{{short description|Nigerian basketball player}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Deji Akindele | image = | position = Center | height_ft = 7 | height_in = 1 | weight_lbs = 245 | league = | team = Free Agent | number = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|4|2}} | birth_place = Abeokuta, Nigeria | college = Chicago State (2003–2005) | draft_year = 2005 | career_start = 2005 | years1 = 2005–2006 | team1 = Fort Worth Flyers | years2 = 2006–2007 | team2 = Iowa Energy | years3 = 2007–2008 | team3 = Pau-Orthez | years4 = 2008–2009 | team4 = Scavolini Spar Pesaro | years5 = 2009–2010 | team5 = SPO Rouen Basket | years6 = 2010–2011 | team6 = Nizhny Novgorod | years7 = 2011–2012 | team7 = Spartak Primorye | years8 = 2012 | team8 = Jiangsu Monkey Kings | years9 = 2012–2013 | team9 = Juvecaserta Basket | years10 = 2013–2014 | team10 = Budućnost Podgorica | years11 = 2014 | team11 = Gran Canaria | years12 = 2014–2015 | team12 = Baloncesto Fuenlabrada | years13 = 2015–2016 | team13 = Vaqueros de Bayamón | years14 = 2016–2017 | team14 = Fuerza Regia | years15 = 2017 | team15 = Yalovaspor BK | years16 = 2017–2018 | team16 = Capitanes de Arecibo | years17 = 2018–2019 | team17 = Fuerza Regia | years18 = 2019–2020 | team18 = Real Estelí | years19 = 2020–2021 | team19 = Vaqueros de Bayamón | years20 = 2021–2022 | team20 = Soles de Mexicali | years21 = 2022 | team21 = Halcones de Xalapa | years22 = 2023 | team22 = Isidro Metapán | years23 = 2023 | team23 = Brumas de Jinotega | highlights = * LNB champion (2018) * Montenegrin Cup winner (2014) * MCC Defensive Player of the Year (2005) |medaltemplates= {{MedalSport|Men's basketball}} {{MedalCountry|{{bk|NGA}}}} {{MedalCompetition|AfroBasket}} {{MedalSilver|2017 Tunisia/Senegal|}} }} '''Akindele Jeleel Ayodeji''' {{Audio|Akindele_Jeleel_Ayodeji.wav|listen}}(born April 2, 1983) is a Nigerian professional basketball player.
==Collegiate career== Akindele chose Chicago State over Rutgers, St. Peters and St. Marys. During Akindele's first season in Chicago, the 7'1" center averaged 7.1 points per game, 5.6 rebounds and 1.94 blocks per game.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2130/chicago-state-cougars Chicago State Cougars Statistics – 2003–04]. Sports.espn.go.com (2011-01-02). Retrieved on 2011-12-04.</ref> In his second season, Akindele improved his block total by 8 in 4 fewer games (2.50 bpg), as well as improving his scoring average to 12 ppg.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/2130/chicago-state-cougars Chicago State Cougars Statistics – 2004–05]. Sports.espn.go.com (2011-01-02). Retrieved on 2011-12-04.</ref> His best game, statistically, was when he registered 28 points (10-for-13 field goals), 21 rebounds, and 4 blocks in 79–71 loss to Green Bay on December 1, 2004.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=243362130 Green Bay vs. Chicago State – Box Score – December 01, 2004 – ESPN]. Sports.espn.go.com (2004-12-01). Retrieved on 2011-12-04.</ref> He was also named the Mid-Continent Conference defensive player of the year for 2004–2005.
==Professional career== Akindele left Chicago State after his sophomore year, declaring himself eligible for the 2005 NBA draft. Going unselected in 2005, he had a short stint with the NBA team Golden State Warriors. Akindele was then selected in the fourth round of the Development League's Draft by the Fort Worth Flyers.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/dleague/dleague/draft_board_05.html D-League Draft Board 2005] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819044756/http://www.nba.com/dleague/dleague/draft_board_05.html |date=2008-08-19 }}. Nba.com (2009-09-29). Retrieved on 2011-12-04.</ref>
In December 2010 he signed with Montepaschi Siena until the end of the 2010–11 season.<ref>[http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/80504/180/montepaschi-lands-deji-akindele Montepaschi lands Deji Akindele]. Euroleague.net. Retrieved on 2011-12-04.</ref> In August 2011 he returned to Russia to play for Spartak Primorye.<ref>[http://www.sportando.net/eng/europe/russia/30199/spartak_primorye_lands_torey_thomas_and_jekeel_akindele.html Spartak Primorye lands Torey Thomas and Jekeel Akindele]. Sportando.net. Retrieved on 2011-12-04.</ref> In February 2012, he signed in Iran with Petrochimi Bandar Imam.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jeleel Akindele signed with Petrochimi|url=https://www.asia-basket.com/Iran/basketball.aspx?NewsID=261491|accessdate=27 August 2013|newspaper=Eurobasket.net|date=27 February 2012}}</ref> In August 2012, he signed with Juvecaserta Basket.<ref>{{cite news|title=Juve Caserta announced Jeleel Akindele|url=http://www.sportando.net/eng/italy/serie-a/43111/juve-caserta-announced-jeleel-akindele.html|accessdate=27 August 2013|newspaper=Sportando.net|date=30 August 2012}}</ref> In April 2013, he left them and signed with Champville in Lebanon.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jeleel Akindele inks in Lebanon with Champville|url=http://www.sportando.net/eng/world/asia/53898/jeleel-akindele-inks-in-lebanon-with-champville.html|accessdate=27 August 2013|newspaper=Sportando.net|date=10 April 2013}}</ref>
In August 2013, he signed with Budućnost Podgorica.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jeleel Akindele (ex Champville) is a newcomer at Buducnost|url=http://basketball.eurobasket.com/Montenegro/news/330654|accessdate=27 August 2013|newspaper=Eurobasket.com}}</ref> Once the Adriatic League regular season finished, in April 2014 Akindele signed for Gran Canaria until the end of the 2013–14 season.<ref>[http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=102992 El Herbalife Gran Canaria se hace con los servicios de Jeleel Akindele] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416024213/http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=102992 |date=2014-04-16 }}; ACB.com 15 April 2014 {{in lang|es}}</ref>
In September 2014, he signed with Baloncesto Fuenlabrada of Spain for the 2014–15 ACB season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jeleel Akindele signs with Fuenlabrada|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/spain/134732/jeleel-akindele-signs-with-fuenlabrada.html|accessdate=15 September 2014|work=Sportando.com}}</ref> He won the ACB Player of the Month Award in January 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=110330|title=ACB.COM - Jeleel Akindele, MVP del mes de Enero|publisher=acb.com|accessdate=2015-01-27|archive-date=2015-10-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005180102/http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=110330|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On June 11, 2015, he signed with Yeşilgiresun Belediye of the Turkish Basketball League for the 2015–16 season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Yesilgiresun signs Jeleel Akindele|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/turkey/163592/yesilgiresun-signs-jeleel-akindele.html|accessdate=11 June 2015|work=Sportando.com|date=11 June 2015}}</ref> On June 27, 2015, he signed a short-term deal with Vaqueros de Bayamón of Puerto Rico for the rest of the 2015 BSN season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Vaqueros de Bayamon sign Jeleel Akindele to a short-deal|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/world/america/165818/vaqueros-de-bayamon-sign-jeleel-akindele-to-a-short-deal.html|accessdate=1 July 2015|work=Sportando.com|date=1 July 2015}}</ref> In July 2015, he joined the Metros de Santiago of Dominican Republic for the rest of the 2015 LNB season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jeleel Akindele joins Metros de Santiago|url=http://www.court-side.com/news/blog/jeleel-akindele-joins-metros-de-santiago/|accessdate=17 July 2015|work=Court-side.com|date=13 July 2015|archive-date=17 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717184321/http://www.court-side.com/news/blog/jeleel-akindele-joins-metros-de-santiago/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In October 2016, Akindele signed with Fuerza Regia of the Mexican LNBP.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jeleel Akindele (ex Bayamon) joins Fuerza Regia|url=http://www.afrobasket.com/Nigeria/news/465590/Jeleel-Akindele-(ex-Bayamon)-joins-Fuerza-Regia|accessdate=15 November 2016|work=Eurobasket.com|date=11 October 2016}}</ref> On April 5, 2017, he re-joined the Vaqueros de Bayamón.<ref>{{cite news|title=Deji Akindele and Hector Hernandez ink with Vaqueros de Bayamon|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/world/america/231103/deji-akindele-and-hector-hernandez-ink-with-vaqueros-de-bayamon.html|accessdate=5 April 2017|work=Sportando.com|date=5 April 2017}}</ref>
In December 2017, Akindele signed with Yalovaspor BK of the Turkish Basketball First League.<ref>{{cite news|title=Yalova Bld adds Akindele to their roster|url=http://www.eurobasket.com/Turkey/news/517230/Yalova-Bld-adds-Akindele-to-their-roster|accessdate=25 December 2017|work=Eurobasket.com|date=24 December 2017}}</ref> On April 10, 2018, he returned to Puerto Rico with Capitanes de Arecibo.<ref>{{cite web|first=Luis|last=Modestti|title=Arecibo signs Souberbielle and Akindele|url=http://www.latinbasket.com/Puerto-Rico/news/529325/Arecibo-signs-Souberbielle-and-Akindele|accessdate=5 May 2018|work=LatinBasket.com|date=10 April 2018}}</ref> Akindele rejoined Vaqueros de Bayamón on February 26, 2020, replacing the injured Greg Smith.<ref>{{cite news |title=Los Vaqueros de Bayamón sign Jeleel Akindele |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/los-vaqueros-de-bayamon-sign-jeleel-akindele/ |website=Sportando |accessdate=February 27, 2020 |date=February 26, 2020|last1=Skerletic |first1=Dario }}</ref>
==National team== He was part of the Nigeria national basketball team, and represented Nigeria at the 2007 and 2009 African Championships, averaging 8.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game.<ref>[http://libya2009.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/09/fafcm/team/p/eid/4047/lid//rid//sid/6599/tid/340/profile.html FIBA.com profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810141205/http://libya2009.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/09/fafcm/team/p/eid/4047/lid/rid/sid/6599/tid/340/profile.html |date=2009-08-10 }}. Libya2009.fiba.com. Retrieved on 2011-12-04.</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20141220015215/http://acb.com/jugador.php?id=1KV Deji Akindele] at acb.com *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160409184245/http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Deji-Akindele-374/stats/ Deji Akindele] at draftexpress.com *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080724193102/http://www.nba.com/draft2005/profiles/DejiAkindele.html Deji Akindele] at nba.com *[http://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Jeleel_Akindele/63756 Deji Akindele] at eurobasket.com
{{ABA League blocks leaders}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akindele, Deji}} Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:ABA League players Category:African Games bronze medalists for Nigeria Category:African Games bronze medalists in basketball Category:Baloncesto Fuenlabrada players Category:Baloncesto Superior Nacional players Category:BC Nizhny Novgorod players Category:BC Spartak Primorye players Category:Capitanes de Arecibo players Category:CB Gran Canaria players Category:Centers (basketball) Category:Chicago State Cougars men's basketball players Category:Basketball players at the 2007 All-Africa Games Category:Medalists at the 2007 All-Africa Games Category:Élan Béarnais players Category:Nigerian expatriate basketball people in Montenegro Category:Nigerian expatriate basketball people in Puerto Rico Category:Fort Worth Flyers players Category:Fuerza Regia de Monterrey players Category:Iowa Energy players Category:Juvecaserta Basket players Category:Lega Basket Serie A players Category:Liga ACB players Category:KK Budućnost players Category:Marinos B.B.C. players Category:Mens Sana Basket players Category:Nigerian expatriate basketball people in the United States Category:Nigerian expatriate basketball people in France Category:Nigerian expatriate basketball people in Iran Category:Nigerian expatriate basketball people in Italy Category:Nigerian expatriate basketball people in Lebanon Category:Nigerian expatriate basketball people in Mexico Category:Nigerian expatriate basketball people in Russia Category:Nigerian expatriate basketball people in Spain Category:Nigerian expatriate basketball people in Turkey Category:Nigerian expatriate basketball people in Nicaragua Category:Nigerian men's basketball players Category:Petrochimi Bandar Imam BC players Category:Real Estelí Baloncesto players Category:Sportspeople from Abeokuta Category:Victoria Libertas Pallacanestro players Category:Yalovaspor BK players Category:Yeşilgiresun Belediye players Category:Yoruba sportspeople Category:Halcones de Xalapa players Category:Vaqueros de Bayamón basketball players Category:Metros de Santiago players Category:Jiangsu Monkey Kings (NBL) players Category:21st-century Nigerian sportsmen