Samkelo Cele

Last updated

Samkelo Cele
No. 25–Cape Town Tigers
Position Guard
League BAL
Personal information
Born (1997-12-28) 28 December 1997 (age 26)
Durban, South Africa
Listed height1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Listed weight95 kg (209 lb)
Career information
High school Durban High School
(Durban, South Africa)
Bull City Prep Academy
(Charlotte, North Carolina)
College Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (2019–2021)
Marist (2021–2022)
USAO
(2022–2023)
Playing career2015–present
Career history
2023–present Cape Town Tigers
Career highlights and awards

Samkelo "Sam" Cele (born 28 December 1997) is a South African professional basketball player who plays for the Cape Town Tigers of the Basketball Africa League (BAL). Born in Durban, he played college basketball for three different universities. Cele began playing professionally in 2023 and was an All-BAL First Team selection in 2024, and is a two-time BAL All-Defensive Team selection, all while playing for the Tigers.

Contents

Early life

Born in Durban, Cele received a basketball scholarship for Durban High School, one of the best schools in the city. After graduating in 2016, he moved to the United States to play for Bull City Prep in Charlotte, North Carolina. Cele also attended a basketball camp in Serbia in 2015. [1] Cele played with the KwaZulu Marlins of the South African top tier Basketball National League (BNL) in 2015, at age 17.

College career

Cele played for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College for two years, [2] for Southern University for one year in 2020–21, and Marist College in 2021–22. With the Marist Red Foxes, Cele started in 27 games. [3]

He then finished his career with the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in the NAIA, because he was ineligible to continue in the NCAA, and was named an All-American third-team selection in 2023. [1] He averaged 20.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 52.8% from the field and 41.3% on three-pointers. [4]

Professional career

2022–23 season

In 2023, Cele signed his first professional contract with the South African team Cape Town Tigers of the Basketball Africa League (BAL). On 6 May, 2023, on the final day of the Nile Conference, Cele scored 28 points in a win over City Oilers, that clinched the Tigers' playoff spot. [1] [5] He was named to the BAL All-Defensive Team for the 2023 BAL season. [6] Cele averaged 13 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2.5 steals per game and shot 46.8 percent from the field in his four BAL games. [7]

2023–24 season

In the 2023–24 season, Cele took a leap in his game and helped the Tigers to the fourth place in the 2024 BAL season. He averaged 20.2 points per game (second in the league) and 2.4 steals per game (third-most in the league). [8] He was named to his first All-BAL First Team, becoming the first South African to be named to the team; [9] Cele was also named to another BAL All-Defensive Team. [10]

National team career

Cele made his debut for the South Africa national team in February 2024 during the pre-qualifiers for AfroBasket 2025. [11]


BAL career statistics

[12]

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
YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2023 Cape Town 6330.6.478.235.5245.32.32.00.213.5
2024 Cape Town 7733.8.389.268.7604.62.72.40.221.0

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ater Majok</span> Lebanese basketball player (born 1987)

Ater James "AJ" Majok is a professional basketball player for US Monastir of the Basketball Africa League (BAL). Born in Sudan and raised in Australia, Majok represents Lebanon internationally. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2011 NBA draft with the 58th overall pick. Standing at 6 ft 11 in, Majok mostly stands out with his athletic and defensive abilities. He was the BAL Defensive Player of the Year in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jo Lual-Acuil</span> South Sudanese Australian basketball player

Joseph Lual-Acuil Jr. is a South Sudanese-Australian professional basketball player for the Sandringham Sabres of the NBL1 South. He played college basketball for Neosho County Community College and Baylor University. Lual-Acuil had a record-breaking season in the BAL in 2024, in which he won MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and broke the league scoring record.

Adjehi Nonma Baru is an Ivorian professional basketball player. He also represents the Ivory Coast national basketball team. He played college basketball for College of Charleston Cougars men's basketball

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cartier Diarra</span> American-Malian basketball player (born 1998)

Cartier Ducati Diarra is an American-Malian basketball player who currently plays for the Cape Town Tigers of the Basketball Africa League (BAL). He played college basketball for the Kansas State Wildcats and the Virginia Tech Hokies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdoulaye Harouna</span> Nigerien basketball player (born 1992)

Abdoulaye Harouna Amadou is a Nigerien basketball player who plays for AS Douanes of the Nationale 1 and the Basketball Africa League (BAL). He has also played for the Niger national team. Harouna played college basketball for Miami RedHawks between 2015 and 2019.

The Basketball Africa League Dikembe Mutombo Defensive Player of the Year is an annual Basketball Africa League (BAL) award given to the best defensive player of a given season. The award is named after Congolese basketball legend Dikembe Mutombo. The award was first handed out in the inaugural season to Anas Osama Mahmoud.

Dhieu Abwok Deing is an American-South Sudanese basketball player forCape Town Tigers of the Basketball Africa League (BAL). He played college basketball for the USC Aiken Pacers, Dodge City CC Conquistadors, and UTSA Roadrunners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape Town Tigers</span> South African basketball club

The Cape Town Tigers are a South African professional basketball team founded in Cape Town. The Tigers play in the Basketball National League (BNL) and the Basketball Africa League (BAL).

Dane Miller Jr. is an American basketball player who plays for the City Oilers of the Basketball Africa League. He was a All-BAL First Team selection in 2023, while playing for SLAC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 BAL season</span> 3rd season of the Basketball Africa League

The 2023 BAL season, also known as BAL Season 3, was the third season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL). The season began on 11 March 2023 and ended on 27 May 2023. The playoffs were played in the BK Arena in Kigali, which hosted the final stage for a third season in a row. The regular season was played in Dakar, Senega and Cairo, Egypt, both venues hosted a conference for a second year in a row.

The BAL All-Defensive Team is an annual Basketball Africa League (BAL) honor bestowed on the best defensive players in the league following every BAL season. The All-Defensive Team is composed of five players. The honour was introduced in the 2022 season, the second season of the league.

Khaman Madit Maluach is a South Sudanese basketball player who currently plays for the City Oilers of the Basketball Africa League (BAL), under a development program with the NBA Academy Africa. Standing at 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m), he plays the center position. He is also a current member of the South Sudan national team, whom he joined at age of 16.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stade Malien (basketball)</span> Basketball team in Bamako, Mali

Stade Malien is a Malian basketball team based in Bamako. It is part of the multi-sports club, which also has a football team and rugby team. Founded in 1960, Stade plays in the Ligue 1, the highest level of basketball in Mali. They play in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) in the 2023 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aliou Diarra</span> Malian basketball player (born 2001)

Aliou Fadiala Diarra is a Malian professional basketball player for FUS Rabat. Diarra was recruited on outside courts by Stade Malien and was an unknown in professional basketball circles until he gained attention in 2023 for his performance in the Basketball Africa League (BAL). In his rookie season, he was named the BAL Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the All-BAL First Team.

Falando Cortez Jones is an American professional basketball player who last played for the City Oilers of the Ugandan NBL and the Basketball Africa League (BAL). He was the scoring champion of the BAL in the 2023 season.

Patrick Yousef Gardner is an American-Egyptian professional basketball player for Al Ahly of the Egyptian Basketball Premier League and the Basketball Africa League (BAL). He played college basketball for Nassau Community College, Saint Michael's College and Marist.

William Kiah Perry is an American professional basketball player for Rivers Hoopers of the Nigerian Premier League (basketball) (NPL). Standing at 1.83 m, Perry plays as point guard. Alumnus of Lenoir–Rhyne University, he has played several years of professional basketball in Europe and Africa. Perry previously held the record for most points in a single BAL game, is a one-time All-BAL First Team selection and a two-time BAL Sportsmanship Award winner.

The 2024 BAL playoffs was the postseason tournament of the 2024 BAL season which determined the champions of the 4th Basketball Africa League (BAL) season. The playoffs began on 24 May 2024 with the seeding games and finished on 1 June 2024 with the final. For a fourth consecutive season, the playoffs were hosted in the BK Arena in Kigali.

Nkosinathi Sandile Sibanyoni is a South African professional basketball player for the Cape Town Tigers of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and Basketball National League (BNL). Standing at 2.08 m, he plays as center and has also played for the South Africa national team. Sibanyoni has been a key part of the Tigers in their BAL seasons and holds the record for most rebounds in a BAL game. He is nicknamed "Nahi".

Mouhamadou Abdoulaye "Ab" Ndoye is a Senegalese basketball player who plays for the Cape Town Tigers of the Basketball Africa League (BAL). Standing at 2.13 m, he is a center.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "The rise of Samkelo Cele, South Africa's best NBA hope since... Steve Nash". ESPN.com. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  2. ↑ "Samkelo Cele - 2020-21 - MEN'S BASKETBALL". Southern University. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  3. ↑ "Samkelo Cele - Men's Basketball". Marist College Athletics. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  4. ↑ "Samkelo Cele". University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  5. ↑ "LiveStats". geniussports.com. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  6. ↑ "Diarra, Omot, Gueye, Perry Highlight 2023 BAL Awards". The BAL. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  7. ↑ Proballers. "Samkelo Cele, Basketball Player". Proballers. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  8. ↑ "Statistics". The BAL. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  9. ↑ "Acuil-Jr. dominates 2024 BAL Awards". The BAL. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  10. ↑ "Diarra, Cele named to the All-BAL Defensive Team for the second season in a row". The BAL. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  11. ↑ "South Africa to unleash their inner dog in AfroBasket pre-qualifier battle against Mozambique". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  12. ↑ "Samkelo Cele Player Profile, Science & Arts (OK) - RealGM". basketball.realgm.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.