Ricky Council IV

BIOGRAPHY

Ricky Nickardo Council IV, born on August 3, 2001, is an esteemed American professional basketball player. Currently, he plays for the Philadelphia 76ers, one of the premium teams in the National Basketball Association or NBA. His journey of fame from college basketball to becoming a professional player has been studded with several impressive milestones and accolades. Before entering the professional league, Council had impactful stints at the Wichita State Shockers and the Arkansas Razorbacks, gaining much recognition and leaving indelible records.

Council was born and raised in Durham, North Carolina, and received his education at the Southern School of Energy and Sustainability. Displaying his prowess in basketball early on, he was named third-team All-State as a senior, having shown exceptional skill with an average of 23 points, 9.5 rebounds, and five assists each game. The promising player entered the college basketball landscape as a three-star recruit, making a significant choice by committing to Wichita State, declining offers from multiple other institutes including Rice, Appalachian State, Elon, Hofstra, and more.

Council’s college career commenced at Wichita State where he managed to make a colossal impact. Averaging 7.1 points and 3.4 rebounds over 21 games, he secured his place on the American Athletic Conference (AAC) All-Freshman team. Council demonstrated his steadfast talent by participating in all of the Shockers’ 28 games, starting seven, with an average of 12 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per match. His outstanding contribution was recognized when he was named the AAC Sixth Man of the Year.

Despite initially declaring for the 2022 NBA draft, Council made a strategic move to withdraw his name from the draft and entered the NCAA transfer portal. After attracting offers from heavyweight teams like Kansas, Alabama, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, and Iowa State, Council committed to play for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

At Arkansas, in his junior season, Council was named the second-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC). He exhibited commendable performance, averaging 16.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. As the curtains came down on the 2023 NCAA tournament, Council decided to take the next massive step in his career by forgoing the remainder of his college eligibility and entering the 2023 NBA draft.

While the 2023 NBA draft saw Council going undrafted, he didn’t let this setback deter him. On July 1, 2023, Council embarked on his professional basketball career by signing a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. After a brief hiccup in October that saw him being waived, Council bounced back by signing a fresh two-way contract with the 76ers.

Soon, Council took the center stage on January 2, 2024, making his professional debut with the 76ers. His team tasted a decisive 110-97 victory against the Chicago Bulls. Council continued to shine on the court and on February 10, he set a new career-high with 19 points and 10 rebounds against the Washington Wizards. He further cemented his place in the team by signing a standard contract with the 76ers on April 13.

Beyond his journey in the world of professional basketball, Council shares a strong bond with his family, especially his two older brothers. Named after their father, Ricky Council II and Ricky Council III, both have followed their father’s love for basketball and have also had remarkable runs in college basketball.