STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — St. Peter’s will retire former star center O.D. Anosike’s jersey number during a game against St. Joseph by-the-Sea on Thursday.
Game time is 7 p.m.
Anosike, a three-year varsity player between 2007-09, not only succeeded during his playing days with the Eagles, but during college and professionally as well.
He becomes only the sixth SP hoopster to have his number retired. His No. 55 will join Bill Murtha (No. 17, class of 1962), John Engles (No. 41, class of 1972), Mike Fiore (No. 40, class of 1972), Greg Pedro (No. 21, class of 1983) and Andrew Wisniewski (No. 4, class of 1999) on the New Brighton school’s gymnasium wall.
During his high school days, the 6-foot-8 Anosike was a fierce interior presence and rebounder who helped lead the Eagles to three consecutive SIHSL Tournament championships and garnered tourney MVP honors twice. During his senior year, he averaged 17.8 ppg. overall, but a whopping 24.6 points and 17.3 rebounds per game in three SIHSL tourney games.
The two-time Advance All Star, who played two seasons with current St. Peter’s varsity coach Ryan Woods, scored 1,230 career points and was named the Jaques Award winner following his senior year of 2008-09.
He received a full athletic scholarship to D1 Siena University and proceeded to lead the nation in rebounding two times. In addition, he went on to score over 1,000 points and grab over 1,000 rebounds during his playing days with the Saints. He was also named a Lou Henson Mid-Major All American.
Anosike has enjoyed a successful professional career overseas as well. He played NBA Summer League ball with both the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics. In playing pro hoops overseas, he is a two-time Italian Serie A rebounding champion and made stops in France (Cholet and Strasbourg), Spain (Real Betis), Greece (Lavrio) and other countries including South Korea, Libya, Mexico, Iran and Turkey (Manisa and Gaziantep).
He is the recipient of several championships overseas as well.