Afonja to Participate in Gotham Hoops Invitational

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Regis College graduate Ademola Afonja (Staten Island, N.Y.), a four-year member of the Pride basketball program, will be one of 36 men's college basketball seniors to participate in the sixth annual Gotham Hoops Invitational Saturday, April 27, at St. Francis College (180 Remsen Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201).

Afonja will be on one of four all-star teams to compete in the showcase, with the semifinal games scheduled for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday. The consolation game is set for 4 p.m., with the championship game to follow at 6 p.m. He is believed to be the first Regis player to be invited to participate in this showcase.

Afonja, already a graduate of Regis with his bachelor's degree in psychology, established himself as one of the top players in program history over the past four seasons, completing his collegiate career with 1,294 points, second on the Pride's all-time scoring list. He also holds the career school records for points per game (13.9 ppg), field goal percentage (54.6%), total rebounds (666), rebounding average (7.16 rpg), and blocked shots (96).

Afonja, a Second Team All-GNAC selection, set a new Regis single season record in scoring with 416 points, averaging 18.1 points per game. He finished the year eighth in the GNAC in scoring average as well as in field goal percentage at 54.7 percent (176-for-322). In addition, Afonja led the team in free throws made (64), free throws attempted (102), steals (30), and blocked shots (28), plus he was one of the team's top rebounders with 147 boards (6.4 rpg).

In 23 games played during the 2018-19 season, Afonja reached double figures in scoring 21 times, including 10 games with 20 or more points. He scored a career-high 32 points at GNAC champion Albertus Magnus Jan. 31, the second-highest single game scoring total in program history. He notched three double-doubles during the year, with a season-high 12 rebounds to go along with 25 points at Pine Manor Jan. 5.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for Ademola to go out and compete against some of the best players in the country," head coach Nate Hager said. "It's also great recognition for Ademola, the men's basketball program, and Regis College. I am very excited to see him compete again this weekend!"

Other participants in this year's showcase include Darnell Edge, Northeast Conference Tournament MVP, and Mike Holloway Jr. (All-NEC Second Team) of Fairleigh Dickinson, Hofstra's Jacquil Taylor (All-CAA Defensive Team), and Curtis Jenkins (3X ECC Defensive POY) of Molloy. Admission is free for all spectators, and the games will broadcast live on GothamHoops.com.