Viny Okouo Explained

Viny Okouo
Position:Center
Height M:2.14
Weight Kg:100
Team:Free agent
Birth Date:10 April 1997
Birth Place:Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
Nationality:Congolese
Draft Year:2019
Career Start:2015
Years1:2015–2019
Team1:Unicaja
Years2:2014–2016
Team2:Clinicas Rincón Axarquía
Years3:2019–2020
Team3:Nevėžis Kėdainiai
Years4:2020–2021
Team4:Gipuzkoa
Years5:2021–2022
Team5:Monbus Obradoiro
Years6:2022–2023
Team6:Fuenlabrada
Years7:2023
Team7:Nevėžis Kėdainiai
Highlights:

Viny Pierrot Marcel Okouo (born April 10, 1997) is a Congolese professional basketball player who last played for Nevėžis Kėdainiai of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL).

Professional career

A native of the Republic of the Congo,[1] Okouo started playing basketball when he was 15 years old[2] and left home only shortly after to join the youth set-up of Unicaja Málaga in Spain. Okouo had been recommended by his fellow countryman Romaric Belemene. The Unicaja coaches had only seen some footage of Okouo practicing and were intrigued by his physical gifts, while his skills were underdeveloped.[3] At Unicaja, he learned to play the game and improved vastly.

Between 2014 and 2016, he spent time on loan at Instituto de Fertilidad Clínicas Rincón of the LEB Plata,[4] the third tier of Spanish basketball, while also seeing action for Unicaja’s development team in the EBA. Okouo made his ACB debut for Malaga during the 2015-16 campaign[5] and saw his first minutes in the EuroCup the following season.[6] In the 2016–17 season, Okouo won the EuroCup with Unicaja after beating Valencia Basket in the Finals.[7]

On August 27, 2019, Okouo signed with Nevėžis Kėdainiai of the Lithuanian Basketball League. [8]

Okouo entered into the NBA draft as early as 2017, but was recorded as an early 2018 draft entry. His name was entered into the 2019 NBA draft in which he was not selected.[9]

On August 12, 2020, he signed with Gipuzkoa Basket of the Spanish Liga ACB..[10]

On July 12, 2021, he signed with Monbus Obradoiro of the Spanish Liga ACB.[11]

On August 13, 2022, Okouo signed with Fuenlabrada of the Liga ACB.[12]

On August 15, 2023, Okouo returned to Nevėžis Kėdainiai.[13]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: El pandillero de Brazzaville. Málaga. La Opinión de. 2016-11-13.
  2. Web site: Eurohopes Basketball Prospects - News - Unicaja’s New Hope – Discovered in Congo. www.eurohopes.com. 2016-11-13.
  3. Web site: Un niño de 2,11 metros - Club Unicaja de Baloncesto. S.A.. Sarenet. unicaja.diariosur.es. 2016-11-13.
  4. Web site: Federación Española de Baloncesto - Competiciones FEB. competiciones.feb.es. 2016-11-13.
  5. Web site: ACB.COM. www.acb.com. 2016-11-13.
  6. Web site: OKOUO, VINY - Welcome to EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL. www.euroleague.net. 2016-11-13.
  7. News: 7DAYS EuroCup Finals, Game 3: Unicaja Malaga is the champion!. 5 April 2017. 6 April 2017. Eurocupbasketball.com.
  8. Web site: Viny Okouo inks with Kedainiai Nevezis. August 27, 2019. Sportando. En. August 28, 2019.
  9. https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Viny-Okouo/Summary/64084 Basketball Real GM.com Profile
  10. Web site: Gipuzkoa completes roster announcing 4 contract extensions and 8 new players. August 12, 2020. Sportando. En. August 4, 2021.
  11. Web site: Viny Okouo signs 2-year deal with Monbus Obradoiro. July 12, 2021. Sportando. En. August 4, 2021.
  12. Web site: Viny Okouo joins Fuenlabrada. August 13, 2022. Sportando. En. August 17, 2022.
  13. Web site: Okouo po 3 metų Ispanijoje sugrįžta į Kėdainius. basketnews.lt. lt. August 15, 2023. August 15, 2023.