Omon Edobar was a perfect recruit for the RDC basketball Kings.
Besides the fact the six-foot-three point guard is extremely talented, he grew up in Texas, but comes in as a non-import, being born in Calgary.
“I really didn’t spend much time in Calgary, about six months, before we moved to Texas, so this is the first time to really see Alberta,” he explained. “But it’s great to have dual citizenship and that I’m classified as a Canadian.”
Both his parents come from Nigeria, moved to Texas and are now living in Toronto.
Edobar learned the game in Texas before joining a prep school in South Carolina.
He attended a college in Detroit, where he red shirted for a year.
“My coach in school, Ben Julius, recommended me to Clay (RDC head coach Clayton Pottinger) and said it would be a good program and school for me,” Edobar explained.
He’s also been good for the program.
The Kings are a young team this season, but Edobar plays more like a seasoned veteran.
“Some days I forget he’s a first-year player,” said Pottinger. “I put a lot of pressure on him, like I would a fifth-year player. He deserves a lot of respect. He plays a lot of minutes, is tough with the ball and off the ball.”
Edobar is listed as a point guard, but has a 20.1 point-per-game average – third best in the ACAC.
“I’ve always been a point guard although more of a combo guard,” he said.
“But here I’m more of a true point guard, something I’m learning more about every day by listening to Clay at practice.”
Edobar says he’s also learning more and more about playing as a team.
“Clay is always preaching you succeed as a team, not as an individual, if we want to have success. I know out west it’s more of a team style than in Toronto or the States. Everyone is dialed in together which makes it a great league.”
Still he’s a scorer.
“I try to play as a team, but I can score,” he said. “Clay wants me to score, but is also on me about defence.”
Edobar’s true talents came out last weekend as the Kings split a pair of games against Medicine Hat. He was the RDC player of the game , both games. He was asked to guard the Rattlers top player, averaged over 20 points per game and he also nailed a key three late in the victory Saturday.
“That was basically a game winner,” said Pottinger. “But I’ve been impressed with Omon from the moment I’ve seen him, As always there’s a growing period for the new guys, but the expectations on him have been high. I was tough on him for the first few months, but he came around and is one of the best players in the league. I don’t see any reason he’s not the league’s rookie of the year.”
Omon enjoys the pressure on him and the second half of the season he received some help with the addition of six-foot-seven Daniel Powell, who is averaging over 24 points per game and an ACAC high 14.1 rebounds per start.
“He’s a great asset.” said Edobar. “He can do everything … shoot, handle the ball and rebound. He’s amazing and will be big for us heading toward the playoffs.”
The Kings, and Queens, will have their hands full this weekend as they meet top-ranked SAIT tonight at RDC and Saturday in Calgary.
Both SAIT teams lead the South Conference at 13-1. The Kings are tied for third at 9-6 with the Queens fifth at 8-7.
Danny Rode is a retired Advocate reporter who can be reached at drode@reddeeradvocate.com