IF there’s one regret for Prince Eze in an otherwise colorful NCAA career, it’s having less time to play for coach Frankie Lim.
The 6-foot-10 center out of Nigeria has already burned out his playing years for Perpetual which means he only got to spend one year under the multi-titled NCAA coach.
“Last season, I wish I skipped last season and played this year,” Eze bared as he was in a well-publicized spat with then head coach Nosa Omorgbe.
Under Lim, Eze continued to flourish as he had averages of 17.9 points 16.3 rebounds and 3.3 blocks as the Altas had a seven-win improvement and made a return to the Final Four.
Still, the soft-spoken Nigerian said that he wouldn’t have won the highest individual plum without his teammates and coaches.
“I feel like my team made me a better player. They found me and played to my strengths. My teammates are the MVPs,” said Eze.
“They know how to make me look good. Even if I’m down, the team, the coaches and the school lifted me up,” he added.
Eze now sets his sights on pro leagues overseas as his days of dominating in the NCAA are over, but not until he gets his diploma in Marketing Management.
He’s not only doing it for his future, he knows that his mother back in Nigeria would be so happy to see him finish his studies.
“I’ll keep on working. First of all, I have to graduate. That’s what my mom wants me to do,” Eze shared.
“My dad likes basketball but my mom wants me to study.”
He won’t be ending his college career with a title, but at least he can focus on something bigger now and that’s to finish college.
“That one lasts forever. I used to say that championship is better but now, it’s the diploma.”
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