Viny Okouo

Viny Pierrot Marcel Okouo (born April 10, 1997) is a Congolese professional basketball player for Nevėžis Kėdainiai of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL).

Viny Okouo
Okouo with Unicaja in 2018
No. 97 – Nevėžis Kėdainiai
PositionCenter
LeagueLithuanian Basketball League
Personal information
Born (1997-04-10) April 10, 1997
Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
NationalityCongolese
Listed height2.14 m (7 ft 0 in)
Listed weight100 kg (220 lb)
Career information
NBA draft2019: undrafted
Playing career2015–present
Career history
2015–2019Unicaja
2014–2016→Clinicas Rincón Axarquía
2019–2020Nevėžis Kėdainiai
2020–2021Gipuzkoa
2021–2022Monbus Obradoiro
2022–2023Fuenlabrada
2023–presentNevėžis Kėdainiai
Career highlights and awards

Professional career

A native of the Republic of the Congo,[1] Okouo started playing basketball when he was 15 years old[2] and left home only shortly after to join the youth set-up of Unicaja Málaga in Spain. Okouo had been recommended by his fellow countryman Romaric Belemene. The Unicaja coaches had only seen some footage of Okouo practicing and were intrigued by his physical gifts, while his skills were underdeveloped.[3] At Unicaja, he learned to play the game and improved vastly.

Between 2014 and 2016, he spent time on loan at Instituto de Fertilidad Clínicas Rincón of the LEB Plata,[4] the third tier of Spanish basketball, while also seeing action for Unicaja’s development team in the EBA. Okouo made his ACB debut for Malaga during the 2015-16 campaign[5] and saw his first minutes in the EuroCup the following season.[6] In the 2016–17 season, Okouo won the EuroCup with Unicaja after beating Valencia Basket in the Finals.[7]

On August 27, 2019, he signed with Nevėžis Kėdainiai of the Lithuanian Basketball League. [8]

Okouo entered into the NBA draft as early as 2017, but was recorded as an early 2018 draft entry. His name was entered into the 2019 NBA draft in which he was not selected.[9]

On August 12, 2020, he has signed with Gipuzkoa Basket of the Spanish Liga ACB..[10]

On July 12, 2021, he has signed with Monbus Obradoiro of the Spanish Liga ACB.[11]

On August 13, 2022, he has signed with Fuenlabrada of the Liga ACB.[12]

On August 15, 2023, Okouo returned to Nevėžis Kėdainiai.[13]

References
  1. Málaga, La Opinión de. "El pandillero de Brazzaville". Retrieved 2016-11-13.
  2. "Eurohopes Basketball Prospects - News - Unicaja's New Hope – Discovered in Congo". www.eurohopes.com. Retrieved 2016-11-13.
  3. S.A., Sarenet. "Un niño de 2,11 metros - Club Unicaja de Baloncesto". unicaja.diariosur.es. Retrieved 2016-11-13.
  4. "Federación Española de Baloncesto - Competiciones FEB". competiciones.feb.es. Retrieved 2016-11-13.
  5. "ACB.COM". www.acb.com. Retrieved 2016-11-13.
  6. "OKOUO, VINY - Welcome to EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL". www.euroleague.net. Retrieved 2016-11-13.
  7. "7DAYS EuroCup Finals, Game 3: Unicaja Malaga is the champion!". Eurocupbasketball.com. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  8. "Viny Okouo inks with Kedainiai Nevezis". Sportando. August 27, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  9. Basketball Real GM.com Profile
  10. "Gipuzkoa completes roster announcing 4 contract extensions and 8 new players". Sportando. August 12, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  11. "Viny Okouo signs 2-year deal with Monbus Obradoiro". Sportando. July 12, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  12. "Viny Okouo joins Fuenlabrada". Sportando. August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  13. "Okouo po 3 metų Ispanijoje sugrįžta į Kėdainius". basketnews.lt (in Lithuanian). August 15, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
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