Tonye Jekiri is the new CSKA center
Center Tonye Jekiri (28 years old, 212 cm) has signed a two-year contract with our club...
The Nigerian big man is a product of American basketball. He graduated from high school in the USA, and then became a graduate of Miami University (Florida), where he made his way to the NCAA Sweet 16.
Jekiri spent his entire professional career in Europe, with the last four years in the EuroLeague, playing a total of 111 games (53 starts) for ASVEL, Baskonia, UNICS and Fenerbahce. Last season at the Istanbul club, he averaged 6.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists in 13.5 minutes in the EuroLeague and 5.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists in 18.4 minutes in the Turkish League.
CSKA fans remember Tony very well by his performances for the Kazan team. He became one of the heroes of the famous game on February 7, 2022, in which the Red-Blues lost to the Greens in three overtimes, and Jekiri made a double-double (10 points and 10 rebounds) in 43 minutes on the floor. The Nigerian center did not leave Russia after the clubs were suspended from the EuroLeague and helped UNICS become the bronze medalist of the VTB League.
Emil Rajkovic, CSKA head coach:
I would like to welcome Tonye to our family, for me he is one of the best centers on the market now and I am really glad he decided to join us. Tonye is a big guy that played on Euroleague level consistently this past 4 years. He can run the floor really good, he plays actively on defense and can make a mid-range shot that is also very important. I wish him to stay without injuries and I wish a lot of success.
Tonye Jekiri, CSKA center:
I am really happy to join a huge basketball organization like CSKA. The trophies of the club speak for itself and I hope I can contribute to make them a lot more. I am happy that the goals of the Club align with mine and are to win as many trophies as possible. I am looking forward to joining the Club and I am ready to give my best to represent such an organization with the best possible way on and off court. It was a really easy decision for me after discussing with the coach and since I know the mentality of the club.
