Charles Bassey

Charles Bassey (born October 28, 2000) is a Nigerian college basketball player for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers of the Conference USA (C-USA). He began playing high school basketball for St. Anthony Catholic High School, where he became embroiled in eligibility issues in his second season. He transferred to Aspire Basketball Academy as a junior and was a consensus five-star recruit entering college.

Charles Bassey
No. 23 – Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
PositionCenter
LeagueConference USA
Personal information
Born (2000-10-28) October 28, 2000
Lagos, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeWestern Kentucky (2018–present)
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-Conference USA (2019)
  • Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year (2019)
  • Conference USA Freshman of the Year (2019)
  • Jordan Brand Classic International MVP (2016)

Early life

Bassey was born in Lagos, Nigeria, where he played soccer until age 12, standing 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) at the time.[1] At that age, he was discovered by a youth basketball coach while Bassey was selling fried chicken on the side of a road and wearing flip-flops that were too small for him.[2][3] He stopped playing soccer soon after, instead focusing on developing his basketball skills.[3] At age 14, Bassey was named most valuable player (MVP) of basketball camp Giants of Africa, a program established by Toronto Raptors executive Masai Ujiri.[2][4]

High school career

At age 14, at a height of 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m), Bassey moved to the United States to continue his basketball career at St. Anthony Catholic High School, a private school in San Antonio, Texas.[5] Before the season began, in November 2015, recruiting expert Frank Burlison considered him one of, if not the best prospect in his class.[6] Commentator Fran Fraschilla said, "I don't think I've ever seen a freshman as talented as this kid," while scout Clark Francis labeled him the top prospect from San Antonio since Shaquille O'Neal.[7] In his high school debut, against Stony Point High School, Bassey recorded a triple-double of 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 blocks.[4] He closed the season averaging 20.2 points, 17.1 rebounds, and 5.9 blocks per game, making the MaxPreps Freshman All-American First-Team.[8][9] St. Anthony finished with a 32–6 record and a runners-up finish at the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) championship game, despite coming off a 7–15 record in the prior season.[10] In April 2016, Bassey played in the International Game of the Jordan Brand Classic, scoring 14 points and grabbing 12 rebounds en route to winning MVP.[11][12]

Before his sophomore season, Bassey was named to the 2016–17 All-USA preseason boys basketball team by USA Today High School Sports.[13] He was also included among 50 players in the preseason watchlist for the Naismith Trophy.[14] However, before playing any games, Bassey was ruled ineligible by the TAPPS, without explanation from its executive director.[15] St. Anthony soon appealed the ruling, which sidelined Bassey and two other team members, with principal Rene Escobedo calling it "unjust."[16] Despite the suspension, Bassey made his season debut on November 29, 2016, scoring nine points off the bench against A. C. Jones High School.[17] His team's head coach Jeff Merritt was subsequently fired for playing an ineligible player.[17] In early December 2016, St. Anthony withdrew from the TAPPS and joined the Texas Christian Athletic League (T-CAL), allowing Bassey to become eligible again.[18] At the Mike Miller Classic against Washington High School in January 2017, he recorded 25 points, 12 rebounds, 6 blocks, and 3 assists.[19] In April, at an Adidas Gauntlet tournament, Bassey averaged a double-double, prompting recruiting service Rivals to compare him to a young Dwight Howard.[20]

On July 7, 2017, Hennssy Auriantal, Bassey's legal guardian in the United States and assistant coach at St. Anthony, was dismissed from the school's program.[21][22] In August, it was announced that Bassey would leave the team as well, with his immigration records being transferred to DeSales High School in Louisville, Kentucky.[23] For his junior season, he began playing for Aspire Basketball Academy in Louisville, while attending school at DeSales.[24]

Recruiting

On June 14, 2018, Bassey reclassified to the class of 2018 and announced his commitment to play college basketball at Western Kentucky under head coach Rick Stansbury.[5] When asked about Bassey's recruitment, Stansbury said, "Why shouldn't a young man go somewhere where he has a chance to be special and be impactful. That's what we sold him on."[25]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Charles Bassey
C		 Lagos, Nigeria Aspire Academy (KY) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Jun 14, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 92
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 9  247Sports: 9  ESPN: 18
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Western Kentucky 2018 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  • "2018 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  • "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 14, 2018.

    College career

    On November 6, 2018, Bassey debuted for Western Kentucky, recording a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds in a 73–55 loss to Washington.[26] During Bassey's freshman season at Western Kentucky he averaged a double-double with 14.6 points per game and 10 rebounds per game.

    He decided to return for his sophomore season instead of entering the 2019 NBA draft. He broke his tibia in a win against Arkansas and had to undergo surgery, ending his sophomore season. Through 10 games, he was averaging 15.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.[27]

    Bassey returned for his junior season and on November 26, 2020, Bassey recorded 21 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocks in a 75–69 win over Memphis.[28]

    Career statistics
    Legend
      GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
     FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
     RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
     BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

    College
    Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
    2018–19 Western Kentucky 343431.4.627.450.76910.0.7.82.414.6
    2019–20 Western Kentucky 101028.1.533.167.7879.21.3.81.615.3
    Career 444430.6.602.344.7749.8.8.82.214.7

    Personal life

    Shortly after arriving in the United States at age 14, Bassey's mother died. At the time, Bassey considered moving back to Nigeria, but his father Akpan Ebong Bassey encouraged him to stay for financial reasons.[7][29][30] Canadian-born basketball coach Hennssy Auriantal, who runs the Yes II Success organization that brings international players to American private schools helped bring Bassey to the United States.[1][31] On March 31, 2017, Auriantal and his wife were granted conservatorship over Bassey.[30] Bassey's father later filed a petition to reopen the case and give Nigerian basketball tournament organizer John Faniran custody over his son, but the petition was dropped due to lack of verification.[10][30]

    References
    1. Estes, Gentry (February 14, 2018). "How one of the nation's top 2019 prospects, Charles Bassey, ended up playing in Louisville". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
    2. Rosser, Evan (October 11, 2015). "All Access: In Africa with Raptors GM Masai Ujiri". Sportsnet. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
    3. "Charles Bassey: From Selling Fried Chicken In Nigeria At Age 12 To Top Prospect In Four Years". lex18. January 9, 2017. Archived from the original on June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
    4. Hickman, Jason (November 20, 2015). "6-foot-10 Nigerian import Charles Bassey could be high school basketball's best freshman". MaxPreps. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
    5. Hille, Bob (June 14, 2018). "5-star C Charles Bassey commits to WKU, reclassifies to class of 2018". Sporting News. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
    6. Burlison, Frank (November 12, 2015). "My Top 35, and more, Pangos Frosh/Soph wrap-up". Burlison on Basketball. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
    7. Harvey, Buck (October 31, 2015). "The next Shaq? Road runs through San Antonio again". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
    8. Harris, Don (February 26, 2016). "Move over Shaq, meet San Antonio's next basketball superstar". WOAI-TV. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
    9. Hickman, Jason (April 21, 2016). "2015-16 MaxPreps Boys Basketball Freshman All-American Team". MaxPreps. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
    10. Zuvanich, Adam (June 23, 2017). "Ticket to the top". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
    11. Halley, Jim (April 15, 2016). "Nigerian Charles Bassey makes up for late start, lifts Black team in International game at Jordan Classic". USA Today High School Sports. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
    12. "Charles Bassey". RealGM. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
    13. Halley, Jim (October 20, 2016). "2016-17 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Preseason Boys Basketball Team". USA Today High School Sports. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
    14. "2017 Naismith Trophy Boys High School Player of the Year Preseason Watch List". USA Today High School Sports. November 15, 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
    15. Bossi, Eric (November 17, 2016). "Nation's top sophomore Charles Bassey ruled ineligible". Rivals. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
    16. Zuvanich, Adam (November 18, 2016). "St. Anthony names ineligible players, awaits response from TAPPS". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
    17. Zuvanich, Adam (December 1, 2016). "St. Anthony fires coach for playing ineligible Bassey". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
    18. Marquez, RJ (December 6, 2016). "Charles Bassey, other players now eligible as St. Anthony HS leaves TAPPS". KSAT. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
    19. Savage, Tom (January 4, 2017). "Trying to guard 6-10 Charles Bassey isn't fun". USA Today High School Sports. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
    20. Bossi, Eric (April 24, 2017). "Charles Bassey compares with Dwight Howard". Rivals. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
    21. Zuvanich, Adam (July 25, 2017). "St. Anthony coach Hennssy Auriantal dismissed after Charles Bassey controversy". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
    22. Smith, Cam (July 26, 2017). "St. Anthony's (Texas) basketball coach fired in aftermath of Charles Bassey eligibility scandal". USA Today High School Sports. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
    23. Zuvanich, Adam (August 16, 2017). "St. Anthony starting over after Bassey's departure". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
    24. Zuvanich, Adam (August 26, 2017). "Boys basketball: Aspire Academy introduces former St. Anthony players". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
    25. Sayers, Justin (June 18, 2018). "Charles Bassey will be 'impactful' at Western Kentucky". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
    26. Estes, Gentry (November 7, 2018). "Takeaways from WKU basketball's opening loss at No. 24 Washington". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
    27. Borzello, Jeff (December 9, 2019). "Western Kentucky's Charles Bassey out with tibia fracture". ESPN. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
    28. MacDonald, Jared (November 26, 2020). "Bassey's Back: Hilltoppers beat Memphis to advance to Crossover Classic final". The Daily News. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
    29. "Nike Hoop Summit, World Team notebook: Florida commit Andrew Nembhard is a wizard with the ball". OregonLive. April 11, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
    30. Zuvanich, Adam (July 14, 2017). "St. Anthony coach wins custody battle over Bassey". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
    31. Klibanoff, Eleanor (June 22, 2018). "Louisville's Aspire Academy splits with partner school, controversial recruiter". College Heights Herald. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
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