Negotiations are underway with Ejiofor Onu: 2.11m tall, he comes from Brose Bamberg, a German Bundesliga team.
Varese has identified its starting pivot for next season and the negotiations with Ejiofor Onu are now at a very advanced stage. The big Nigerian-American, 25 years old, measures 211 centimeters and 104 kilograms and seems to respond perfectly to the technical, physical, athletic and economic characteristics sought by the red and white club. Onu, known in the basketball world as EJ, is considered a potential Tariq Owens 2.0, an emerging and hungry player, to pair with Leonardo Okeke. Varese’s bet is to focus on a growing player, with a mix of athleticism, energy and a decent frontal shot.
University career and G-League
Onu comes from the NAIA American college circuit, where he played for four years at Shawnee State. The NAIA, despite being of a lower level than the NCAA Division I, allowed Onu to develop considerable physical and technical potential, attracting the attention of NBA scouts. Subsequently, he entered the world of the Summer Leagues and the G-League, where he played the 2021/22 season with the Memphis Hustle, teaming up with Sean McDermott, who will probably be his future captain in Varese.
Despite the good prospects, Onu found little space in the G-League, with averages of 4.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. This limited experience did not allow him to realize his NBA dream, leading him to consider other opportunities overseas.
Experience in Europe: Brose Bamberg
Onu has decided to cross the Atlantic and try his hand in Europe for the first time with Brose Bamberg, a team from the German Bundesliga. Despite no longer being a great power like in the days of Andrea Trinchieri, Bamberg offered Onu the opportunity to show off. In his first European season, Onu produced 8.3 points on 73% two-pointers and 67% free throws, plus 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 17.7 minutes on average, playing the role of sixth man in a team that finished in twelfth place.
Negotiations in the process of being finalized
Negotiations between Varese and Onu are very advanced, and if there are no hitches, Onu could be the first announcement of the red and white market, even preceding the renewal of captain McDermott, already considered acquired. With the arrival of Onu, Varese hopes to consolidate its long department, providing the coach with a young, athletic player eager to demonstrate his value, both in defense and attack.
The acquisition of Onu would represent a strategic move for Varese, targeting an emerging talent with significant experience in both the United States and Europe, and with room for improvement that could prove fundamental to the team’s success next season.
