By Bill Sheehan
Growing up in public housing in New York and New Jersey with seven older siblings and a single mom working three jobs, Cal State Fullerton basketball standout E.J. Anosike faced some tough times. But it never stopped him from chasing his dreams.
As a young teenager, he traveled daily from East Orange, New Jersey, to St. Peter's Boys' High School on Staten Island. His older brothers had attended the Catholic school when the family lived in the New York City borough, and he wanted to follow in their footsteps.
"E.J. had to get up at 4:30 a.m. each day," said his brother Ifesinachi, a registered nurse anesthetist in Alexandria, Virginia. "When I think back him making that nearly three-hour, one-way commute on his own as a 13-year-old, it nearly brings me to tears."
Anosike (pronounced Ann-uh-SICK-ee) took two buses to Penn Station in Manhattan, a subway to the World Trade Center/South Ferry station, a ferry to Staten Island and then a bus to the school. "There could be snow, hail, rain – I did it every weekday."
That perseverance has paid dividends in his athletic and academic careers.
He won basketball scholarships to Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Anosike earned a bachelor's degree at the former and a master's degree at the latter. After being granted an extra season of eligibility through the NCAA Covid-19 policy, he transferred to Cal State Fullerton last summer. He is working on a master of business administration with a management concentration at Fullerton.
The newcomer has been a catalyst for the Titans. Anosike was just named Big West Newcomer of the Year as well as Big West First Team All-Conference. He led the team and the conference with an average of 16.3 points per game. Anosike also topped the Titans in rebounds (7.7), tied for first in blocks (0.4) and tied for second in assists (1.8).
Titans face UC Davis in Big West quarterfinals
Now the 6-foot-7, 236-pound forward is leading Fullerton into the Big West Basketball Championships. The #2-seeded Titans (18-10, 11-4 in conference) will face #7-seed UC Davis in the quarterfinals Thursday at 6 p.m. at Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, Nevada.
"We have to be consistent and the hardest working team for all 40 minutes," said the 23-year-old. It's important to be the toughest team in every category – mentally, physically and emotionally," said Anosike, who full first name is Ejimofor.
Dedrique Taylor, Fullerton's ninth-year basketball head coach, said the tournament seedings can all be thrown out. "Long Beach State has established itself as a good, quality team. We have done the same. But the post-season is a different time. With three refs, on a neutral court, anything can happen."
"We need to stay connected. When we are connected, we can beat anyone. When we disconnected, anyone can beat us. We need to play with great purpose but also have a higher level of energy and focus."
Anosike, whose mother Ngozi emigrated from Nigeria to the U.S. in 1978, said he moved west for a new challenge.
E.J. Anosike with his mother Ngozi, who emigrated from Nigeria in 1978.
Former Titan influenced Anosike's transfer to Fullerton
"It was a leap of faith. I wanted to go to California. I used to play in the New York City parks with [former Titan] Kyle Allman Jr., and Kyle said he had a good experience here. It's 30 minutes from L.A., 30 minutes from the beach, and the weather is great. And coach Taylor is the type of person you want to play for. He is a good dude, with a good heart."
Of Anosike, Taylor said, "We got a good one. E.J. has been a huge benefit for our team at a time when we needed him. He's had an impact, built on his earlier experiences. Our guys have watched him put the work in and have seen the benefits of that work.
"He is athletic enough to guard all five positions and is physical enough to rebound with the best of them. Offensively, he's a load down on the block and can do some things on the perimeter. His power and aggressive nature really provides him with a mismatch on both ends of the court."
His teammate, Ibrahim Famouke Doumbia, said Anosike is a leader on and off the court. "Everything he does is with passion. He gives it his all. It's all about getting it done," said Doumbia, a grad student from Mali who transferred from the University of Central Florida.
Anosike is suited up for his Adidas-sponsored travel basketball team.
A self-described late bloomer on the basketball court
It's been quite a journey from Staten Island to Fullerton. Anosike attended six schools in the last nine years. "I've been trying to better myself and chase my dreams. I was a late bloomer. The better I got, the better the opportunities I received."
Anosike did not play basketball at St. Peter's Boys' High School. But when he decided to play ball, he wanted to do it closer to home.
He transferred to Christ the King Preparatory School – now called Cristo Rey Newark High School for his sophomore year and made the varsity team. After his coach passed away, Anosike transferred again, this time to Paramus Catholic High School.
Anosike excelled at Paramus Catholic, averaging 18 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks and three steals as a senior center. Although he was First Team All-North Jersey and Second Team All-Bergen County, he did not receive scholarship offers from Division 1 schools.
"He was chubby back then," said Doumbia, who played against Anosike as AAU summer ball. "He got in the game, and I said, 'Who is this chubby kid against us? He's bullying our people.' "
Ifesinachi, Anosike's brother, said he was undersized as a center. "E.J needed to use certain tricks and outthink his opponent. He improved when he cut out the junk food and concentrated more on diet and exercise. Each summer, we would watch tapes and concentrate on things such as having him use his left hand, boxing out, rebounding," said Ifesinachi, a 7-footer who played center at Salem State University in Massachusetts and competed as a semiprofessional.
Photo by Bill Sheehan
Making a splash, Anosike was named the 2021-22 Big West Newcomer of the Year and earned Big West First Team All-Conference honors.
His play at Connecticut school led to a college scholarship
Anosike then spent a year at post-graduate St. Thomas More School, a college-preparatory school in Montville, Conn. He earned All-New England Preparatory School Athletic Council and accepted a scholarship offer from Sacred Heart University.
He honed his basketball skills at the Catholic university. As a sophomore, he was named the 2018-19 Northeast Conference Most Improved Player and was selected to the All-NEC Second Team after averaging 14.3 points and 8.1 rebounds.
As a junior, Anosike started all 33 games, averaging 15.7 points and 11.6 rebounds and being named All-NEC First Team. He posted a 3.57 grade point average and received NEC Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete Award.
After taking just three years to earn a finance and business economics degree with a minor in accounting, he entered the transfer portal and landed at the University of Tennessee. Anosike saw action off the bench in 22 contests last season, including 15 Southeast Conference games. His sister Nicky won back-to-back national championships for the Lady Vols in 2007 and 2008.
Family members who attended Anosike's final home game include his brother Ifesinachi and his uncle Joseph Jinwright to his right and his mother Ngozi, his sister Anulika and his aunt Desiree Carpenter to his left.
Tennessee win at Kentucky was a memorable moment
Playing at Sacred Heart and Tennessee were great experiences, Anosike said. "I learned a lot from [Tennessee] coach Rick Barnes and became a stronger player," he said. "We beat Kentucky at Rupp Arena, but our bus got stuck in the snow on the return trip and we got home really late."
At Tennessee, he completed a two-year master's in agricultural economics in nine months. Then he again entered the portal and ended up at Fullerton.
"He is a funny guy in general and a great overall kid that I love to be around. He has the biggest smile on his face," said his brother, Ifesinachi. "He grew up in the inner city. He has seen the downs, and now he sees the ups."
Ifesinachi is not the only Anosike in the medical field. Ngozi, the family matriarch, became a licensed registered nurse while working three jobs. One of Anosike's sisters is an OB/GYN doctor, and two other sisters are advanced practice register nurses. Another brother played basketball at Sienna College in Loudonville, New York and now competes overseas. A fourth brother is autistic and works at home.
"My mom is my hero," said Anosike. "She arrived in the U.S. without any money or education. She went to school to get her registered nurse license while working three jobs and taking care of all her children.
He accompanied his mom on summer trips to Nigeria
Anosike often accompanied his mother on her annual trip to Nigeria to see relatives in her home village of Okija in the southeast part of the country. The family is from the Igbo Tribe in Anambra State.
"I visited the village one year, and everyone knew E.J. by name," said Ifesinachi.
When he was younger, our uncle would ride his motorcycle down a dirt road past the house every day, and E.J. would flag him down for a ride. He would be the happiest person in Africa, on that motorcycle."
Anosike plans to pursue a job playing for an NBA team. He also envisions a long career in business, possibly working in the oil industry, shipping exports between the U.S. and Africa, and investment trading, including cryptocurrency. "If there is money in it and it makes sense, I can find my way around it," he said.
This year he launched A55 Life, a management company that designs strategies and techniques for name, image and likeness deals for student-athletes. "We also work on branding for a variety of people, ranging from actors and musicians to models," he said. The 55 is a tribute to his family's penchant for wear number 55 jerseys. His sister Nicky wore 55 at Tennessee, and Anosike wore the same number there too.
He also plans to start a nonprofit to help young Nigerians pursue a better life in America, concentrating on academics and basketball. "When I used to visit Nigeria, my cousins fought to go to school and get some opportunities. I want to go back there and make an impact. I want to make a difference both in Africa and here too, mentoring kids."
'I spread positivity and bring light into the world'
A fan of African and rhythm and blues music, Anosike loves to travel and meet people. "I'm a people person. I try to spread positivity and bring light into the world."
"I didn't have a dad growing up growing up in the hood, and I appreciated all the men who stepped in and were positive role models in my life and helped me get to this point. I still talk to them every day. I look in the mirror each day and am very thankful to God that he made a way."
Several family members, including his mother Ngozi, traveled to California this month for Anosike's final home game at Titan Gym. "My mom never saw me play in high school because she was busy working. This was only the fifth game she attended, and fortunately we got a win.
"I told my mother I'm never going back to live on the East Coast. I'm not shoveling any more snow. I'm done with cold weather. California, Arizona or Nevada all sound good – wherever it is warm. Coming here was a great decision to better myself and create the future I want.
#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/ObvUTPD0Eb
— Titans Athletics (@FullertonTitans) March 11, 2022