English Coarse: Overseas Entertainment Linked to Hoops Instead of Queen
September 12th, 2022 - 20:01
Unless an American (Meghan Markle) stole the show by having another self-indulgent episode, it was difficult to understand why American news outlets focused more on the pomp and circumstance of Queen Elizabeth II passing away than the patriotism and courage of what transpired regarding anniversary date of 9/11 attacks. It may be time to call a timeout to break away temporarily from overdosing on royalty. Compared to many European countries, England is more mediocre than hardwood haughty. The increasingly global NBA has showcased its talent across the pond for an extensive period but where were the Brits on NBA rosters? The nation's hoop monarch probably is Michael Olowokandi, a center from Pacific who was Big West Conference player of the year in 1998 before becoming first pick overall in NBA draft. Supplementing the obsessive focus on England, following is an alphabetical list of prominent NCAA Division I players over the years from that nation:
| English Native | Pos. | College | Summary of NCAA Division I Playing Career |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amin Adamu | G | Montana State | Averaged 12.4 ppg and 5 rpg from 2019-20 through 2021-22. |
| Ogo Adegboye | G | St. Bonaventure | Averaged 8.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg and 2.9 apg in 2009-10 and 2010-11. |
| Daniel Akin | F | Maryland-Baltimore County/California Baptist | Averaged 5.3 ppg and 4.8 rpg while shooting 58.2% from the floor from 2017-18 through 2020-21 with UMBC before averaging 10.8 ppg and team-high 8.1 rpg with Cal Baptist in 2021-22. |
| Sam Alajiki | F | California | Averaged 3.1 ppg and 1.9 rpg in 2021-22. |
| Fahro Alihodzic | F-C | Fordham | Averaged 4.5 ppg and 4 rpg as freshman in 2009-10. |
| David Aliu | F | Morehead State | Averaged 4.2 ppg and 2.8 rpg from 2000-01 through 2003-04. |
| Ben Allison | F | Davidson | Averaged 4.4 ppg and 3 rpg from 2008-09 to 2010-11. |
| John Amaechi | C | Penn State | Vanderbilt transfer averaged 15.6 ppg and 8.9 rpg in three years with PSU from 1992-93 through 1994-95. All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection as senior after earning third-team status the previous two seasons. |
| Michael Anumba | G | Winthrop | Averaged 7 ppg and 3.9 rpg from 2018-19 through 2021-22. |
| Olu Babaloa | F | Clemson | Averaged 7.6 ppg and 3.7 rpg as sophomore in 2002-03, 9 ppg and 4.6 rpg as junior in 2003-04 and 6.8 ppg and 3.7 rpg as senior in 2004-05. |
| Tariq Balogun | F | Eastern Kentucky | Averaged 3.2 ppg and 2 rpg from 2019-20 through 2021-22. |
| Alan Bannister | C | Oklahoma State/Arkansas State | Led the Big Eight Conference in blocked shots per league game with OSU in 1985-86 before transferring to Arkansas State. |
| Jubrile Belo | F | Montana State | Averaged 13.2 ppg and 6.4 rpg while shooting 60.1% from the floor from 2019-20 through 2021-22. |
| Mike Bernard | C | South Florida | J.C. recruit averaged 4 ppg and 1.8 rpg in 2000-01 and 2001-02. |
| Andrew Betts | C | Long Beach State | C.W. Post transfer erupted for 31 points and nine rebounds in an 81-71 upset win over USC in just his second-ever Division I game. He finished his only season with the 49ers in 1997-98 with team-high averages of 18.7 ppg and 10.1 rpg as All-Big West Conference first-team selection. |
| Kavell Bigby-Williams | F-C | Oregon/LSU | J.C. recruit averaged 5.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 1.3 bpg for two different NCAA playoff participants in 2017 and 2019. |
| Eric Boateng | C | Arizona State | Duke transfer averaged 3.9 ppg and 2.6 rpg with team-high 61.5% field-goal shooting as sophomore in 2007-08 before his averages fell to 1.8 ppg and 2 rpg as junior in 2008-09. Rebounded with 8.8 ppg and team highs of 7.2 rpg, 26 blocked shots and 66.5% field-goal shooting as senior in 2009-10. |
| Matthew Bryan-Amaning | F | Washington | Averaged 4.2 ppg and 3.2 rpg with team-high 18 blocked shots as freshman in 2007-08, 6 ppg and 4 rpg as sophomore in 2008-09 and 8.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg with team highs of 1.5 bpg and 54% field-goal shooting as junior in 2009-10. |
| Steve Bucknall | G | North Carolina | Averaged 13.1 ppg as senior in 1988-89 when he was All-ACC second-team selection, finishing his four-year career with 7.5 ppg, 3 rpg and 2.9 apg. |
| Mantia Callender | C | Middle Tennessee State | J.C. recruit averaged 4.7 ppg and 4.7 rpg in 1996-97 and 1997-98. He had team-high 1.5 bpg as senior. |
| Danny Carter | F-C | Stony Brook | Averaged 3.4 ppg and 2.4 rpg from 2008-09 to 2010-11. |
| Silas Cheung | G | Mount St. Mary's | One of the top 10 three-point shooters in school history averaged 9.4 ppg as junior in 1995-96 after averaging 6.1 ppg as sophomore. |
| Martin Clark | F | Boston College | Selected to the Big East Conference's All-Freshman Team in 1980-81. He led the Eagles in rebounding his freshman and sophomore seasons. |
| Jason Crump | C-F | Towson State | Bowling Green transfer averaged 9 ppg and 6 rpg for Towson as senior in 1994-95. |
| Robert Dalley | C | The Citadel | Averaged 8.5 ppg and 6.5 rpg for the Bulldogs in 1989-90 and 11 ppg and 5.6 rpg in 1991-92. Missed 1990-91 season because of broken leg. |
| Luol Deng | F | Duke | Born in Sudan, he averaged 15.1 ppg and 6.9 rpg as All-ACC third-team selection in 2003-04. |
| Spencer Dunkley | C | Delaware | Finished fifth in the nation with 3.2 bpg in 1992-93 when becoming an All-North Atlantic Conference first-team selection by leading the league in rebounding (12.2 rpg). Paced the Blue Hens in scoring as senior (19.2 ppg) and led them in rebounding three consecutive seasons. |
| Shaun Durant | C | Lipscomb | Averaged 7.5 ppg and 6.5 rpg in 2004-05 and 2005-06. He led the Bison with 7.2 rpg in 2005-06. |
| Ben Eaves | F | Rhode Island | UConn transfer averaged 3.4 ppg with URI as sophomore in 2008-09, 3.1 ppg as junior in 2009-10 and 3.5 ppg and 3.1 rpg as senior in 2010-11. |
| AJ Edu | F | Toledo | Averaged 3.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg and 1.7 bpg in 2018-19. |
| Tosan Evbuomwan | F | Princeton | Averaged 10.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg and 3.1 apg in 2019-20 and 2021-22. |
| R.J. Eytle-Rock | G | Maryland-Baltimore County/Utah State | Averaged 9.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg and 2.5 apg from 2018-19 through 2020-21 before averaging 7.8 ppg and 2.3 rpg with USU in 2021-22. |
| Ekechi Ezugwu | C-F | Eastern Michigan | Averaged 7.7 ppg and 6.1 rpg as senior starter for EMU's NCAA playoff team in 1998. |
| Oladapo Fagbenle | C | Campbell | Led team with 30 blocked shots as freshman in 2005-06 and 24 in 2007-08. |
| Neil Fingleton | C | Holy Cross | Redshirt with North Carolina in 2000-01 before transferring. Averaged 2.9 ppg with the Crusaders in 2002-03. |
| Tom Frederick | F | Morgan State | Averaged 3.5 ppg and 2.2 rpg in 1999-00 and 2000-01. |
| Caleb Fuller | G | UC Davis | Averaged 7.8 ppg and 3.1 rpg from 2018-19 through 2021-22. |
| Nick George | F | Virginia Commonwealth | CAA Rookie of the Year in 2002-03 when averaging 8.7 ppg and 6.7 rpg. Contributed 9.2 ppg and 5.9 rpg the next season before becoming an all-league first-team choice in 2004-05 (team highs of 16.8 ppg and 5.8 rpg) and 2005-06 (team-high 16.9 ppg and 5.1 rpg). |
| Paul Guede | G-F | Portland | Averaged 4.5 ppg and 3.3 rpg from 2008-09 to 2010-11. |
| Ashley Hamilton | F | Loyola Marymount | Averaged 8.3 ppg and 4.6 rpg in 2008-09 and 2009-10. |
| Martin Henlan | C | Virginia Commonwealth | Led the Rams in rebounding in 1988-89 (9 rpg) and 1989-90 (7.7 rpg). |
| Kayne Henry | G-F | Jacksonville State | Averaged 9.4 ppg and 5.9 rpg from 2019-20 through 2021-22. |
| Delme Herriman | F | Wright State | Averaged 9.9 ppg and 5.4 rpg in 1994-95 and 9.3 ppg and 6.1 rpg in 1995-96. |
| Cameron Hildreth | G | Wake Forest | Averaged 3.9 ppg and 2.9 rpg in 2021-22. |
| Boban Jacdonmi | F | Southern Mississippi | Averaged 4.4 ppg and 2.9 rpg in 2018-19 and 2019-20. |
| Shaun James | F | Canisius | J.C. recruit averaged 3.1 ppg and 3.6 rpg in 2006-07 and 2007-08. |
| Gedi Juozapaitis | G | Georgia Southern | Flagler (Fla.) averaged 7.7 ppg in 2020-21 and 2021-22. |
| Jonathan Komagum | F | Sacramento State | Toledo transfer averaged 5.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 1.5 bpg in 2021-22. |
| Dazflo Larkai | F | La Salle | Averaged 4.4 ppg and 4 rpg as freshman in 2002-03 and started eight games as sophomore in 2003-04. |
| Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye | G-F | Bradley | Averaged 8.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 2.4 apg from 2015-16 through 2018-19. |
| Andrew Lawrence | G | College of Charleston | Averaged 9.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.9 apg and 1.2 spg from 2009-10 through 2012-13. All-Southern Conference second-team selection each of his last two seasons. |
| Josh McSwiggan | F | Portland | Averaged 10 ppg and 3.7 rpg in 2017-18 and 2018-19. |
| Matt Meakin | C | Mount St. Mary's | Averaged 2.9 ppg and 3.2 rpg from 1991-92 through 1994-95. Member of school's first NCAA Division I team as senior. |
| Kojo Mensah-Bonsu | F | Washington State | J.C. recruit averaged 9.2 ppg and 4.5 rpg with team-high 51.5% shooting from the floor as junior in 1997-98 before averaging 13.1 ppg and team-high 6 rpg in 1998-99. |
| Pops Mensah-Bonsu | F | George Washington | Averaged 10.1 ppg and 5.7 rpg while shooting team-high 58.5% from the floor as a freshman in 2002-03 and 11.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg and team-high 61.6% field-goal shooting as a sophomore in 2003-04. Became an All-Atlantic 10 Conference second-team selection as junior in 2004-05 when he averaged 12.6 ppg and 6.6 while shooting team-high 57.1% from the floor and first-team choice as senior in 2005-06 with 12.6 ppg and 6.7 rpg plus team highs of 1.7 bpg and 56.4 FG%. |
| Aaron Menzies | C | Seattle/Saint Mary's | Averaged 8.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 1.4 bpg with Seattle from 2015-16 through 2017-18 before averaging 2.5 ppg and 1.7 rpg with the Gaels in 2019-20. |
| Alan Metcalfe | F | Vanderbilt | Averaged 3.2 ppg and 1.8 rpg from 2004-05 through 2007-08. |
| Richard Midgley | G | California | Averaged 10.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.5 apg and 1 spg from 2002-03 through 2005-06. |
| Will Ohuaregbe | F | UNC Wilmington | Averaged 4 ppg and 4.8 rpg as freshman in 2009-10. |
| Mate Okros | F | Drexel | Averaged 5.9 ppg and 2 rpg from 2019-20 through 2021-22. |
| Michael Olowokandi | C | Pacific | Averaged 10.9 ppg and 6.6 rpg with 57% field-goal shooting in 1996-97 before becoming Big West Conference player of the year the next season as senior when posting team highs of 22.2 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 2.8 bpg and 60.8% from the floor. First pick overall in 1998 NBA draft. |
| Ugonna Onyekwe | F | Penn | Averaged 14.9 ppg and 6.4 rpg while hitting 50.6% of his field-goal attempts from 1999-00 through 2002-03. Ivy League player of the year as junior (17.5 ppg, 6 rpg) and senior (16.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg). Led the Quakers in rebounding (7.5 rpg) as sophomore. |
| Great Osobor | F | Montana State | Averaged 6 ppg and 4.2 rpg while shooting 68.1% from the floor as a freshman in 2021-22. |
| Chris Pearson | F | Davidson | Averaged 7.8 ppg and team-high 6.8 rpg as sophomore in 2000-01. All-Southern Conference second-team selection the next year when averaging 11.7 ppg and 8.4 rpg, finishing his career with 7.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg and 1.2 bpg. |
| Liam Potter | C | Sacred Heart | Averaged 4.7 ppg and 3.9 rpg from 2005-06 through 2009-10. Shot team-high 65.9% from the floor as sophomore in 2006-07 and paced the Pioneers in rebounding (8.3 rpg) and blocks (2 bpg) as senior. Named Most Improved Player in the Northeast Conference in 2009-10 after redshirting the previous season. |
| Ethan Price | F | Eastern Washington | Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year in 2021-22 when averaging 9.9 ppg and 4.9 rpg. |
| Marc Pratt | F | Towson | Averaged 3.7 ppg and 2.2 rpg in 2005-06 and 2006-07. |
| Robert Reed | F-C | Rider | Averaged 4.5 ppg and 4.4 rpg from 1999-00 through 2002-03. Posted career-high 7.8 ppg and team-high 6.8 rpg as senior. |
| Justin Robinson | G | Rider | Averaged 11.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg and 3 apg from 2007-08 to 2010-11. Led the Broncs with 2.8 apg, 1.5 spg, 64 three-pointers and 88.3% free-throw shooting as junior. |
| Sam Robson | C | UC Santa Barbara | UNC Charlotte transfer was senior starter in 1991-92 when averaging 4.2 ppg and 3.2 rpg. |
| Jeremy Sochan | F | Baylor | Averaged 9.2 ppg and 6.4 rpg as a freshman in 2021-22 before becoming ninth pick overall in NBA draft. |
| Ovie Soko | F | UAB/Duquesne | Averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.9 rpg with UAB from 2009-10 through 2011-12 before averaging 18.4 ppg and 8 rpg with Duquesne in 2013-14. |
| Andrew Sullivan | F | Villanova | Averaged 3.9 ppg and 3.4 rpg from 1999-00 through 2002-03. |
| Chris Timms | C | Denver | J.C. recruit averaged 2.6 ppg and shot team-high 59.1% from the floor in 2006-07. |
| Zion Tordoff | F | Marist/Houston Baptist | Averaged 3 ppg and 2.4 rpg with Marist in 2019-20 and 7 ppg and 4.3 rpg with HBU in 2021-22. |
| Josh Uduje | G | Coastal Carolina | Averaged 6.8 ppg and 2.8 rpg in 2021-22. |
| Shane Walker | F | Loyola (Md.) | Played sparingly with Maryland in 2007-08 before transferring to Loyola (Md.), where he averaged 8.7 ppg with team highs of 6.6 rpg and 1.5 bpg as sophomore in 2009-10 before contributing 11 ppg, 7.6 rpg and 1.9 bpg as junior in 2010-11. |
| Shaquille Walters | G-F | Santa Clara/Northeastern | Averaged 3.8 ppg for Santa Clara in 2017-18 before averaging 8.6 ppg and 4.3 rpg with Northeastern from 2018-19 through 2021-22. |
| Amari Williams | F | Drexel | Averaged 6.6 ppg and 5.1 rpg in 2020-21 and 2021-22. |
| Akwasi Yeboah | F | Stony Brook/Rutgers | Averaged 13.9 ppg and 6 rpg with SBU from 2016-17 through 2018-19 before averaging 9.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg for the Scarlet Knights in 2019-20. |