Men’s Basketball
For Saint Mary’s Huskies’ Harry Ezenibe, basketball has served as a means to achieve his goals.
Born and raised in Nigeria in a community he describes as underdeveloped and prone to religious conflict, Ezenibe’s basketball career has allowed him to travel the world and to pursue a post-secondary education.
“I was fortunate enough to have a very supportive family that saw me through high school despite the adversities,” he says. “My interest had always been to play in one of the top schools in the United States, but the difficulty of getting a visa approval in Nigeria marred my opportunities.”
Ezenibe was offered scholarships to attend schools in the U.S., but his denied visa applications left him unable to accept.
Instead, Ezenibe participated in several basketball exchange programs between 2007 and 2009 in France, Serbia and Italy. However he still sought academic opportunities. In 2009, he spoke to former teammate Ikeobi Uchegbu who was playing in Canada for the Huskies. Uchegbu introduced him to head coach Jonah Taussig.
“I made game highlights and sent it in [along with] my academic transcripts and I was accepted!”
Ezenibe still had a big decision ahead of him as an offer to play professionally in Spain was presented to him at the same time. “I made a quick [decision] for the academic opportunity and my family supported my decision [to pursue] a degree,” he says.
The 24-year-old is now earning a bachelor of arts in sociology and criminology. He hopes to eventually establish what he has dubbed the “HarryCares” project as a means of giving back, empowering youth and, “in order to create opportunities for youth in Nigeria and other parts of the world.”
Coach Taussig can certainly vouch for his generous and compassionate personality. “Harry is completely unselfish,” says Taussig. “This is not only true on the court but carries over to off the court activities as well.”
As a high school student, Ezenibe joined the Adolescent Health and Information Project which ran a basketball outreach program and focused on youth empowerment.
“AHIP outreach basketball team attended basketball tournaments and games against local teams and schools while using the game as a tool to disseminate information and educational materials to the people attending these games,” he explains. It was here that Ezenibe grew to love basketball and appreciate its power as a tool for good.
Today, he participates in outreach programs and basketball camps through SMU and volunteers with Autism Nova Scotia.
On the court, Ezenibe just wrapped up his third season in which he averaged 9.9 points and 7.1 rebounds in only 23 minutes per game. He was also named an Academic all-Canadian for the 2011-2012 season.
His coach calls him “one of the most athletic players in the league” and anticipates that he will continue his basketball career following his graduation from SMU.
Getting to know Harry Ezenibe:
What has been your most memorable moment playing for SMU so far?
“The first game I played alongside my former Nigerian teammate Ikeobi Uchegbu, he gave me an assist in the game. It felt like playing back home, when we used to play in Nigeria. Just a great feeling!”
Do you have an early memory of basketball and learning to love the game?
“Yes, when I was 12-13 years old, I always watched NBA highlights and then watched my brothers play. I loved and played basketball, but was more engaged in volleyball and soccer at the time. Always being around my brothers, I [eventually] fell in love with the game. My brothers inspired me!”
Coach Taussig’s favourite memory of Harry, on or off the court?
“When he visited an elementary school this past spring and the way he was able to engage and interact with the kids to give them a positive experience.” – SMU head coach Jonah Taussig.
Follow Harry on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HarryCares10