When Chukwuka Ezeigbo was 11 years old, she was not too interested in basketball. So, when she was told that her height would give her an advantage, and she should give the sport a shot, she reluctantly did. Today, basketball is Ezeigbo’s life.
Ezeigbo, a 6 foot , three senior center from Trenton, New Jersey, said the most important aspect of her life is basketball. Her fondest memory of the sport was her AAU’s (Amateur Athletic Union) team winning a championship in New York. However, her most embarrassing memory will never be forgotten.
“I scored on the other team’s goal one game when I was younger,” Ezeigbo said. “That had to have been my most embarrassing moment.”
Ezeigbo, who is of Nigerian descent, listens to music before every game to get warmed up. Although John Legend is her favorite artist, her choice of music reflects her heritage.
“I listen to African music when I am getting ready for a game,” Ezeigbo said. “It really gets me pumped and ready to play.”
Norrisha Victrum, a junior guard from Columbia, South Carolina, has heard Ezeigbo play this music prior to games. She said, in a sense, it gets her pumped up, too.
"Chicka (Ezeigbo) has always played African music before games that I hear from my locker," Victrum said. "I mess with her and start doing African dances, but I like it."
Aside from her heritage, family plays a major role in Ezeigbo’s life. If she were to die and come back as someone, she said she would want to return as her aunt, who is one of the biggest support systems in her life.
“Whenever I needed her, especially after my father’s death, she was always someone I could lean on,” Ezeigbo said. “She also has a strong religious foundation that I admire.”
Ezeigbo talks to her mother everyday. She also makes sure that she is a positive role model for her
siblings.
The death of Ezeigbo's father was a motivating factor in her life. Victrum, who is Ezeigbo's best friend on the team, said that after this event took place, Ezeigbo style of play positively increased.
"I believe that Chicka is more aggressive and focused since her father died," Victrum said. "We all make mistakes, but she is quicker to own up to hers and correct it in whatever way she can, as well."
Ezeigbo has become a leader for the team who helps her teammates in every way that she can. Leah Scott, a senior guard/forward from Detroit, transferred to Marshall last season. She said that Ezeigbo quickly became one of her closest friends on the team.
"As soon as I got to Marshall, Chicka (Ezeigbo) and I clicked," Scott said. "We were both going to play in the post together, so we started off looking for each other to be open and making plays for one another."
Scott said that this is how the two of the gained a friendship. Aside from having her back on the court, she said that Ezeigbo is reliable off of the court, as well.
"If I ever need anything, Chicka is always there for me no matter what time of the day or night it is," Scott said. "She is that one person that I can depend on."
One of the most notable attributes of Ezeigbo is her work ethic. Women basketball’s head coach Matt Daniel said she is one of the hardest workers he has coached.
“Chicka comes to practice every day with a relentless effort,” Daniel said. “No matter what is going on in her life, she takes care of business.”
Her mentality towards work, Ezeigbo said, comes from her parents.
“One thing that my father always taught me is to put 110 percent into everything that I do,” Ezeigbo said. “I try to apply that in everything that I do.”
Ezeigbo's work ethic is enforced in her education, as well. Scott said that Ezeigbo does not say much, but her intelligence speaks volume.
"Chukwuka is quiet the majority of the time," Scott said. "She is also an extremely intelligent person who works hard in the classroom."
The importance of education was stressed in the Ezeigbo household. Ezeigbo is a biology major with a concentration in pre-med, which was influenced by her childhood pediatrician.
“She was able to explain medical things to me at a young age,” Ezeigbo said. “I have always had a fascination with the human body and how it works, so it was the perfect field of study for me.”
Ezeigbo said she likes to view herself as an intellectual. She is a huge fan of Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings and has a love for studying. A major goal she has this semester is earning a 4.0 GPA. Being a student-athlete can be difficult, but Ezeigbo has learned to manage.
“Communicating with teachers is very important, so I make sure they know what is going on,” Ezeigbo said. “I also put myself on a strict schedule by getting work done before and after practice.”
Ezeigbo’s plans on heading to medical school after she graduates. Scott said that Ezeigbo's choice in becoming a pediatrician is wise because she loves children.
"Chukwuka is extremely good with kids, so she will find success being a pediatrician," Scott said. "I even told her that if she lives in the same area as I do once her career starts, I want her to be my children's doctor."
Ezeigbo’s height, which was the reason why she began to play basketball a decade ago, has worked in her favor. Last season, she was the leading rebounder for the Herd women’s basketball team.
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