Ikechukwu Somtochukwu

The towering Ikechukwu Somtochukwu, who is also known as Ike Diogu, is a professional basketball power forward/center who currently plays for the Egyptian side Zamalek. He has shot hoops for many teams in the United States, Puerto Rico, China, and Iran, and has won a number of accolades and awards, including the BSN Championship in 2014, and the NBA D-League Impact Player of the Year in 2014.

Somtochukwu was born in Buffalo, New York to Nigerian parents, and was raised in Garland, Texas. He was a natural at basketball during his High School years and continued to excel at the sport when he attended Arizona State University. He garnered several honours, including Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, and Pac-10 Player of the Year. His professional career took off when he was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the 2005 NBA draft. Then from 2007 he played for the Indiana Pacers. In 2008 he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, and a year later he joined the Sacramento Kings. He was then signed by the New Orleans Hornets in July 2009 but never played for the team, and left to join the Detroit Pistons. Again he didn’t play for the side and was waived in October 2010. He then signed as free agent with the Los Angeles Clippers in December. He briefly joined the San Antonio Spurs in 2012, then decided to try his luck abroad and joined the Chinese side Xinjiang Flying Tigers.

Somtochukwu then spent a number of years moving between the United States, Puerto Rico, and China, until moving to Iran in 2021 to play for Chemidor B.C. In January 2022 he signed with the Egyptian side Zamalek SC. He has also represented Nigeria on the international stage, winning a Gold at the 2015 AfroBasket, and being named FIBA Africa Championship MVP and winning a Silver at the 2017 AfroBasket.

Somtochukwu regularly connects with his legions of followers and fans through Instagram, posting pictures and videos about his globetrotting life both on and off the basketball court. He is also available for that personalised shout-out via the Cameo platform.