A. J. Edu Explained

A. J. Edu
Team:Free agent
Birth Date:1 January 2000
Birth Place:Cyprus
Nationality:Filipino / Cypriot
Height Ft:6
Height In:10
Weight Lbs:224
High School:SGS College (Bristol, England)
College:Toledo (2018–2023)
Career Start:2023
Years1:2023–2024
Team1:Toyama Grouses
Highlights:
  • MAC All-Freshman Team (2019)

Ariel John Litang Edu[1] (born January 1, 2000)[2] is a Cypriot-born Filipino professional basketball player who last played for Toyama Grouses of the Japanese B.League. Listed at 6feet and 224lbs, he plays the power forward and center positions. He is a member of the Philippine men's national basketball team.

Early life and career

Edu was born in Cyprus to a Nigerian father Ayotunde Edu and Filipina mother Josie Litang-Edu.[3] His mother is a native of Surigao City, Philippines but moved to England for work after finishing her education. She met Edu's father, a mathematics and physics professor.[2] Standing, Ayotunde played basketball in his home country before becoming a high school coach in Wales.[1]

Edu began playing basketball at the age of seven in the junior ranks of Cypriot club AEL Limassol. He also played soccer in his childhood but began focusing on basketball due to his exceptional height.[4] After his family moved to England a few years later, Edu joined the Bristol Flyers cadet team and the Swansea Storm in the Wales League. With Swansea, he established himself as a top player at the under-16, under-18, and men's first division levels.[5] With the Flyers, he trained with many former college basketball players.[4] In 2017, Edu began playing for South Gloucestershire and Stroud College in Bristol, England, where he was considered one of the top prospects in the country while competing in the Elite Academy Basketball League (EABL).[6] After the 2017–18 season, he was named EABL West Conference Defensive Player of the Year, averaging 18.6 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game.[7] In 2018, he was invited to a Basketball Without Borders camp in Los Angeles.[8]

College career

On April 12, 2018, Edu signed a National Letter of Intent with the Toledo Rockets under head coach of Tod Kowalczyk.[9] He played all 33 games, averaging 3.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and a team-high 1.7 blocks in 14.3 minutes per game. Edu recorded 57 blocks in the season, the most by a freshman in program history.[10] He was named to the Mid-American Conference (MAC) All-Freshman Team.[11] Edu missed his entire sophomore season recovering from a knee injury suffered at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup.[12] In December 2020, Edu tore his meniscus and missed the rest of the season. On July 9, 2021, he tore his left ACL during a practice.[13]

Professional career

Toyama Grouses (2023–present)

On June 20, 2023, Edu signed his first professional contract with the Toyama Grouses of the B.League.[14] [15]

National team career

Edu was granted Filipino citizenship from a young age after difficulties in receiving a Cypriot passport, which made him eligible to play for the Philippines in FIBA competition.[2] However, he still drew interest from the Nigeria, Cyprus, and Great Britain.[2] In 2017, Edu joined the Philippines at the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup in Chengdu, China.[16] He debuted for the Philippines at the 2018 FIBA Under-18 Asian Championship in Bangkok, Thailand.[17] In 6 games, Edu averaged 14.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game, finishing with 4 double-doubles. He led his team to a fourth-place finish at the tournament, giving them a berth for the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup.[18] About two minutes into his first game at the Under-19 World Cup, Edu suffered a torn ACL and torn meniscus in his right knee, as well as a hairline fracture on his right femur. He missed the rest of the tournament with the injury.[19]

Edu was included in the 21-man pool for the 2023 FIBA World Cup,[20] where he was eventually included in the final 12-man lineup.[21]

Career statistics

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"|2018–19| style="text-align:left;"|Toledo| 33 || 1 || 14.3 || .387 || .182 || .750 || 3.9 || .7 || .3 || 1.7 || 3.6|-| style="text-align:left;"|2020–21| style="text-align:left;"|Toledo| 2 || 2 || 23.5 || .143 || .0 || .0 || 7.0 || .5 || .0 || 2.0 || 1.0|-| style="text-align:left;"|2021–22| style="text-align:left;"|Toledo| 2 || 0 || 2.5 || .0 || .0 || .250 || .5 || .0 || .5 || .0 || 0.5|-| style="text-align:left;"|2022–23| style="text-align:left;"|Toledo| 35 || 0 || 12.2 || .492 || .0 || .712 || 3.0 || .3 || .2 || .8 || 2.8|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career| 72 || 3 || 13.2 || .417 || .182 || .714 || 3.5 || .5 || .2 || 1.2 || 3.1

B. League

align=center YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2023–24Toyama141229.2.507.258.6768.81.40.90.613.1

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Almo . Alder . Fil-Nigerian 6-7 kid eyes Gilas stint . . October 15, 2018 . August 28, 2014.
  2. Web site: Flojo . Enzo . Is AJ Edu the new hope of PH basketball? . https://web.archive.org/web/20190415011140/https://www.foxsportsasia.com/basketball/495753/aj-edu-new-hope-ph-basketball/ . April 15, 2019 . . May 25, 2020 . August 18, 2016.
  3. Web site: Edu family connects with SBP . . October 15, 2018 . August 22, 2016.
  4. Web site: Wawrzyńczuk . Bronisław . Meet AJ Edu – best Europe-based prospect you may still not know . Eurospects . October 15, 2018 . January 29, 2018.
  5. Web site: 6-foot-9 Fil-Nigerian wants to play for Batang Gilas . . October 15, 2018 . November 11, 2015.
  6. Web site: AJ Edu highlight reel shows big leap in Fil-Nigerian sensation's game . Philippine Entertainment Portal . October 15, 2018 . December 19, 2017.
  7. Web site: EABL 2017-18 Individual Award Winners Revealed . EABL . October 15, 2018 . March 21, 2018.
  8. Web site: Araneta . Chuck . AJ Edu is ready to take on the world . . October 15, 2018 . February 19, 2018.
  9. Web site: Toledo Signs AJ Edu to National Letter of Intent . University of Toledo Athletics . October 15, 2018 . April 12, 2018.
  10. Web site: AJ Edu . University of Toledo Athletics . April 16, 2020.
  11. Web site: Four Rockets Receive MAC Postseason Honors . University of Toledo Athletics . April 16, 2020 . March 11, 2019.
  12. Web site: Villanueva . Eros . AJ Edu on track in recovery from knee injury . . April 16, 2020 . April 8, 2020.
  13. News: Matel . Philip . Gilas Youth center AJ Edu suffers third knee injury, tears ACL again . December 24, 2021 . . July 9, 2021.
  14. Web site: June 20, 2023. エージェー・エドゥ選手(新規) 契約基本合意のお知らせ. Ajay Edu (new player) Notice of contract basic agreement. June 21, 2023. grouses.jp. ja.
  15. Web site: AJ Edu to play for Toyama Grouses in B.League . June 20, 2023 . June 21, 2023 . news.abs-cbn.com.
  16. Web site: AJ Edu in town to make Philippine team debut in Fiba 3x3 U-18 World Cup in China . Philippine Entertainment Portal . October 15, 2018 . June 15, 2017.
  17. Web site: FIBA Asia Under 18: Newcomers AJ Edu, Dalph Panopio leading way for Batang Gilas . . October 15, 2018 . August 8, 2018.
  18. Web site: AJ Edu Helps Philippines Qualify for 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup . University of Toledo Athletics . October 15, 2018 . August 13, 2018.
  19. Web site: U19 World Cup over for Edu, Philippines star out with ACL tear . . April 17, 2020 . June 30, 2019.
  20. Web site: Clarkson, Brownlee, Kouame head 21-man Gilas pool for World Cup. spin.ph. Terrado. Reuben. June 6, 2023. September 9, 2023.
  21. Web site: Gilas Pilipinas confirm final 12 for FIBA World Cup. ESPN.com. Ventura. Sid. August 23, 2023. October 12, 2023.