Eugene Omoruyi

Eugene Omoruyi's Biography

Eugene Omoruyi’s story begins on February 14, 1997, when he was born in Benin City, Nigeria. By the time he was one, his family made the journey to Canada, emigrating for a better life. His early childhood years were dedicated to playing soccer, a passion that shifted towards basketball in his second year at Monsignor Percy Johnson High School.

This change seemed to live in Eugene, leading him to attend Orangeville Prep in Orangeville, Ontario, where his sporting talents emerged on the basketball court. Omoruyi averaged an admirable 16.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, securing Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association First Team All-Star honours in his final season. It was during this time that he also played alongside Jamal Murray and Thon Maker, while representing Advantage Titans on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit.

The step forward in his career present itself when Omoruyi committed to playing college basketball for Rutgers, choosing the offer over another from Loyola (Illinois). He began his freshman year at Rutgers with average stats, however by the sophomore season, Omoruyi made vast improvements. He scored a sophomore season-high of 22 points in a game against Florida State. By the end of the season, he was averaging 7.9 points and five rebounds per game and was named a team co-captain for his junior season.

In the lead up to his junior season, Omoruyi honed his shooting skills by rigorously training six mornings a week and taking 1,000 shots each session. This hard work paid off when he averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game in his junior year and earned the titles of All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and Second Team All-Met selection.

Following his successful stint at Rutgers, Omoruyi transferred to the Oregon Ducks for his senior season but was required to sit out due to transfer regulations. His transfer was considered a surprise to many. When he finally took to the court for Oregon, he made an impressive debut, scoring a career-high of 31 points.

After graduating from college, Omoruyi declared for the 2021 NBA draft. Unfortunately, he went undrafted but was signed by the Dallas Mavericks on a two-way contract, dividing his playing time between the NBA team and their G League affiliate, Texas Legends. However, a season-ending injury led the Mavericks to waive his contract.

Despite this setback, Omoruyi’s career took another turn when he signed a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2022. His resilience and talent earned him a multi-year deal, but he was subsequently waived off by the Thunder.

His journey continued in 2023 when he signed a 10-day contract with the Detroit Pistons. Impressive performances resulted in another 10-day contract and eventually a rest-of-season contract. The Pistons exercised Omoruyi’s team option for the 2023–2024 NBA season, but he was waived two days later.

Things started looking up again in July 2023, when Omoruyi signed a contract with the Washington Wizards and later, a standard contract. However, he was waived in August 2024. Shortly after, Omoruyi signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves, which sadly ended in a waived contract again in October.

Throughout his journey, Omoruyi’s resolve and spirit remained unbroken, proving that he is not only a gifted athlete but also a powerful testament to determination and endurance.