Elizabeth Balogun | |
Number: | 5 |
Position: | Guard / Forward |
Height Ft: | 6 |
Height In: | 1 |
League: | Liga Femenina |
Team: | CB Bembibre |
Birth Date: | 9 September 2000 |
Birth Place: | Lagos, Nigeria |
High School: | Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tennessee) |
College: | Georgia Tech (2018–2019) Louisville (2019–2021) Duke (2021–2023) |
Highlights: |
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Career Start: | 2023 |
Years1: | 2023-present |
Team1: | Bembibre |
Elizabeth Balogun (born 9 September 2000) is a Nigerian basketball player.[1] She played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils[2] and the Nigerian national team.[3] She plays for the Spanish Liga Femenina de Baloncesto side CB Bembire. [4] [5]
Balogun transferred to Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, Tennessee, in the eighth grade from Lagos, Nigeria.[6] [7] She averaged 15.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, and 2.1 assists.[8] She made the ALL-USA Girls Basketball First Team at the end of high school.[9]
Balogun started as a freshman at Georgia Tech in 2018.[10] [11] She left the team for Louisville after being named the 2018–19 Freshman of the Year, having averaged 14.64 points per game in her freshman season.[12] In her sophomore year at Louisville, she was named preseason All-ACC by Coaches and Blue Ribbon Panel and also made the Citizen Naismith Watch List.[12] Balogun later transferred to Duke in 2021.[13]
Balogun was called up to represent the D'Tigress and participate in the 2019 pre-Olympic qualifying tournament in Mozambique, but she was not released by Louisville.[14] [15] She was also called up to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifiers in Belgrade.[16] [17] [18] She also participated in the 2024 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments where she averaged 9 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.[19]
Balogun is the second of 3 children. Her older brother, Ezekiel, played at The Citadel in South Carolina. Her younger sister, Ruth, played at Hamilton Heights and currently plays at the University of Central Arkansas.[20] Her mom, Justina, died of breast cancer before Balogun moved to America, while her dad, Mark, resides in Nigeria, where he is a basketball coach and policeman.[21] [8]