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University of New Mexico Lobos athletics
Nelly Junior Joseph - Men's Basketball - University of New Mexico Lobos Athletics
23

Nelly Junior Joseph

Position

C

Height

6-10

Weight

240 lbs.

Class

RS-Sr.

Hometown

Benin City, Nigeria

Previous School

Iona

OF NOTE
• Had nine double-doubles in his first season as a Lobo and has 43 career double-doubles
• Transferred to UNM in April of 2023 after three years at Iona
• Two-time first-team All-MAAC selection and was MAAC Rookie of the Year as a freshman

2023-24 SEASON (SENIOR)
• Started all 36 games, tying the UNM record for starts in a season
• Averaged 8.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game
• Had 16 double-figure scoring games and 13 double-figure rebound games, including nine double-doubles
• Second on the team with 49 blocks
• Scored a season-high 26 points (11-12 FG) to go with eight rebounds and five blocks vs. No. 16 Utah State (Jan. 16)
• Had a season-high 16 rebounds (15 in the first half, most by a Lobo in the Mountain West era) against Eastern New Mexico (Dec. 29)
• Led UNM with 14 points and 12 rebounds in NCAA First Round game vs. Clemson (Mar. 22)

2022-23 SEASON (JUNIOR AT IONA)
• First-Team All-MAAC
• MAAC All-Tournament Team as Iona won the title
• Started all 35 games
• Averaged 14.9 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game
• Fifth in the nation in 2022-23 with 19 double-doubles
• Led Iona in rebounding, blocks and field goal percentage
• Scored in double figures 31 times, including six 20-point games
• Had 11 straight double-doubles from Dec. 25-Feb.5, the longest streak by a Gael since 2000
• Five-time MAAC Player of the Week
• Season-high 27 points vs. Marist (Mar. 2)
• Career-high 17 rebounds vs. Manhattan (Feb. 17)
• Scored 21 points vs. New Mexico in The Pit (Dec. 18)

2021-22 SEASON (SOPHOMORE AT IONA)
• First-Team All-MAAC
• Appeared in all 33 games, starting 32
• Averaged 13.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game
• Led Iona in rebounding, blocks and field goal percentage
• Scored in double figures 26 times, including 11 double-doubles
• Two-time MAAC Player of the Week
• Scored a career-high 28 points vs. Harvard (Nov. 13)
• Had 18 points and 12 boards at Florida in NIT 1st Rd (Mar. 16)
• Had 15 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks in upset of No. 10 Alabama in the quarterfinals of the ESPN Events Invitational in Orlando (Nov. 25)

2020-21 SEASON (FRESHMAN AT IONA)
• MAAC Rookie of the Year
• Appeared in 18 games, making 16 starts
• Averaged 11.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game
• Led Iona in rebounding, blocks and field goal percentage
• Scored in double figures 11 times, including four double-doubles
• Four-time MAAC Rookie of the Week
• Scored a season-high 19 points twice, at Rider (Dec. 18) and against Monmouht (Feb. 19)
• Season-high 12 rebounds vs. Coppin State (Dec. 23)
• Double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds vs. Fairfield in the MAAC Tournament final victory (Mar. 13)

HIGH SCHOOL
• Attended the NBA Academy Africa in Saly, Senegal, an elite training center for the top male and female prospects throughout the continent
• In April 2019, he participated in the NCAA’s Next Generation Sunday event at the Men’s Final Four
• In February 2019, participated in Basketball Without Borders Global camp in Charlotte during NBA All-Star Weekend
• In December 2018, competed alongside top prospects from the league’s academies in a series of exhibition games at the NBA G League Winter Showcase in Las Vegas