 Odiase with Texas Tech in March 2019 | |
| Free agent | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| Personal information | |
| Born | September 14, 1995 Fort Worth, Texas |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 250 lb (113 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school |
|
| College | Texas Tech (2014–2019) |
| NBA draft | 2019: undrafted |
| Playing career | 2019–present |
| Career history | |
| 2019–2020 | Northern Arizona Suns |
| 2020–2021 | Brose Bamberg |
| 2021 | Science City Jena |
| 2021 | Motor City Cruise |
| 2021–2023 | Greensboro Swarm |
| 2023 | Texas Legends |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Norense Odiase (born September 14, 1995) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Texas Legends of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Odiase played for North Crowley High School in Fort Worth, Texas. As a senior, he averaged 7.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, leading his team to a 29–8 record and the Region I semifinals.[1] Upon the recommendation of his coach Tommy Brakel, Odiase played a postgraduate year at Elev8 Sports institute in Delray Beach, Florida, developing his body and explosiveness.[2] On March 14, 2014, he committed to play college basketball for Texas Tech over offers from Georgia, Old Dominion and TCU, among others. Odiase was considered a three-star recruit by 247Sports.[3][4]
In his first career game for Texas Tech, on November 14, 2014, Odiase recorded 16 points and 10 rebounds in a 71–59 win over Loyola (Maryland). He became the first freshman in program history to register a double-double and start in a season opener and was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week.[5] As a freshman, Odiase averaged 7.0 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.[6] He averaged 8.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore, missing over one month, including all of February 2017, with a broken right foot.[7][8] Three games into his junior season, Odiase suffered a season-ending foot injury and was granted a redshirt.[7][9] As a junior, Odiase averaged 3.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game and considered transferring to gain more opportunities.[10] In his senior season, he averaged 4.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, helping his team reach the national championship game.[11] Odiase finished with the most career wins in program history.[6]
After going undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft, Odiase took part in the Eurobasket Summer League.[12] He signed a training camp deal with the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA).[13] In his rookie season, Odiase played for the team's NBA G League affiliate, the Northern Arizona Suns.[14] On December 9, 2019, he posted 14 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and one block in a 125-100 loss to the Salt Lake City Stars.[15] Odiase missed a game against the South Bay Lakers on December 29 with an illness.[16] In 35 games, he averaged 5.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.[17]
On August 4, 2020, Odiase signed a one-year contract with Brose Bamberg of the Basketball Bundesliga.[18]
On February 19, 2021, Odiase signed with Science City Jena of the German ProA.[19]
In October, 2021, he was added to the Motor City Cruise.[20] However, he was waived on November 8.[21]
On December 30, 2021, Odiase was acquired by the Greensboro Swarm of the NBA G League.[22] On February 25, 2023, Odiase was waived by the Greensboro Swarm.[23]
On February 27, 2023, Odiase was acquired by the Texas Legends.[24]
Odiase is the son of Nigerian parents, Nick and Osa Odiase. His father is a pharmacist and his mother is a nurse. He has a fraternal twin brother named Nick, as well as older twin sisters.[2] When he was a senior at Texas Tech, two of his cousins died in an automobile accident.[25]
