Updated as Oct. 24, 2021 at 4:09 p.m. to include quotes from coaching staff.
Former Elon University men’s basketball guard Ikenna Ndugba is officially a professional basketball player.
The Greensboro Swarm, the NBA Gatorade League affiliate team for the Charlotte Hornets, selected Ndugba with the 54th overall pick in the 2021 NBA G-League Draft.
The G-League is the NBA’s official minor league, with 28 NBA teams having affiliate organizations competing in it. The G-League Draft consists of three rounds and 84 total selections, and allows teams to add players from a pool of 150 that sign contracts with the league each season.
“To be drafted in the G-League is a huge, huge accomplishment,” Head Coach Mike Schrage said. “And then for him to be 25, 30 minutes down the road is even better. The fact that he’s going to be in our backyard and have that professional opportunity is a real credit to him, and he’ll always be representing Elon.”
Ndugba spent his first four seasons at Bryant University before transferring to Elon as a graduate student prior to the 2020-2021 season. He started all 19 games for the Phoenix last season, averaging 10 points, 4.8 rebounds. Additionally, he received the team’s Defensive Most Valuable Player award last season.
Ndugba was not selected in this summer’s NBA Draft but signed a contract with the G-League on Oct. 13 to make him eligible for the G-League Draft.
The Greensboro Swarm begins its season on Nov. 5. The team finished last season, which was shortened due to COVID-19, with a 5-10 record.
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Michael Wolff contributed the reporting in this article.