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A. J. Edu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In thisPhilippine name,themiddle nameor maternalfamily nameisLitangand the surname or paternal family name isEdu.
A. J. Edu
Edu with theToledo Rocketsin 2022
Free agent
PositionPower forward/center
Personal information
Born(2000-01-01)January 1, 2000(age 24)
Cyprus
NationalityFilipino / Cypriot
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight224 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High schoolSGS College(Bristol,England)
CollegeToledo(2018–2023)
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2023–2024Toyama Grouses
Career highlights and awards
  • MACAll-Freshman Team (2019)

Ariel John Litang Edu[1](born January 1, 2000)[2]is a Cypriot-born Filipino professionalbasketballplayer who last played forToyama Grousesof the JapaneseB.League.Listed at 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m) and 224 pounds (102 kg), he plays thepower forwardandcenterpositions. He is a member of thePhilippine men's national basketball team.

Early life and career[edit]

Edu was born inCyprusto a Nigerian father Ayotunde Edu and Filipina mother Josie Litang-Edu.[3]His mother is a native ofSurigao City,Philippines but moved toEnglandfor work after finishing her education. She met Edu's father, a mathematics and physics professor.[2]Standing 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m), Ayotunde played basketball in his home country before becoming a high school coach inWales.[1]

Edu began playing basketball at the age of seven in the junior ranks of Cypriot clubAEL Limassol.He also played soccer in his childhood but began focusing on basketball due to his exceptional height.[4]After his family moved to England a few years later, Edu joined theBristol Flyerscadet team and the Swansea Storm in the Wales League. With Swansea, he established himself as a top player at the under-16, under-18, and men's first division levels.[5]With the Flyers, he trained with many former college basketball players.[4]In 2017, Edu began playing forSouth Gloucestershire and Stroud CollegeinBristol,England, where he was considered one of the top prospects in the country while competing in the Elite Academy Basketball League (EABL).[6]After the 2017–18 season, he was named EABL West Conference Defensive Player of the Year, averaging 18.6 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game.[7]In 2018, he was invited to aBasketball Without Borderscamp inLos Angeles.[8]

College career[edit]

On April 12, 2018, Edu signed aNational Letter of Intentwith theToledo Rocketsunder head coach ofTod Kowalczyk.[9]He played all 33 games, averaging 3.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and a team-high 1.7 blocks in 14.3 minutes per game. Edu recorded 57 blocks in the season, the most by a freshman in program history.[10]He was named to theMid-American Conference(MAC) All-Freshman Team.[11]Edu missed his entire sophomore season recovering from a knee injury suffered at the2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup.[12]In December 2020, Edu tore his meniscus and missed the rest of the season. On July 9, 2021, he tore his left ACL during a practice.[13]

Professional career[edit]

Toyama Grouses (2023–present)[edit]

On June 20, 2023, Edu signed his first professional contract with theToyama Grousesof theB.League.[14][15]

National team career[edit]

Edu during the2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup

Edu was grantedFilipinocitizenship from a young age after difficulties in receiving aCypriotpassport, which made him eligible to play for the Philippines inFIBAcompetition.[2]However, he still drew interest from the Nigeria, Cyprus, and Great Britain.[2]In 2017, Edu joined the Philippines at theFIBA 3x3 U18 World CupinChengdu,China.[16]He debuted for the Philippines at the2018 FIBA Under-18 Asian ChampionshipinBangkok,Thailand.[17]In 6 games, Edu averaged 14.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game, finishing with 4double-doubles.He led his team to a fourth-place finish at the tournament, giving them a berth for the2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup.[18]About two minutes into his first game at the Under-19 World Cup, Edu suffered atorn ACLandtorn meniscusin his right knee, as well as ahairline fractureon his rightfemur.He missed the rest of the tournament with the injury.[19]

Edu was included in the 21-man pool for the2023 FIBA World Cup,[20]where he was eventually included in the final 12-man lineup.[21]

Career statistics[edit]

Legend
GP Games played GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
FG% Field goalpercentage 3P% 3-point field goalpercentage FT% Free throwpercentage
RPG Reboundsper game APG Assistsper game SPG Stealsper game
BPG Blocksper game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

College[edit]

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 Toledo 33 1 14.3 .387 .182 .750 3.9 .7 .3 1.7 3.6
2020–21 Toledo 2 2 23.5 .143 .0 .0 7.0 .5 .0 2.0 1.0
2021–22 Toledo 2 0 2.5 .0 .0 .250 .5 .0 .5 .0 0.5
2022–23 Toledo 35 0 12.2 .492 .0 .712 3.0 .3 .2 .8 2.8
Career 72 3 13.2 .417 .182 .714 3.5 .5 .2 1.2 3.1

B. League[edit]

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2023–24 Toyama 14 12 29.2 .507 .258 .676 8.8 1.4 0.9 0.6 13.1

References[edit]

  1. ^abAlmo, Alder (August 28, 2014)."Fil-Nigerian 6-7 kid eyes Gilas stint".The Philippine Star.RetrievedOctober 15,2018.
  2. ^abcdFlojo, Enzo (August 18, 2016)."Is AJ Edu the new hope of PH basketball?".Fox Sports Asia.Archived fromthe originalon April 15, 2019.RetrievedMay 25,2020.
  3. ^"Edu family connects with SBP".The Philippine Star.August 22, 2016.RetrievedOctober 15,2018.
  4. ^abWawrzyńczuk, Bronisław (January 29, 2018)."Meet AJ Edu – best Europe-based prospect you may still not know".Eurospects.RetrievedOctober 15,2018.
  5. ^"6-foot-9 Fil-Nigerian wants to play for Batang Gilas".ABS-CBN Corporation.November 11, 2015.RetrievedOctober 15,2018.
  6. ^"AJ Edu highlight reel shows big leap in Fil-Nigerian sensation's game".Philippine Entertainment Portal. December 19, 2017.RetrievedOctober 15,2018.
  7. ^"EABL 2017-18 Individual Award Winners Revealed".EABL. March 21, 2018.RetrievedOctober 15,2018.
  8. ^Araneta, Chuck (February 19, 2018)."AJ Edu is ready to take on the world".ESPN.RetrievedOctober 15,2018.
  9. ^"Toledo Signs AJ Edu to National Letter of Intent".University of Toledo Athletics. April 12, 2018.RetrievedOctober 15,2018.
  10. ^"AJ Edu".University of Toledo Athletics.RetrievedApril 16,2020.
  11. ^"Four Rockets Receive MAC Postseason Honors".University of Toledo Athletics. March 11, 2019.RetrievedApril 16,2020.
  12. ^Villanueva, Eros (April 8, 2020)."AJ Edu on track in recovery from knee injury".ESPN.RetrievedApril 16,2020.
  13. ^Matel, Philip (July 9, 2021)."Gilas Youth center AJ Edu suffers third knee injury, tears ACL again".ESPN.RetrievedDecember 24,2021.
  14. ^"エージェー・エドゥ tuyển thủ ( tân quy ) khế ước cơ bổn hợp ý のお tri らせ"[Ajay Edu (new player) Notice of contract basic agreement].grouses.jp(in Japanese). June 20, 2023.RetrievedJune 21,2023.
  15. ^"AJ Edu to play for Toyama Grouses in B.League".news.abs-cbn.com.June 20, 2023.RetrievedJune 21,2023.
  16. ^"AJ Edu in town to make Philippine team debut in Fiba 3x3 U-18 World Cup in China".Philippine Entertainment Portal. June 15, 2017.RetrievedOctober 15,2018.
  17. ^"FIBA Asia Under 18: Newcomers AJ Edu, Dalph Panopio leading way for Batang Gilas".ABS-CBN Corporation.August 8, 2018.RetrievedOctober 15,2018.
  18. ^"AJ Edu Helps Philippines Qualify for 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup".University of Toledo Athletics. August 13, 2018.RetrievedOctober 15,2018.
  19. ^"U19 World Cup over for Edu, Philippines star out with ACL tear".FIBA.June 30, 2019.RetrievedApril 17,2020.
  20. ^Terrado, Reuben (June 6, 2023)."Clarkson, Brownlee, Kouame head 21-man Gilas pool for World Cup".spin.ph.RetrievedSeptember 9,2023.
  21. ^Ventura, Sid (August 23, 2023)."Gilas Pilipinas confirm final 12 for FIBA World Cup".ESPN.com.RetrievedOctober 12,2023.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A._J._Edu&oldid=1233580374"