Rivers Hoopers

Basketball team in Rivers, Nigeria

Rivers Hoopers

2025 Rivers Hoopers season
Nickname| The KingsMen
Conference| Atlantic
Leagues| Nigerian Premier League
Founded| 2005
History| Royal Hoopers
(2005–2016)
Rivers Hoopers
(2016–present)
Arena| Rivers State Basketball Complex
Capacity| 2,000
Location| Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Team colors| Blue, White, Orange

General manager| Ifie Ozaka
Head coach| Ogoh Odaudu
Team captain| Victor Anthony Koko
Ownership| Government of Rivers State
Championships| 6 (2011, 2012, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024)

Home

Away

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Rivers Hoopers is a Nigerian professional basketball team based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The team plays in the Nigerian Premier League (NPL) and currently in the Basketball Africa League (BAL).

Established in 2005 as Royal Hoopers,[1] the team began to play in the NPL in 2019 and changed to their current name after the management of the team was taken over by the Government of Rivers State. The Hoopers have played in the Premier League since its inception and won the national championship six times, with titles in 2011, 2012, 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2024.

At the continental level, Rivers Hoopers has played in the FIBA Africa Club Champions Cup three times, and has played in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) thrice, in the 2021, 2024 and 2025 seasons.

## History

[edit]

The club was established in 2005 as Royal Hoopers, with former Nigeria national team player Ogoh Odaudu at the reins as head coach. In the club's first four years, they organised annual "classics" tournaments. The Hoopers entered the Nigerian Premier League (NPL) in 2009.[2]

The Hoopers won their first NPL championship in 2011. They repeated as champions in 2012, behind star player Azuoma Dike who was named the league's MVP.[3]

Following one year in the Division One that was followed by a promotion back to the NPL, management of the team was taken over by the Government of Rivers State in March 2016, and subsequently the team name was changed to Rivers Hoopers.[2]

In December 2018, Hoopers played in the FIBA Africa Zone 3 Championship and won all five games to emerge as its Champions and went on to play in the 2019 Africa Basketball League in March. On 17 November 2019, the Hoopers won its third Nigerian title when it beat Raptors in the final. With this achievement, the team qualified directly for the inaugural season of Basketball Africa League (BAL).[4]

To strengthen the team for the inaugural BAL season, the Hoopers acquired former NBA-players Ben Uzoh and Festus Ezeli.[5] Ezeli, however, got injured before the season and did not join. Hoopers finished third in Group A of the BAL, beating only GNBC from Madagascar. Uzoh led the team in scoring with 14.7 points.[6]

In the 2021 season, the Hoopers won the Premier League for a fourth time after edging Gombe Bulls in the final.[7] Anaiye Johnson was named the league's MVP and Victor Anthony Koko was named final MVP. However, the Hoopers were denied to play in the BAL by FIBA Africa, because the league was organised by the Nigerian Ministry of Youth and Sports instead of the official administrator Nigeria Basketball Federation.[8]

The KingsMen won the Crown Elite Championship in 2022 and won the second edition of the Louis Edem Invitational Basketball Championship on 2 September 2023 in Lagos after beating Spintex Knights of Ghana in the final.

The Hoopers won their 5th national title on 25 November 2023, following the Final Four which was hosted in Port Harcourt. They finished with an undefeated 13–0 record and qualified for the 2024 BAL season, where they will be making their second appearance.[9] In the BAL, the Hoopers won the Sahara Conference title and qualified for the playoffs as the fourth seed, eventually finishing in third place.[10][11] Three Rivers players, Devine Eke, Kelvin Amayo and Will Perry, were named to the All-BAL Teams.[12][13]

In November 2024, the Hoopers won their sixth national title.[14]

## Honours

[edit]

### National

[edit]

Nigerian Premier League

* Champions (6): 2011, 2012, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024

Crown Elite Basketball Championship

* Champions (1): 2022[15]

Louis Edem Invitational Basketball Championship

* Winners (1): 2023

### International

[edit]

Basketball Africa League (BAL)

* Third place (1): 2024

## In African competitions

[edit]

FIBA Africa Clubs Champions Cup (3 appearances)

* 2010 – Ninth Place
* 2011 – Eleventh Place
* 2018–19 – Group Stage

Basketball Africa League (2 appearance)

* 2021 – Group Stage
* 2024 –  Bronze medal

## Players

[edit]

Main category: Rivers Hoopers players

### Current roster

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

2025 Rivers Hoopers roster

Players | Coaches
| Pos. | No. | Nat. | Name | Ht. |  | Age |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

SG | 2 |  | Offia, Abel | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)  |  |  20 – (2005-02-14)14 February 2005  |
PG | 5 |  | Afuwape, Micheal | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)  |  |  26 – (1998-08-17)17 August 1998  |
PF | 7 |  | Nwaiwu, Onyebuchi | 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)  |  |  26 – (1998-08-20)20 August 1998  |
| 10 |  | Anaiye, Johnson | 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)  |  |  27 – (1997-11-06)6 November 1997  |
PG | 11 |  | Shamba, Maxi Munanga | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)  |  |  31 – (1993-12-25)25 December 1993  |
SG | 12 |  | Akec, Madut (I) | 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)  |  |  26 – (1999-01-01)1 January 1999  |
SG | 13 |  | Amayo, Kelvin | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)  |  |  33 – (1992-01-09)9 January 1992  |
C | 14 |  | Olisemeka, Peter | 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)  |  |  33 – (1991-12-09)9 December 1991  |
PF | 15 |  | Sani, Samuel | 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in)  |  |  18 – (2007-07-09)9 July 2007  |
SF | 23 |  | Koko Jr., Ifeanyi | 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)  |  |  20 – (2004-12-08)8 December 2004  |
SF | 24 |  | Putney, Raphiael (I) | 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in)  |  |  35 – (1990-04-21)21 April 1990  |
PF | 28 |  | Ike, David (E) | 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in)  |  |  18 – (2007-07-16)16 July 2007  |
SG | 45 |  | Abah, Ogbodeje | 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in)  |  |  18 – (2006-12-12)12 December 2006  |

Head coach

* Ogoh Odaudu

Assistant coach(es)

* Abdulrahman Mohammed

* * *

Legend

* (C) Team captain
* (I) Import player
* (E): BAL Elevate player
* Injured

* * *

* Roster

Updated: April 4, 2025

### Notable players

[edit]

* Chris Obekpa (2022) – Nigerian international and former BAL blocking leader.
* Ben Uzoh (2021) – Nigerian international and former Toronto Raptors player.
* Robinson Opong (2021) – Ugandan international.
* Abdul Yahaya (2019–2020) – Two-time Nigerian League MVP.

### Individual awards

[edit]

All-BAL First Team

* Will Perry – 2024

All-BAL Second Team

* Kelvin Amayo – 2024
* Devine Eke – 2024

BAL Coach of the Year

* Ogoh Odaudu – 2024

Premier League MVP

* Azuoma Dike – 2012
* Abdul Yahaya – 2019
* Johnson Anaiye – 2021

Premier League Final MVP

* Victor Anthony Koko – 2021

## Season by season

[edit]

The following are the Hoopers' results in the BAL:

BAL champions | Conference champions | Playoff berth

|
|

Season  | League  |  | Regular season  | Post-season  | Head Coach  | Captain

|
|
|
|
|
|

Conference  | Finish  | Wins  | Losses  | Win %
Rivers Hoopers
2021 | BAL | Group A  | 3rd  | 1  | 2  | .333  | Did not qualify  | Ogoh Odaudu | Victor Anthony Koko
2022  | BAL | Excluded from participation by FIBA over NBBF dispute
2023  | BAL | Did not qualify
2024 | BAL | Sahara | 1st  | 4  | 2  | .667  | Lost seeding game (Douanes)
Won quarterfinals (Monastir) 92–88
Lost semifinal (Al Ahly Ly) 83–89
Won third place game (Cape Town) 80–57
2025 | BAL | Kalahari | 2nd  | 4  | 2  | .667  | Qualified
Regular season record  | 9 | 6 | .600 | 0 BAL championships
Playoffs record  | 1 | 2 | .750

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "About". Rivershoopers.com. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
2. ^ a b "Rivers Hoopers (NIGERIA)". The BAL. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
3. ^ John, Queen (1 March 2019). "Off the court with Queen John… Azuoma Dike". China. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
4. ^ "River Hoopers win 2019 NBBF President's Cup, qualify for Basketball Africa League". 18 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
5. ^ "Festus Ezeli signs with Rivers Hoopers in NBA/FIBA's Basketball Africa League". Sportando.basketball. 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
6. ^ Proballers. "Ben Uzoh, Basketball Player". Proballers. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
7. ^ Saliu, Mohammed (18 November 2021). "Rivers Hoopers Knock Bulls to Claim Championship, BAL TIcket". Brila.net. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
8. ^ "FIBA Africa stops Rivers Hoopers from BAL". The Nation Newspaper. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
9. ^ Busari, Niyi. "Rivers Hoopers Crowned NBBF Final 4 Champions, Pick BAL Ticket". BSN Sports. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
10. ^ "Rivers Hoopers finish third at 2024 BAL". The BAL. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
11. ^ @thebal; (5 June 2024). "The 2024 All-BAL Second Team!" - via Instagram.
12. ^ "Acuil-Jr. dominates 2024 BAL Awards". The BAL. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
13. ^ @thebal; (5 June 2024). "The 2024 All-BAL Second Team!" - via Instagram.
14. ^ "Rivers Hoopers are the 2024 Nigeria League champions". www.fiba.basketball. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
15. ^ "Rivers Hoopers win Crown Elite Basketball championship". The Port Harcourt Telegraph. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* Rivers Hoopers on Twitter

* v
* t
* e

Rivers Hoopers current roster

* 00 Balogun
* 2 Alalibo
* 10 Nwaiwo
* 11 Anthony
* 12 Ajegbeyi
* 14 Uzoh
* 22 Benjamin
* 15 Opong
* 21 Osigbodi
* 22 Ikechukwu
* 23 James
* 24 Sullivan
* 33 Owoicho
* 55 Daniels
* – Ezeli

* Head coach: Odaudu

* v
* t
* e

Nigerian Premier League

Seasons|

* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Current clubs|

* Bauchi Nets
* Civil Defenders
* Delta Force
* Gombe Bulls
* Hoops And Read
* Kada Stars
* Kano Pillars
* Kwara Falcons
* Lagos Islanders
* Mark Mentors
* NAF Rockets
* Niger Potters
* Nigeria Customs
* Oluyole Warriors
* Plateau Peaks
* Police Baton
* Raptors
* Rivers Hoopers

Former clubs|

* Ebun Comets
* Union Bank
* Lagos Islanders

Arenas|

* Abuja Indoor Hall

* v
* t
* e

Basketball Africa League

Seasons|

* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025
* 2026

Qualifying rounds|

* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Playoffs|

* 2021 (F)
* 2022 (F)
* 2023 (F)
* 2024 (F)
* 2025 (F)

Teams|

| 2024 season teams|

* Al Ahli Tripoli
* Al Ahly
* ASCVD
* APR
* FUS Rabat
* Kriol Star
* Nairobi City Thunder
* Petro de Luanda
* Stade Malien
* Rivers Hoopers
* US Monastir

|

Former teams|

* ABC Fighters
* Al Ahly Benghazi
* AS Douanes
* AS Police
* AS Salé
* Bangui Sporting Club
* Cape Town Tigers
* City Oilers
* Cobra Sport
* DUC
* Dynamo
* Espoir Fukash
* FAP
* Ferroviário da Beira
* Ferroviário de Maputo
* GS Pétroliers
* GNBC
* Kwara Falcons
* Patriots
* REG
* SLAC
* Zamalek

Arenas|

* BK Arena
* Dakar Arena
* Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall
* Salle Moulay Abdellah
* SunBet Arena

Competition stages|

* Road to BAL
* Sahara Conference
* Nile Conference
* Kalahari Conference
* Finals

Awards|

* Most Valuable Player
* All-BAL Team
* All-Defensive Team
* Defensive Player of the Year
* Sportsmanship Award
* Ubuntu Award

Records and statistics|

* Records list (Single-game points record)
* Annual statistical leaders

Associated|

* NBA
* FIBA
* FIBA Africa
* FIBA Africa Basketball League (Defunct)

* Category

*[Pos.]: Position(s)
*[No.]: Jersey number
*[Nat.]: Nationality
*[Ht.]: Height
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template