Kene Chukwuka

Photo by: Alex Mowrey/Pitt Athletics

Photo by: Pete Madia/Pitt Athletics

The Storyline

Developing stretch forward with a high motor and good instincts ... active defender with the ability to be a strong rebounder on both ends of the floor
Gained 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason ... added strength and experience will enable him to be a more effective interior presence on the defensive end of the floor
Has range out to the three-point arc and continues to work on the consistency of his shooting stroke ... expected to improve on shooting percentages as he adjusts to the speed of the game
Came to the United States two years ago to pursue a degree and the opportunity to play Division I basketball … continues to adjust to speed and style of play
Has a mature approach to the game that will allow him to grow and develop ... team player willing to do the little things to help the team win
Will compete for minutes as part of Pitt’s big man rotation ... showed the ability to be a disruptive figure on the offensive glass a year ago
A Social Sciences major

2018-19

Academic All-ACC selection ... also named to the ACC Honor Roll
Started 17 of 32 games played ... averaged 3.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game ... shot a team-high 53.4 percent (47-of-88) from the field and 73.5 percent (25-of-34) from the free throw line
Scored in double figures twice and grabbed five or more rebounds in a game 11 times
Recorded a career-high nine rebounds and had one block in an ACC Tournament win over Boston College (3/12)
Had six rebounds and two points in a victory over Notre Dame (3/9)
Went 4-of-4 from the field in a 10-point effort at Miami (3/5)
Had six rebounds and four points in a victory over New Orleans (12/20)
Registered seven points and six rebounds in a win over Maryland Eastern Shore (12/15)
Scored seven points and recorded eight rebounds in a win over Duquesne (11/30)
Went 4-of-5 from the field for nine points at No. 14 Iowa (11/27)
Grabbed six rebounds against Saint Louis (11/21)
Set a career-high 13 points and grabbed six rebounds in a victory against Troy (11/12)
Came down with five rebounds in a win over VMI (11/9)
Recorded seven points and eight rebounds in the first game of the year against Youngstown State (11/6)

2017-18

Started 13 of 31 games played … averaged 2.5 points and 2.7 rebounds per game ... finished third on the team in blocks (13) and tied for third in steals (16)
Had five points, three rebounds and three steals at Florida State (2/18)
Registered five points, three rebounds and four assists against Boston College (2/13)
Matched a season high with four offensive rebounds against Louisville (2/11) ... finished with four points and five rebounds
Grabbed six rebounds at No. 16 Clemson (2/8)
Had eight rebounds and two steals at No. 5 Duke (1/20)
Recorded seven points and four rebounds at Syracuse (1/16)
Recorded eight points and four offensive rebounds against Duke (1/10) ... went 3-of-3 from the field with a pair of three-point field goals
Delivered five points, four rebounds, two blocks and a steal in a win over McNeese State (12/16)
Scored a season-high nine points against Duquesne (12/1) ... went 4-of-5 from the field and added four rebounds in the win
Scored seven points to go along with five assists against Lehigh (11/25)
Recorded six points and six rebounds against Oklahoma State (11/21)

2016-17 (New Mexico Junior College)

Averaged 3.0 points and 3.7 rebounds in just over 10 minutes per contest ... delivered 11.7 points and 14.4 rebounds per 40 minutes
Shot 50.9 percent (28-of-55] from the field ... grabbed five or more rebounds in a game 11 times
Helped the Thunderbirds to a 19-11 record overall ... played in 26 games with two starts
Scored five points on 2-of-4 shooting from the field and grabbed five rebounds in a win over Midland College (2/23)
Went 2-of-2 from the field to score five points in a win over Clarendon College (2/16) ... also had six rebounds in 22 minutes of play
Grabbed six rebounds at South Plains College (2/13)
Had four points and six rebounds at Western Texas College (2/6)
Scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds in a two-point win over Howard College (1/30) ... went 3-of-4 from the field with a three-point field goal in 17 minutes of action
Had four points and seven rebounds in seven minutes against Frank Phillips College (1/26)
Posted a season-high 13 points on 6-of-6 shooting to go along with seven rebounds in a win over Eastfield College (1/3)
Scored three points and grabbed six rebounds in 13 minutes against Western Texas College (12/3)
Had seven points, six rebounds and two blocks in a win over Ranger (11/26)
Posted six points, five rebounds and two assists in a win over Trinidad State Junior College (11/3)

High School

Averaged 9.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game for BG Fryshuset Stockholm in 2015-16
A high level scorer on the club circuit back home in Sweden ... averaged over 30 points per game for the Trelleborg Pirates as a senior
Played for head coach Jeremy Ali Lou
Averaged over 27 points per game as a sophomore and 24.0 points per game as a freshman

Personal

Born Kenechukwu Henrik Chukwuka Oct. 28, 1996 in Stockholm, Sweden
Son of Okezie Chukwuka and Marianne Jarnhall Chukwuka
Father, Okezie, is a pastor
Has one brother, Chidi Chukwuka
Favorite TV shows are Game of Thrones and Power
Favorite NBA player is Kevin Durant ... became a basketball fan in Sweden by watching YouTube NBA highlights