Miye Oni

Miye Oni's Biography

Born on August 4, 1997, Olumiye Dimolu “Miye” Oni is an American-Nigerian professional basketball player, recognised for his impressive skills on the court. With his roots in Nigeria, Oni has made a significant contribution to the basketball world, playing for the Yale Bulldogs at college and later turning professional. Notably, he played for the Osceola Magic of the NBA G League as a shooting guard. Oni’s talent has seen him claim numerous accolades, including Ivy League Player of the Year in 2019 and a three-time All-Ivy League selection.

Growing up in Northridge, Los Angeles, Oni’s love for sports was evident from an early age. Raised by Nigerian parents Opeyemi and Oludotun Oni, he was exposed to the world of basketball at just two years old, when he would play with a toy hoop. As he grew up, Oni honed his skills in a local YMCA league, inspired by the success of LA Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.

In the early years, Oni attended Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, California, but transferred to pursue his burgeoning basketball career at the Viewpoint School in Calabasas. He put his basketball ambitions on hold during his sophomore year to focus on his education but came back stronger despite a knee injury that kept him off the court for most of his junior season.

His senior year saw a tremendous change in his height and weight, having grown to 6ft 4in and tipped the scales at 180 pounds. He proved to be a formidable force for Viewpoint, where he averaged 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists, earning him the title of California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division 5AA player of the year.

After graduation, Oni committed to Williams College but ended up attracting attention from Yale assistant coach Matt Kingsley, who offered him a position in the squad. However, due to Yale’s admissions rules, Oni played additional prep basketball at Suffield Academy before joining Yale.

Yale turned out to be a profitable move for Oni, as from his debut on Nov 13, 2016, he continued to make significant contributions to the team. His performance caught the eye of NBA scouts, who started considering him for the 2019 NBA draft, marking him as the first Ivy League player to be drafted since 1995.

On June 20, 2019, Oni’s dreams were realised when he got selected as the 58th pick of the 2019 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors. His draft rights were soon traded to the Utah Jazz, making him the first Ivy League men’s basketball player picked in the NBA draft since 1995. His NBA journey, while diverse, saw him play for multiple teams like the Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, the Dallas Mavericks, the London Lions, to later sign with the Orlando Magic in 2023.

Oni’s NBA career was as dynamic as his personal life. As a political science major at Yale University, Oni displayed great academic integrity, as his coaches often mentioned. This determination led to Oni being one of the inaugural ambassadors for Connecticut CASA, a part of the national CASA network for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. He also volunteered for Utah CASA, displaying a high level of commitment and work ethic, both on and off the court.

Despite institutional barriers and personal setbacks, Miye Oni has proved his worth time and again. His story may begin in Nigeria, but his legacy will be etched into American sports history, as the boy who dared to chase his hoop dreams all the way to the NBA.