Ovie Magbegor signs with Eltham

The Eltham Wildcats have announced its second NBL1 South men’s signing for the 2021 season with the return of Ovie Magbegor.

Magbegor has become a much-loved Wildcat over the past four years after playing his entire junior career with the Coburg Giants. Regularly selected into Victorian teams through his junior years, the power forward sought the opportunity to play at the Victorian Youth Championship level with Eltham once finishing U18’s with the Giants. 

"He (Ovie) was a dominant junior figure moving through the ranks. We love that he stayed with his club all the way through, as the Giants helped him to be the player he is; a player that is now an established NBL1 player,” coach Trevor Lee said.

It was from the Giants where Magbegor headed to the University of West Georgia for a year. He then tried Australian Rules Football before returning to the basketball court.

In the Big V at Youth Championship level, Magbegor has been a dominant force in his four years finishing at above 50 percent shooting from the field, but it is particularly on the defensive end where he has made a significant impact, a skill set that transitioned well to NBL1 in 2019.

“We had injuries in the early parts of 2019, so Ovie received opportunity and he grabbed it with both hands, rising to the greater challenge that NBL1 provided,” Lee reflected.

“He went from being a rookie that was going to get a taste of it, to becoming a vital contributor. Naturally in 2021, we look forward to his role and responsibility taking a further step forward.”