Kolossos BC has made a strategic move by signing Nigerian-born power forward Francis Okoro for the upcoming 2024-2025 Greek A1 Basketball League season. This marks Okoro's second professional season, following his impressive debut year, during which he showcased his talents with Rouen Métropole Basket in France and BC Nevezis in Lithuania.
Last Updated on
July 1, 2024
With the international professional basketball off-season in full swing, teams around the globe are actively reshaping their rosters to compete at the highest level during the forthcoming 2024-2025 season.
Among these teams is Greek A1 Basketball League club Kolossos BC, who have bolstered their lineup by signing Nigerian-born power forward Francis Okoro. This move will tip-off Okoro's second professional year in his burgeoning career, adding significant depth and talent to Kolossos BC's roster. Known for his defensive skills, Okoro is expected to bring significant strength and versatility to Kolossos BC's frontcourt, raising the team’s competitive edge in the league.
As apart of the club's official announcement, the Rhodes-based team released the following statement:
"Kolossos Rodou basketball club is pleased to announce the agreement with Francis Okoro. Born on August 7, 1999, in Nigeria, and standing 2.06 meters tall, he plays as a power forward. Okoro started his basketball journey in the USA, first playing for the University of Oregon from 2018 to 2020, before transferring to Saint Louis, where he played from 2021 to 2023. This season, Okoro began in France's second division with Rouen but soon signed with Nevezis in Lithuania. Over 20 league games, he averaged 8.8 points and 8.1 rebounds."
After graduating from Saint Louis University, Francis Okoro began his professional basketball career in Europe last season by signing a short-term deal with French club Rouen in the competitive Pro B league. While in Normandy, Okoro posted respectable stats, averaging 6.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, while shooting an impressive 61.5% from the field.
Following his stint in France, Okoro joined Lithuanian club BC Nevezis in the BETSAFE LKL, one of Europe's most respected top-tier leagues. During his 22-game run in Lithuania, he made a substantial impact, averaging 8.6 points and 8.0 rebounds per game in 25.6 minutes while maintaining a commendable 60.6% field goal percentage.
[Photography / Imagery Courtesy of Paris-Normandie, 15min.lt and BasketNews.it]
