A new center for newly promoted Pistoia

Ogbeide in Pistoia

Through a note, Pistoia Basket 2000 announced that it has reached an agreement for next season in the LBA with Nigerian-born – but Canadian-citizen – pivot Derek Ogbeide, who was an opponent of the Giorgio Tesi Group in A2 last season wearing the jersey of Rinascita Basket Rimini.

A 206 cm by 113kg center, Ogbeide took his first steps in basketball at Pebblebrook High School in Mableton and then spent his four years of college, from 2015 to 2019, with the Georgia Bulldogs with 7 points and 6.2 rebounds overall average. From there he left the United States and began his career in Europe starting with AEK Larnaca: with the Cypriot lineup, Ogbeide stayed for two years winning the championship and the National Cup.

Afterwards he moved, for a brief spell, to Israel to Hapoel Eliat formation with which, however, he reached the semifinals of the playoffs of the top league. In 2021-22 he signed in Greece at Paok Thessaloniki and remained there until January 2022 before moving to Turkish A2 to Konyaspor with which he gained promotion to the top league.

Last summer he was the first American signed by Rimini and was a teammate, in Romagna, of a former red and white player like Jazz Johnson. In the regular season he put up remarkable numbers with an average of 16.1 points in 26′ of usage while also collecting 0.9 blocked shots per shoelace, 58.7 percent from 2 while also being the best rebounder in the league (tied with Carl Wheatle) with 8.9 caroms per game. “I thank the club for this opportunity it has granted me – are Derek Ogbeide’s first words in red and white – I am excited and happy to become part of this family: my motivation is very high and I can’t wait to get on the court to defend Pistoia’s jersey and live a season of great impact in the A Series. In Rimini my championship ended early but now I have recovered from my shoulder injury and I am ready to start with this new adventure.”