Nicola Akele Explained

Nicola Akele
Position:Small forward
Height M:2.03
Weight Kg:96
Team:Free Agent
Birth Date:7 November 1995
Birth Place:Treviso, Italy
Nationality:Italian / Congolese
High School:IMG Academy
(Bradenton, Florida)
College:Rhode Island (2015–2018)
Draft Year:2019
Career Start:2018
Years1:2013–2014
Team1:Reyer Venezia
Years2:2018–2019
Team2:Roseto Sharks
Years3:2019–2020
Team3:Vanoli Cremona
Years4:2020–2022
Team4:Universo Treviso
Years5:2022–2024
Highlights:

Nicola Akele (born 7 November 1995) is an Italian-Congolese professional basketball player who last played for Germani Brescia of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). He played college basketball for the Rhode Island Rams.

Early life and career

Akele started playing basketball at age six, joining Basket Montebelluna, and also grew up playing football.[1] Akele later played for Serie B club Bears Mestre before moving to the youth categories of Reyer Venezia. He missed half of the 2012–13 season with heart issues and started playing regularly for Reyer's senior team in the Serie A in the following year.[2] In June 2014, Akele was loaned to Pallacanestro Trieste of the Serie A2 but did not play due to a contract dispute with Reyer.[3]

For his next season, Akele attended IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where he played for one of the best prep teams in the United States. He helped his team to a 23–4 record and a National Prep School Championship berth.[4] On 9 May 2015, Akele committed to play college basketball for Rhode Island over offers from South Florida, George Washington and George Mason.[5]

College career

Akele played three years of college basketball for Rhode Island. On 4 January 2016, he was named Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Week after averaging eight points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game in wins over Brown and Saint Louis.[6] Akele scored a freshman season-high and a career-high 15 points in a 79–62 victory over La Salle.[7] Over three years at Rhode Island, he averaged 2.6 points and 2.2 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per game, starting in six of his 96 appearances. Akele left after his junior season to play professionally in Italy.[8]

Professional career

On 4 September 2018, Akele signed with Roseto Sharks of the Serie A2 Basket. He recorded a season-high 34 points and 10 rebounds in a December 2 win over Ravenna. In the 2018–19 season, he averaged 13.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.[9] On 11 June 2019, Akele signed a three-year contract with Vanoli Cremona of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).[10] On 24 December, he was named the top Italian player in Round 14 after posting a season-high 21 points, six rebounds and three assists in a 93–72 win over Varese.[11] In 2019–20, Akele averaged 7.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game in the LBA.[12]

On 25 June 2020, he signed with Universo Treviso Basket of the LBA.[13]

On June 25, 2022, he has signed with Germani Brescia of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).[14]

National team career

Akele represented Italy at various junior international tournaments from 2011 to 2015. In February 2020, he made his senior team debut after being called up to the Italy team for EuroBasket 2021 qualification.[15] Akele made a second appearance for the Italian Nation Team in EuroBasket 2021 Qualifiers in November 2020.

Personal life

Akele's family descends from Kinshasa, Zaire. His parents moved to Italy in the 1990s.[16] He was married in July 2022.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Due chiacchiere con Nicola Akele . . 25 May 2020 . Italian . 5 April 2020.
  2. Web site: Bortoluzzi . Davide . The Akele case . Eurohopes . 25 May 2020 . 10 March 2014.
  3. Web site: Nicola Akele al Corriere dello Sport: "Tradito dalla Reyer", la società: "Tutto falso" . La Voce di Venezia . 25 May 2020 . Italian . 10 October 2014.
  4. Web site: Nicola Akele . Rhode Island Athletics . 25 May 2020.
  5. Web site: Koch . Bill . Italian forward Akele commits to URI . . 25 May 2020 . 9 May 2015.
  6. Web site: Nicola Akele Named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week . Rhode Island Athletics . 26 May 2020 . 4 January 2016.
  7. Web site: Koch . Bill . Freshman Nicola Akele giving URI a much-needed boost . . 26 May 2020 . 8 February 2016.
  8. Web site: Akele Leaves URI Basketball to Play Professionally in Italy . GoLocalProv . 26 May 2020 . 17 July 2018.
  9. Web site: Talamazzi . Michele . Il primo acquisto della Vanoli Basket è Nicola Akele: accordo fino al 2022 . Vanoli Basket . 26 May 2020 . Italian . 11 June 2018.
  10. Web site: La Vanoli ingaggia l'ex rosetano Nicola Akele . Basketinside . 26 May 2020 . Italian . 11 June 2019.
  11. Web site: Nicola Akele è il Miglior Italiano 'Snaipay' del 14° turno LBA Serie A . . 26 May 2020 . Italian . 24 December 2019.
  12. Web site: Nicola Akele . Playbasket.it . 27 May 2020.
  13. Web site: Yahyabeyoğlu . Fersu . Treviso inks Nicola Akele . . 25 June 2020 . 25 June 2020.
  14. News: Germani Brescia lands Nicola Akele. June 25, 2022. Sportando. En. June 26, 2022. Carchia . Emiliano .
  15. Web site: Italy's Romeo Sacchetti calls up 16 players for EuroBasket 2021 Qualifiers . EuroHoops . 26 May 2020 . 3 February 2020.
  16. Web site: Talamazzi . Michele . Il neo acquisto Nicola Akele: "La Vanoli è la scelta giusta per me" . 18 June 2019 . 25 May 2020 . Italian . .