Norense Odiase

Norense Odiase
Odiase with Texas Tech in March 2019
Free agent
PositionCenter
Personal information
Born (1995-09-14) September 14, 1995 (age 29)
Fort Worth, Texas
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeTexas Tech (2014–2019)
NBA draft2019: undrafted
Playing career2019–present
Career history
2019–2020Northern Arizona Suns
2020–2021Brose Bamberg
2021Science City Jena
2021Motor City Cruise
20212023Greensboro Swarm
2023Texas Legends
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Norense Odiase (born September 14, 1995) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Texas Legends of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

High school career

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Odiase played for North Crowley High School in Fort Worth, Texas. As a senior, he averaged 7.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, leading his team to a 29–8 record and the Region I semifinals.[1] Upon the recommendation of his coach Tommy Brakel, Odiase played a postgraduate year at Elev8 Sports institute in Delray Beach, Florida, developing his body and explosiveness.[2] On March 14, 2014, he committed to play college basketball for Texas Tech over offers from Georgia, Old Dominion and TCU, among others. Odiase was considered a three-star recruit by 247Sports.[3][4]

College career

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In his first career game for Texas Tech, on November 14, 2014, Odiase recorded 16 points and 10 rebounds in a 71–59 win over Loyola (Maryland). He became the first freshman in program history to register a double-double and start in a season opener and was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week.[5] As a freshman, Odiase averaged 7.0 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.[6] He averaged 8.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore, missing over one month, including all of February 2017, with a broken right foot.[7][8] Three games into his junior season, Odiase suffered a season-ending foot injury and was granted a redshirt.[7][9] As a junior, Odiase averaged 3.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game and considered transferring to gain more opportunities.[10] In his senior season, he averaged 4.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, helping his team reach the national championship game.[11] Odiase finished with the most career wins in program history.[6]

Professional career

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Northern Arizona Suns (2019–2020)

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After going undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft, Odiase took part in the Eurobasket Summer League.[12] He signed a training camp deal with the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA).[13] In his rookie season, Odiase played for the team's NBA G League affiliate, the Northern Arizona Suns.[14] On December 9, 2019, he posted 14 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and one block in a 125-100 loss to the Salt Lake City Stars.[15] Odiase missed a game against the South Bay Lakers on December 29 with an illness.[16] In 35 games, he averaged 5.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.[17]

Brose Bamberg (2020–2021)

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On August 4, 2020, Odiase signed a one-year contract with Brose Bamberg of the Basketball Bundesliga.[18]

Science City Jena (2021)

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On February 19, 2021, Odiase signed with Science City Jena of the German ProA.[19]

Motor City Cruise (2021)

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In October, 2021, he was added to the Motor City Cruise.[20] However, he was waived on November 8.[21]

Greensboro Swarm (2021–2023)

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On December 30, 2021, Odiase was acquired by the Greensboro Swarm of the NBA G League.[22] On February 25, 2023, Odiase was waived by the Greensboro Swarm.[23]

Texas Legends (2023)

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On February 27, 2023, Odiase was acquired by the Texas Legends.[24]

Personal life

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Odiase is the son of Nigerian parents, Nick and Osa Odiase. His father is a pharmacist and his mother is a nurse. He has a fraternal twin brother named Nick, as well as older twin sisters.[2] When he was a senior at Texas Tech, two of his cousins died in an automobile accident.[25]

References

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  1. ^ Holmes, CJ (March 9, 2018). "Here's a list of every Dallas high school basketball alum playing in the Sweet 16". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Henry, John. "Fort Worth's Odiase an essential ingredient at Texas Tech". Press Box DFW. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  3. ^ Bossi, Eric (March 5, 2014). "Waiting worth it for Odiase". Rivals. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  4. ^ "PF Norense Odiase Commits to Texas Tech". Viva The Matadors. March 14, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  5. ^ Pirtle, Krista (February 24, 2015). "Freshman Norense Odiase becoming Texas Tech's defensive wall". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Norense Odiase". Texas Tech Red Raiders. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Spotlight: Norense Odiase". Texas Tech Red Raiders. October 1, 2018. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  8. ^ Silva Jr., Carlos (March 4, 2016). "Odiase to play against Kansas State". 247Sports. Retrieved August 25, 2020.[dead link]
  9. ^ Carlton, Chuck (October 24, 2017). "While out with injury, Texas Tech's Norense Odiase gave his body a serious overhaul". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  10. ^ Emmert, Mark (April 7, 2019). "Final Four: Norense Odiase takes in one last game before ending career at Texas Tech". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  11. ^ "Norense Odiase: Most underrated player of the NCAA Tournament". Viva The Matadors. April 9, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  12. ^ "Chicago Eurobasket Summer League May 17-19 - May 15, 2019". Eurobasket Summer League. May 17, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  13. ^ "Suns Announce Roster in Advance of Training Camp". Phoenix Suns. September 27, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  14. ^ Hunt, Stephen (February 12, 2020). "Former Texas Tech product Odiase progressing well in G League". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  15. ^ "Norense Odiase: Double-double in loss". CBS Sports. December 29, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  16. ^ "Norense Odiase: Out Saturday with illness". CBS Sports. December 30, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  17. ^ Askounis, Johnny (August 5, 2020). "Brose Bamberg completes squad with Norense Odiase". EuroHoops. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  18. ^ "Brose Bamberg komplettiert seinen Kader mit Norense Odiase" (in German). Brose Bamberg. August 4, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  19. ^ "Bamberg releases Norense Odiase". Sportando. February 19, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  20. ^ "Motor City Cruise Announce 2021-22 Training Camp Roster". Our Sports Central. October 25, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  21. ^ "Motor City Cruise Claim Cheick Diallo Off Waivers". NBA.com. November 8, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  22. ^ "2021-22 NBA G League transactions". gleague.nba.com. December 30, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  23. ^ "2022-23 NBA G League Transactions". gleague.nba.com. February 25, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  24. ^ "2022-23 NBA G League Transactions". gleague.nba.com. February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  25. ^ Davison, Drew (March 20, 2019). "Texas Tech's 'captain' Norense Odiase using basketball to overcome grief". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
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