8

Personal life

Achiuwa's older brother, God'sgift Achiuwa, played college basketball for St. John's from 2011 to 2014.[25] His mother, Eunice, and father, Donatus, are both Pentecostal ministers.[26] In addition to God'sgift, he has two other brothers, God'swill and Promise, and two sisters, Grace and Peace.[27]

References
  1. Tomes, Evan (April 12, 2019). "Precious Achiuwa Interview". NBADraft.net. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  2. Bedore, Gary (May 14, 2019). "Precious Achiuwa, who is on KU's wish list, says 'stay tuned' for weekend decision". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  3. Munz, Jason (July 8, 2019). "Memphis basketball: A closer look at Precious Achiuwa's unconventional recruitment". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  4. Riedel, Kenny (December 26, 2016). "The Slam Dunk skinny on prime-time basketball". Cape Gazette. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  5. Divens, Jordan (April 13, 2018). "2017–18 MaxPreps Boys Basketball Junior All-American Team". MaxPreps. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  6. Smith, Cam (August 14, 2018). "Chosen 25 F Precious Achiuwa transfers to Montverde Academy from St. Benedict's". USA Today High School Sports. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  7. Jordan, Jason (April 5, 2019). "GEICO Nationals: No. 4 IMG Academy (Fla.) stages epic comeback to knockoff No. 3 Montverde (Fla.) Academy". USA Today High School Sports. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  8. Divens, Jordan (April 11, 2019). "MaxPreps 2018–19 High School Boys Basketball All-American Team". MaxPreps. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  9. "2018–19 ALL-USA High School Boys Basketball: Third Team". USA Today High School Sports. April 2, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  10. "2018–19 ALL-USA Florida Boys Basketball Team". USA Today High School Sports. April 16, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  11. "Precious Achiuwa Shines at McDonald's All-American Game". mvasports.com. Montverde Academy. March 28, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  12. Lundeberg, Bob (April 11, 2019). "Nike Hoop Summit 2019: Internet sensation Nico Mannion sure to turn heads for World Team". The Oregonian. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  13. Fowler, Christian (May 17, 2019). "Five-star forward Precious Achiuwa commits to Memphis". 247Sports.com. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  14. "Wiseman has 28 and 11 in winning debut for No. 14 Memphis". ESPN. Associated Press. November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  15. "Memphis' Achiuwa, UConn's Bouknight Earn Men's Basketball Weekly Honors". American Athletic Conference. November 25, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  16. "ECU's Gardner, Memphis' Achiuwa Earn Men's Basketball Weekly Honors". American Athletic Conference. December 23, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  17. "American Athletic Conference Announces Individual Awards" (Press release). American Athletic Conference. March 11, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  18. Collings, Buddy (April 3, 2020). "Orlando area college basketball All Stars for 2019–20". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  19. Giviony, Jonathan (April 24, 2020). "Memphis star, AAC Player of the Year Precious Achiuwa to enter NBA draft". espn.com. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  20. Fowler, Christian (November 18, 2020). "Precious Achiuwa goes No. 20 overall to the Miami Heat". 247 Sports. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  21. "Precious Achiuwa Signs With HEAT". NBA.com. November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  22. "HEAT ACQUIRE KYLE LOWRY". NBA.com. August 6, 2021.
  23. "Beal has 23, Wizards top Raptors 98-83, spoil Toronto return". cbssports.com. October 20, 2021.
  24. "Gary Trent Jr. keys late rally, Raptors beat Grizzlies". espn.com. November 24, 2021.
  25. Goldberg, Rob (May 17, 2019). "5-Star SF Precious Achiuwa Commits to Penny Hardaway, Memphis over Kansas". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  26. Logan, Greg (July 23, 2011). "God'sgift happy to be at St. John's". Newsday. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  27. Darcy, Kieran (May 5, 2011). "St. John's blessed with gift from above". ESPN. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
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