{{short description|Sudanese-Canadian basketball player}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Abu Kigab | image = Abu Kigab (49425235272) (cropped).jpg | caption = Kigab with Boise State in 2020 | position = Small forward | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 7 | weight_lb = 220 | league = | team = Free agent | number = 14 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|11|3}} | birth_place = Khartoum, Sudan | nationality = Sudanese / Canadian | high_school = * St. Francis Catholic<br>(St. Catharines, Ontario) * Prolific Prep<br>(Napa, California) | college = * Oregon (2017–2019) * Boise State (2019–2022) | draft_year = 2022 | career_start = 2022 | career_end = | years1 = 2022 | team1 = Niagara River Lions | years2 = 2023 | team2 = Ottawa BlackJacks | years3 = 2023 | team3 = Spišskí Rytieri | years4 = 2024 | team4 = MLP Academics Heidelberg | years5 = 2024−2025 | team5 = PS Karlsruhe Lions | years6 = 2025 | team6 = Calgary Surge | years7 = 2025−2026 | team7 = Gießen 46ers | highlights = * FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup All-Tournament Team (2017) * 2x Second-team All-Mountain West (2021, 2022) * All-Mountain West Defensive Team (2022) * Mountain West tournament MVP (2022) | medal_templates = {{MedalSport|Men's basketball}} {{MedalCountry|{{bk|CAN}}}} {{MedalCompetition|FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship}} {{MedalSilver|2016 Chile|Team}} {{MedalCompetition|FIBA Under-19 World Cup}} {{MedalGold|2017 Egypt|Team}} }} '''Abu Haef Kigab''' (born November 3, 1998) is a Sudanese-Canadian professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Oregon Ducks and for the Boise State Broncos of the Mountain West Conference. He was a key player on a Canada team that won the gold medal at the FIBA U19 World Cup in 2017.
==Early life== Born in Khartoum, Sudan to Sultan Kigab, Kigab moved to St. Catharines, Ontario with his family at age nine.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=James|first=Marty|title=Prolific Prep pulls out of international game in face of immigration uncertainty|language=en|work=Napa Valley Register|url=http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/prolific-prep-pulls-out-of-international-game-in-face-of/article_4ffa7020-d679-5f8b-89d8-4c3703a1d1f6.html|access-date=2017-07-09}}</ref> He attended Queen Mary Public School and St. Francis Catholic Secondary School and joined Prolific Prep in Napa, California in 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://napavalleyregister.com/sports/high-school/oregon-next-stop-in-worldwide-journey-for-prolific-prep-s/article_3b4c1b5b-18c0-59bb-9396-a72fa5eedc67.html|title=Oregon next stop in worldwide journey for Prolific Prep's Kigab|last=James|first=Marty|work=Napa Valley Register|access-date=2017-07-09|language=en}}</ref>
Kigab was tabbed a breakout performer at Basketball Without Borders in 2016 and was ranked a four-star recruit in the class of 2017 by Scout and ESPN.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.scout.com/college/basketball/recruiting/story/1643391-abu-kigab-has-strong-showing-at-bwb|title=Abu Kigab has strong showing at BWB|work=Scout.com|access-date=2017-07-09|language=en}}</ref>
He committed to playing college basketball for Oregon in March 2017,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.kptv.com/story/34950596/abu-kigab-commits-to-university-of-oregon|title=Abu Kigab commits to University of Oregon|last=Krupke|first=Nick|access-date=2017-07-09|language=en}}</ref> having also considered Illinois, Baylor, California, Kansas, Minnesota, USC and Virginia Tech.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/recruiting/index.ssf/2016/10/abu_kigab_4-star_sf_commits_to.html|title=Abu Kigab, 4-star SF, commits to Oregon Ducks|work=OregonLive.com|access-date=2017-07-10|language=en-US}}</ref>
==College career==
===University of Oregon (2017-2019)=== Kigab played his freshman and sophomore season at University of Oregon. During his freshman year, he played in 35 of 36 games as one of the team's top defenders off the bench. As a sophomore, Kigab averaged 2.6 points and 2.7 rebounds per game in 10 games. He transferred to Boise State University at the end of the fall quarter during his sophomore season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Abu Kigab - Men's Basketball |url=https://goducks.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/abu-kigab/8102 |website=University of Oregon Athletics |access-date=18 September 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
===Boise State University (2019-2022)=== After transferring to Boise State, Kigab had to sit out the second half of the season due to NCAA transfer rules.
During his junior year, he appeared in 20 games, starting in 18. He averaged 11.1 points and 3.6 rebounds. He was fourth on the team in scoring and rebounding. He missed two games with a hip pointer. Kigab became eligible at the conclusion of the first semester, after gaining his full year of academic residency.
During his senior year, Kigab was All-Mountain West Second Team and All-Mountain West Third Team. He started in 25 games and averaged 11.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2 assists per game. He led the Broncos with 22 blocked shots. Kigab missed final three games after suffering a shoulder injury in the regular season finale.
Kigab did a fifth year at Boise State. He was All-Mountain West Second Team and Mountain West Championship MVP. He started all 35 games and averaged 14.8 points, 5.7 rebounds. and 2.4 assists.<ref>{{cite web |title=Abu Kigab - Men's Basketball |url=https://broncosports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/abu-kigab/8030 |website=Boise State University Athletics |access-date=18 September 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
==Professional career== ===Niagara River Lions (2022)=== After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, Kigab joined the Toronto Raptors Summer League roster in Las Vegas, recording a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds in the final game against Milwaukee.<ref>{{cite web|first=Louis|last=Zatzman|title=Prepping for the Toronto Raptors' Summer League team - Raptors Republic|url=https://www.raptorsrepublic.com/2022/07/01/prepping-for-the-toronto-raptors-summer-league-team/,%20https://www.raptorsrepublic.com/2022/07/01/prepping-for-the-toronto-raptors-summer-league-team/|website=RaptorsRepublic.com|date=July 1, 2022|access-date=June 1, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Milwaukee Bucks vs Toronto Raptors Jul 17, 2022 Box Scores|url=https://www.nba.com/game/mil-vs-tor-1522200071/box-score#box-score|website=NBA.com|date=July 17, 2022|access-date=June 1, 2023}}</ref>
On October 24, 2022, Kigab joined the Fort Wayne Mad Ants training camp roster.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mad Ants Announce 2022 Training Camp Roster|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/mad-ants-announce-2022-training-camp-roster/n-5892665|website=OurSportsCentral.com|date=October 24, 2022|access-date=October 24, 2022}}</ref> However, he did not make the final roster.
Kigab appeared in two games for Niagara River Lions during the 2022 CEBL season.
===Ottawa BlackJacks (2023)=== The Ottawa BlackJacks announced they had signed Kigab on May 5, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ottawa BlackJacks Sign Canadian Forward Abu Kigab|url=https://www.theblackjacks.ca/ottawa-blackjacks-sign-canadian-forward-abu-kigab|website=TheBlackJacks.ca|date=May 5, 2023|access-date=June 1, 2023}}</ref> He tallied 7 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in his debut against Montreal.
===Spišskí Rytieri (2023)=== On August 27, 2023, Kigab signed with Spišskí Rytieri of the Slovak Basketball League.<ref>{{cite web|first=Adam|last=Antoni|title=RYTIERI FINALIZUJÚ SÚPISKU, PRIBUDOL KANADSKÝ ŠAMPIÓN|url=https://www.spisskirytieri.sk/rytieri-finalizuju-supisku-pribudol-kanadsky-sampion/|website=SpisskiRytieri.sk|date=August 27, 2023|access-date=August 27, 2023|language=Slovak}}</ref> In 18 league games, he averaged 19.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2 assists per contest.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spisski Rytieri Nova Ves Statistics, Season: 2023-2024 |url=https://basketball.eurobasket.com/team/Spisski-Rytieri-Nova-Ves/5340?Page=3 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=Eurobasket.com}}</ref>
=== MLP Academics Heidelberg (2024) === On January 2, 2024, he inked a deal with the MLP Academics Heidelberg of the German Basketball Bundesliga.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Birkelbach |first=Eva |date=2024-01-02 |title=MLP Academics: Neuzugang Abu Kigab gilt als harter Arbeiter |url=https://www.mlp-academics.de/mlp-academics-neuzugang-abu-kigab-gilt-als-harter-arbeiter-42350 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=MLP Academics Heidelberg |language=de}}</ref> Kigab averaged 8.6 points in 12 Bundesliga contests<ref>{{Cite web |title=Abu Kigab |url=https://basketball.usbasket.com/player/Abu-Kigab/366146 |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=Eurobasket LLC}}</ref> and parted company with the team at the end of the 2023–24 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBL-Wechselbörse 2024: alle Transfers und Kader |url=https://basketball.de/bbl-wechselboerse-transfers-vertraege-zugaenge-abgaenge-2024/ |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=basketball.de |language=de}}</ref>
=== PS Karlsruhe Lions (2024−2025) === In November 2024, Kigab was signed by the PS Karlsruhe Lions of the German second-tier league ProA.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-25 |title=Abu Kigab wird ein Löwe |url=https://www.psk-lions.de/news/artikel/abu-kigab-wird-ein-loewe.html |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=PS Karlsruhe Lions |language=de}}</ref> He wrapped-up the 2024–25 season averaging 19.9 points per game.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Abu Kigab |url=https://www.2basketballbundesliga.de/teams/kader/spieler/2003005/ |access-date=2026-01-19 |website=2. Basketball-Bundesliga}}</ref>
=== Gießen 46ers (2025−2026) === In April 2025, he put pen to paper on a contract with the CEBL's Calgary Surge.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 21, 2025 |title=Calgary Surge sign versatile forward Abu Kigab |url=https://calgaryherald.com/sports/calgary-surge-sign-versatile-forward-abu-kigab |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250421223042/https://calgaryherald.com/sports/calgary-surge-sign-versatile-forward-abu-kigab |archive-date=2025-04-21 |access-date=2026-01-19 |website=Calgary Herald}}</ref> On December 17, 2025, Kigab returned to the German ProA league, signing with the Gießen 46ers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-17 |title=ProA: Gießen 46ers verpflichten Abu Kigab als Vukovic-Ersatz |url=https://www.giessener-allgemeine.de/sport/giessen-46ers/die-giessen-46ers-verpflichten-abu-kigab-als-vukovic-ersatz-94087573.htmlhttps://www.giessener-allgemeine.de/sport/giessen-46ers/die-giessen-46ers-verpflichten-abu-kigab-als-vukovic-ersatz-94087573.html |access-date=2026-01-19 |website=Gießener Allgemeine |language=de}}</ref> He left the club by mutual consent on January 22, 2026.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.2basketballbundesliga.de/giessen-46ers-trennen-sich-nach-nur-sechs-partien-von-powerforward-abu-kigab/|title=Gießen 46ers trennen sich nach nur sechs Partien von Powerforward Abu Kigab|date=2026-01-22|access-date=2026-01-24|website=2. Basketball-Bundesliga}}</ref> Kigab had averaged 9.2 points per contest in 6 games for Gießen.<ref name=":1" />
==National team career== Kigab competed for Canada at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Cup and the 2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship. In July 2017, he was a key player on a Canada team that captured gold at the FIBA U19 World Cup, averaging 14.7 points and 10.6 rebounds, as well as 2.3 assists per game. For his efforts, he was named to the tournament's All-Star Five.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://247sports.com/college/oregon/article/payton-pritchard-and-abu-kigab-named-to-world-cup-all-star-team-53499252/|title=Payton Pritchard and Abu Kigab named to World Cup All-Star Team|work=DuckTerritory|access-date=2017-07-09}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{NBA player statistics legend}}
===College=== {{NBA player statistics start}} |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18 | style="text-align:left;"| Oregon | '''35''' || 0 || 7.7 || .344 || .227 || .409 || 1.1 || .2 || .4 || .2 || 1.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19 | style="text-align:left;"| Oregon | 10 || 3 || 14.9 || .440 || .091 || .600 || 2.7 || 1.8 || .2 || .0 || 2.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20 | style="text-align:left;"| Boise State | 20 || 18 || 25.8 || .420 || '''.328''' || '''.734''' || 3.6 || 1.0 || .7 || .3 || 11.1 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21 | style="text-align:left;"| Boise State | 25 || 25 || 28.0 || .467 || .301 || .716 || 5.4 || 2.0 || 1.2 || '''.9''' || 11.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22 | style="text-align:left;"| Boise State | '''35''' || '''35''' || '''31.5''' || '''.500''' || .301 || .677 || '''5.7''' || '''2.4''' || '''1.3''' || .4 || '''14.8''' |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 125 || 81 || 121.9 || .461 || .293 || .680 || 3.8 || 1.4 || .8 || .4 || 8.9 {{S-end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://broncosports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/abu-kigab/8030 Boise State Broncos bio] * [https://goducks.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/abu-kigab/8102 Oregon Ducks bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kigab, Abu}} Category:1998 births Category:Living people Category:Basketball people from Ontario Category:Black Canadian basketball players Category:Black Canadian sportsmen Category:Boise State Broncos men's basketball players Category:Canadian expatriate basketball people in Germany Category:Canadian expatriate basketball people in the United States Category:Canadian men's basketball players Category:Oregon Ducks men's basketball players Category:Ottawa Blackjacks players Category:Sportspeople from Khartoum Category:Small forwards Category:Sportspeople from St. Catharines Category:Sudanese emigrants to Canada Category:Giessen 46ers players Category:PS Karlsruhe Lions players Category:USC Heidelberg players Category:21st-century Canadian sportsmen