After a successful four years with Belmont’s men’s basketball team, 2018 graduate Amanze Egekeze has signed with the Japanese basketball team Yokohama B-Corsairs.
He joins the B-Corsairs as the team enters its third season in the B League, Japan’s premier basketball league.
Egekeze announced the contract on social media on July 13.
“So thankful to coach Tom and the entire organization for this incredible opportunity. I appreciate all the love and support already being shown from a lot of the fans, can’t wait to meet y’all next month,” Egekeze said on Instagram.
Egekeze had a stellar career at Belmont and is currently ranked ninth on Belmont’s NCAA Division I era points list, with 1,350 career points. He also finished sixth among all active NCAA Division I frontcourt players in career 3-point field goals made, with 222 points.
In his final season with the Bruins, Egekeze sported a 16.8 point per game average and scored a career high 32 points against Austin Peay in the Ohio Valley Conference semifinals.
Egekeze credits Belmont head coach Rick Byrd with helping prepare him to play professionally.
“Coach Byrd taught me discipline through his structured program. Four years with him made me adapt my game into so much more,” he said.
Egekeze looks forward to working with the B-Corsairs’ coach Thomas Wisman to help improve the team, which finished at the bottom of the league last year, he said.
He’s also excited to experience a new culture in Japan.
“It’s definitely gonna be a culture shock, but it’s really exciting. Embracing a different culture will help me grow as a person.”