Keve Aluma

Last updated
Keve Aluma
Keve Aluma Wofford.jpg
Aluma with Wofford in 2019
No. 4Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus
Position Power forward
League Korean Basketball League
Personal information
Born (1998-12-31) December 31, 1998 (age 25)
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight239 lb (108 kg)
Career information
High school Stephen Decatur
(Berlin, Maryland)
College
Playing career2022–present
Career history
2022–2023 Niigata Albirex
2023–present Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× Second-team All-ACC (2021, 2022)

Keve Aluma (born December 31, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus of the Korean Basketball League (KBL). He previously played for the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Wofford Terriers.

Contents

Early life and high school career

Aluma grew up playing soccer and did not play basketball until high school. He stood 6'7" as a freshman at Stephen Decatur High School in Berlin, Maryland. [1] Aluma was a three-year starter for Decatur, leading the team to two regional titles and a 3A state championship game appearance. He was named Bayside South Player of the Year in his senior season. [2] Aluma committed to playing college basketball for Wofford over offers from Loyola (Maryland), UTEP and UMBC, among others. [3]

College career

Aluma averaged 2.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game as a freshman at Wofford. He became a starter in his next season. [4] On January 3, 2019, Aluma matched his season-high 14 points and nine rebounds in a 112–81 win over The Citadel. [5] As a sophomore, he averaged 6.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. [6] Aluma transferred to Virginia Tech, where his previous coach Mike Young was hired, and sat out for one season due to transfer rules. [7]

On November 28, 2020, he posted 23 points and eight rebounds in an 81–73 overtime win over third-ranked Villanova. [8] On January 30, 2021, he recorded 29 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, leading his team to a 65–61 win over eighth-ranked Virginia. [9] In his following game, Aluma posted 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in an 83–72 loss to Pittsburgh. [10] As a redshirt junior, Aluma averaged 15.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, earning Second Team All-ACC honors. Following the season, he declared for the 2021 NBA draft, but ultimately returned for his senior season. [11] Aluma was again named to the Second Team All-ACC as a senior. [12]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2017–18 Wofford 33313.3.566.5713.4.5.2.42.5
2018–19 Wofford 353426.6.667.000.5746.81.0.7.96.9
2019–20 Virginia Tech Redshirt.svg Redshirt
2020–21 Virginia Tech 222230.6.490.351.7227.92.2.71.315.2
Career905922.7.556.345.6395.81.1.5.87.3

Personal life

His biological father, Peter Aluma, played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for part of one season. He was raised by his mother and stepfather, Bethany and Bruce Copeland. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cassell Coliseum</span> Multi-purpose arena in Virginia, United States

Cassell Coliseum is a 10,052-seat multi-purpose arena in Blacksburg, Virginia, United States, that opened in 1962. It is home to the Virginia Tech Hokies men's and women's basketball teams, wrestling team, and volleyball team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball</span> Mens basketball team

The Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Home games are played at Cassell Coliseum, located on Virginia Tech's campus in Blacksburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deron Washington</span>

Deron Washington is an American basketball player who last played for Mitteldeutscher of the German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL). He played in college for the Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball team. He was selected with the 59th overall selection in the 2008 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Young (basketball)</span> American basketball coach (born 1963)

Michael Kent Young is an American college basketball coach and currently the head men's basketball coach at Virginia Tech. He was hired on April 7, 2019, after a 17-year stint where he went 299–244 (.545) as the head coach at Wofford College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia Tech Hokies football</span> College Football Bowl Subdivision team

The Virginia Tech Hokies football team represents Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in the sport of American football. The Hokies compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They previously competed in the Big East. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium, located in Blacksburg, Virginia, with a seating capacity of over 65,000 fans. Lane Stadium is considered to be one of the loudest stadiums in the country, being voted number two in ESPN's 2007 "Top 20 Scariest Places to Play". It was also recognized in 2005 by Rivals.com as having the best home-field advantage in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zabian Dowdell</span> American professional basketball player

Zabian Dowdell is an American former professional basketball player. Born in Pahokee, Florida, he played basketball for his hometown's high school. He played college basketball for the Virginia Tech Hokies from 2003 to 2007. In his senior season he was named in the First-team All-ACC and the ACC All-Defensive team. Following his graduation from college, Dowdell played professionally mainly in Europe, also having brief stints in the NBA and the NBA D-League.

Chris Smith is a former American college basketball player for the Virginia Tech Hokies from 1957 to 1961. He was nicknamed "Moose" at Charleston High School in West Virginia where he played as a 6-foot-6 center. During an era of exceptional local talent, in what was then known as the Kanawha Valley, Smith was later dubbed "The Human Pogo Stick" by former Roanoke sportswriter Bill Brill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamon Gordon</span>

Jamon Alfred Lucas Gordon is an American former professional basketball player. Standing at 1.91 m he played the point guard and shooting guard positions. He played college basketball with the Virginia Tech Hokies.

Ángel Daniel Vassallo Colón is a Puerto Rican professional basketball player for Cangrejeros de Santurce of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). He has been a member of the Puerto Rico national basketball team since his teenage years, representing Puerto Rico in the 2003 FIBA World Championship for Junior Men and the 2005 FIBA U-21 World Championship. In 2008, Vassallo joined the senior team, playing at the 2008 Centrobasket, FIBA Americas Championship 2009 and 2010 FIBA World Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyrone Garland</span> American basketball player (born 1992)

Tyrone W. Garland, nicknamed South West Philly Floater, is an American former basketball player. A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he joined the Mississauga Power midway in the 2014–15 season, a few months after completing his senior year at La Salle University. He had several impactful performances with Mississauga in his rookie season and was awarded several starts. Garland primarily plays the point guard position, but is known as an all-around guard.

The 2018–19 Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hokies were led by fifth-year head coach Buzz Williams and played their home games at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Virginia, as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They finished the 2018–19 season 26–9, 12–6 in ACC play to finish in fifth place. They defeated Miami (FL) in the second round of the ACC tournament before losing to Florida State. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they defeated Saint Louis and Liberty to advance to the sweet sixteen for the first time since 1965 where they lost to ACC member Duke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kerry Blackshear Jr.</span> American basketball player

Kerry Blackshear Jr. is an American professional basketball player for Hiroshima Dragonflies of the B.League. He played college basketball for the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Florida Gators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Robinson (basketball, born 1997)</span> American basketball player

Justin Robinson is an American professional basketball player for CB Breogán of the Liga ACB. He played college basketball for the Virginia Tech Hokies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Landers Nolley II</span> American basketball player

Landers Nolley II is an American professional basketball player for the Marinos de Oriente of the Superliga Profesional de Baloncesto (SPB). He played college basketball for the Virginia Tech Hokies, the Memphis Tigers and the Cincinnati Bearcats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cameron Jackson</span> American basketball player

Cameron Jackson is an American professional basketball player for Bambitious Nara of the Japanese B.League. He played college basketball for the Wofford Terriers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ty Outlaw</span> American basketball player

Tyrone Khalil Outlaw is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Wisconsin Herd of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Virginia Tech Hokies, the Lee College Runnin' Rebels and the UNC Greensboro Spartans.

The 2020–21 Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hokies were led by second-year head coach Mike Young and played their home games at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Virginia, as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Hokies finished the season 15–7, 9–4 in ACC play, to finish in third place. They lost to North Carolina in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament after earning a double-bye into the quarterfinals. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 10 seed in the South Region where they lost to Florida in the first round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Storm Murphy</span> American basketball player

Storm Murphy is an American professional player for Medipolis SC Jena of the ProA. He played college basketball for the Wofford Terriers and the Virginia Tech Hokies.

Aisha Sheppard is an American professional basketball player. In 2022, she was drafted by and played for the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA. She currently plays for the Mexican team ADELITAS. She played college basketball at Virginia Tech.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Kitley</span> American basketball player

Elizabeth Ann Kitley is an American professional basketball player who played college basketball at Virginia Tech. She was drafted in 2024 by the Las Vegas Aces.

References

  1. Robertson, Jimmy (November 29, 2020). "Keve Aluma: Finding his future". Radford News Journal. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  2. Pollitt, Richard (November 27, 2020). "Stephen Decatur grad Keve Aluma impresses in Virginia Tech debut". The Daily Times . Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  3. Northam, Mitchell (September 20, 2016). "Decatur's Keve Aluma commits to Wofford". The Daily Times . Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  4. Pollitt, Richard (December 7, 2020). "Virginia Tech's Keve Aluma represents the Shore on the basketball court". The Daily Times . Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  5. "Magee, Hoover lead hot-shooting Wofford past The Citadel". ESPN . Associated Press. January 3, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  6. McFarling, Aaron (December 2, 2020). "McFarling: Welcome to Aluma nation". The Roanoke Times . Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  7. Wood, Norm (May 6, 2019). "Keve Aluma transfers from Wofford to Hokies, reconnects with Young". Daily Press . Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  8. Berman, Mark (November 28, 2020). "Virginia Tech upsets No. 3 Villanova in overtime, just days after scheduling game". Richmond Times-Dispatch . Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  9. "Aluma scores career-high 29, Hokies rally to defeat Virginia 65-51". Virginia Tech Athletics. January 30, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  10. "Aluma's 30 points not enough in setback at Pitt". Virginia Tech Athletics. February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  11. Berman, Mark (June 24, 2021). "Keve Aluma says returning to Virginia Tech a 'pretty simple' decision". The Roanoke Times . Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  12. "ACC Unveils 2021-22 Men's Basketball Awards" (Press release). Atlantic Coast Conference. March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  13. Barber, Mike (July 9, 2020). "Virginia Tech's Keve Aluma always had basketball in his blood". Richmond Times-Dispatch . Retrieved December 29, 2020.