Onome Akinbode-James (born March 9, 2000) is a Nigerian basketball player. She represented
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
in the
FIBA Africa Under-16 Championship for Women
The FIBA U16 Women's African Championship is an under-16 basketball championship in the International Basketball Federation's FIBA Africa zone. The tournament is held biennially. The top two teams qualify directly to the FIBA Under-17 Women's ...
. She plays college basketball for the
Duke Blue Devils women's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils women's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I.
Team history
In 1974, Duke hired Emma Jean Howard to teach physical education, and t ...
team.
Early life
Onome was (born on March 9, 2000) in
Abeokuta
Abeokuta is the capital city of Ogun State in southwest Nigeria. It is situated on the east bank of the Ogun River, near a group of rocky outcrops in a wooded savanna; north of Lagos by railway, or by water. , Abeokuta and the surrounding are ...
,
Ogun State
Ogun State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. Ogun State borders Lagos State to the south, Oyo State and Osun State to the north, Ondo State to the east, and the Republic of Benin to the ...
, South western
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
. She had her primary Education in
Abeokuta
Abeokuta is the capital city of Ogun State in southwest Nigeria. It is situated on the east bank of the Ogun River, near a group of rocky outcrops in a wooded savanna; north of Lagos by railway, or by water. , Abeokuta and the surrounding are ...
. She was in her secondary school in Nigeria when she started playing basketball at the age of 14. She transferred to
Blair Academy
Blair Academy is a coeducational, boarding and day school for students in high school. The school serves students from ninth through twelfth grades as well as a small post-graduate class. The school's campus is located on a campus in Blairs ...
in
Blairstown, New Jersey
Blairstown is a township in Warren County, New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, Blairstown's population was 5,704. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 5,967
High school career
Onome was recruited into
Blair Academy
Blair Academy is a coeducational, boarding and day school for students in high school. The school serves students from ninth through twelfth grades as well as a small post-graduate class. The school's campus is located on a campus in Blairs ...
after the
FIBA Africa Under-16 Championship for Women
The FIBA U16 Women's African Championship is an under-16 basketball championship in the International Basketball Federation's FIBA Africa zone. The tournament is held biennially. The top two teams qualify directly to the FIBA Under-17 Women's ...
. In her senior year she averaged 13.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game.
Onome gave a TED Talk at her high school
Blair Academy
Blair Academy is a coeducational, boarding and day school for students in high school. The school serves students from ninth through twelfth grades as well as a small post-graduate class. The school's campus is located on a campus in Blairs ...
Duke Blue Devils
The Duke Blue Devils are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Duke University, located in Durham, North Carolina. Duke's athletics department features 27 varsity teams that all compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Associatio ...
by former Duke head coach Joanne P. McCallie. In her freshman season, she averaged 4 point and 5.7 rebounds per game.
National Team career
Onome represented Nigeria in the
FIBA Africa Under-16 Championship for Women
The FIBA U16 Women's African Championship is an under-16 basketball championship in the International Basketball Federation's FIBA Africa zone. The tournament is held biennially. The top two teams qualify directly to the FIBA Under-17 Women's ...
where she averaged 5.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game during the tournament.
The Nigerian team won the silver medal after a 57–46 loss to Mali in the Final, thereby qualifying them to the World U-17 Championship for Women. Nigeria did not participate in the tournament.