Devine Eke Bio
Devine Chukwuemeka Eke (born July 28, 1996) is an American-Nigerian basketball player who most recently played for ASC Ville de Dakar in Senegal’s Nationale 1 (NM1) and the Basketball Africa League (BAL). A versatile forward standing 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) and listed at 205 lb (93 kg), Eke has built a global professional résumé that spans Spain, the Netherlands, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the NBA G League, and Africa. He entered the 2020 NBA draft undrafted and has since pursued a steady climb across multiple continents while representing Nigeria on the international stage.
Early Life and Background
Devine Chukwuemeka Eke was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, and raised in the same city as the son of Charles Eke and Lilian Eke. He grew up alongside four siblings, and his extended family includes cousins Chiney Ogwumike and Nneka Ogwumike, both established professionals in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). That family connection to the WNBA helped shape Eke’s early understanding of the demands and rewards of a career in basketball.
At Union Catholic Regional High School in Union County, New Jersey, Eke led his program to a conference title while also competing in track, an experience that strengthened his conditioning and explosiveness. He later transferred to The Robinson School in Irvington, New Jersey, where he averaged 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 blocks per game. Those numbers earned him Jordan Brand Classic Regional Player honours and established him as one of the more intriguing forward prospects in his recruiting class.
Path to Basketball
Eke began his college career with the Maine Black Bears, where he led the program in rebounds per game (6.8), field goal percentage (.612), and blocks per game (1.6). His efficiency on the interior hinted at the rim-protecting, rebounding profile that would later become his professional trademark. After one season at Maine, he transferred to the Rider Broncs and sat out a year in accordance with NCAA transfer rules.
Once eligible, Eke played two full seasons at Rider before finishing his senior year with the Radford Highlanders, where he again led the team in rebounds and blocks. At Radford, he majored in radio and television, balancing a demanding athletic schedule with coursework that broadened his interests beyond the court. He declared for the 2020 NBA draft following his final college season and went undrafted, setting the stage for a long and winding professional journey.
Devine Eke Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Coming out of college in 2020, Eke initially struggled to find a professional team because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He worked out with several National Basketball Association (NBA) organizations, including the Chicago Bulls, before securing his first contract. In 2021, he signed with Palencia of the Spanish LEB Oro, where he spent his debut professional season adapting to the physical and tactical demands of European basketball.
During his time with Palencia, Eke established himself as a forward capable of contributing on both ends of the floor, leaning on the rebounding and rim protection that had defined his college résumé. The Spanish league provided a strong developmental platform, exposing him to high-level competition and varied styles of play. That foundation set the stage for a series of short but meaningful stops across multiple countries.
European Stints (2022–2024)
In 2022, Eke moved to Académica de Coimbra in Portugal, where he continued to refine his game in another competitive European setting. The following year, he joined Sloboda Tuzla in Bosnia and Herzegovina, expanding his experience across the Balkan basketball circuit. Each move allowed him to add new layers to his game, from spacing in half-court sets to physical interior play in faster-paced leagues.
In January 2023, Eke joined Dutch club Feyenoord, though he had to wait two months for his working visa before he could debut. He finally took the court on March 6, 2023, scoring 5 points in an away loss to Brussels. The brief Feyenoord chapter illustrated the logistical challenges international players often face, but it also reinforced Eke’s persistence in pursuing his professional goals.
Africa and G League Breakthrough (2024–2025)
In May 2024, Eke joined Nigerian side Rivers Hoopers of the Basketball Africa League, where he played a central role in the team’s third-place finish. He averaged 16.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game across the BAL season, performances that earned him selection to the All-BAL Second Team and the BAL All-Defensive Second Team. Those honours marked the first major individual accolades of his professional career and signaled his arrival on a larger stage.
Following his BAL campaign, Eke joined the Milwaukee Bucks for the 2024 NBA Summer League, gaining valuable exposure against NBA-level competition. On October 26, 2024, he was selected in the 2024 NBA G League draft and joined the Santa Cruz Warriors, though he was waived on December 2. He signed with the Delaware Blue Coats on January 10, 2025, but was waived the same day after a single appearance. Earlier in 2025, he also appeared with the San Diego Clippers in the G League before returning overseas.
ASC Ville de Dakar Era (2025–Present)
Eke joined ASC Ville de Dakar for the 2025 BAL season, returning to African competition with renewed confidence after his breakout Rivers Hoopers campaign. The Senegalese club competes in both the Nationale 1 and the Basketball Africa League, offering Eke a dual-stage platform to showcase his development. His selection of ASC Ville de Dakar reflects a growing trend of experienced international players anchoring ambitious African club projects.
At ASC Ville de Dakar, Eke serves as a versatile small forward and power forward, capable of stretching the floor while also anchoring the defense around the basket. His leadership, earned through years of professional stops across four continents, positions him as a central figure in the club’s continental ambitions.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Eke’s signature achievements are his All-BAL Second Team and BAL All-Defensive Second Team selections in 2024 with Rivers Hoopers, honors that recognized both his offensive efficiency and his rim protection. His 16.6-point, 10.8-rebound averages during that BAL run remain a career benchmark, and his subsequent NBA Summer League invitation with the Milwaukee Bucks underscored how far his game had traveled from his undrafted status in 2020.
Devine Eke Career Highlights
Across his professional career, Devine Chukwuemeka Eke has built a résumé highlighted by the 2024 All-BAL Second Team and BAL All-Defensive Second Team selections with Rivers Hoopers. Those BAL accolades stand as his most decorated individual achievements to date, complemented by strong statistical showings in Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Basketball Africa League Highlights
Eke’s most productive BAL stretch came in 2024, when he averaged 16.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game for Rivers Hoopers en route to a third-place finish. He followed that performance by joining ASC Ville de Dakar for the 2025 BAL season, continuing his presence on the African continental stage. His two-way production has been central to the identity of each club he has represented in the league.
Devine Eke Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Devine Chukwuemeka Eke is the son of Charles Eke and Lilian Eke and grew up with four siblings in Plainfield, New Jersey. His family includes WNBA stars Chiney Ogwumike and Nneka Ogwumike, cousins whose professional success has provided a tangible blueprint for his own career. That basketball-rich environment helped shape his early development and reinforced the values of hard work and perseverance that have guided his journey through multiple leagues and continents.
Personal Life
At Radford, Eke majored in radio and television, an academic pursuit that complemented his athletic commitments and broadened his professional interests. His dual American-Nigerian identity has allowed him to represent Nigeria internationally, including a debut for the Nigeria national team in February 2024 during the FIBA AfroBasket 2025 qualifiers. He has continued to balance life across two cultures while pursuing his basketball career on three continents.
2025 Season Performance
Devine Chukwuemeka Eke’s 2025 season is centered on his role with ASC Ville de Dakar in both the Nationale 1 and the Basketball Africa League. After brief G League stints with the San Diego Clippers and the Delaware Blue Coats earlier in the year, he returned to the African circuit where his 2024 BAL performance had earned him league-wide recognition. The 2025 BAL season represents an opportunity to build on the All-BAL Second Team honours he established the previous year.
At ASC Ville de Dakar, Eke is expected to feature prominently as a small forward and power forward, providing scoring, rebounding, and interior defense. His experience across Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the NBA G League positions him as a stabilizing veteran presence for a club with continental ambitions. Strong performances in the BAL could once again attract interest from higher-profile international leagues and NBA summer rosters.
On the international stage, Eke remains part of the Nigeria national team setup after his February 2024 debut during the FIBA AfroBasket 2025 qualifiers, where he opened with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists against Uganda before scoring 31 points the following day versus Cape Verde. Those performances established him as a reliable contributor for the national program heading into future qualifying windows.