Biography of Andrew Kehinde “Kenny” Adeleke

Andrew Kehinde “Kenny” Adeleke (born February 10, 1983) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player who has played 12 seasons in various basketball leagues across the NBA, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. In the 2006-07 season, he was the top rebounder in the Israel Basketball Premier League.

Early Life and High School Career
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Adeleke grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He played both basketball and tennis at Paul Robeson High School. During his junior year, he averaged 19 points and 12 rebounds per game and had standout performances against schools like Benjamin Cardozo and Abraham Lincoln. His senior year saw him ranked as the #7 small forward in the country by ESPN, earning honors such as the PSAL Player of the Year and an All-Star MVP at the prestigious Five Star All-Star camp. His team also earned a national ranking of #18 in the USA Today.

College Career
Adeleke initially committed to DePaul University, but later chose to attend Hofstra University. During his freshman year, he won CAA Rookie of the Year honors, contributing to his team with multiple strong performances. As a sophomore, he averaged 16.1 points and 11 rebounds. He continued to excel and earned First Team All-CAA honors during his junior year. Adeleke transferred to University of Hartford for his senior season, where he averaged 20.7 points and 13 rebounds. He finished second in the nation for rebounding that year, behind Paul Millsap.

Professional Career
After going undrafted in the 2006 NBA Draft, Adeleke played for the New York Knicks Summer League team and briefly with the Seattle SuperSonics. He then moved to Israel, where he played for Hapoel Galil Elyon and was the top rebounder in the Israeli Premier League during the 2006–07 season.

He continued his career in Europe, playing for clubs in Italy (NSB Napoli), Turkey (Hacettepe Üniversitesi), and Lebanon (Hekmeh BC). Adeleke also had stints in Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and Mexico, where he played for Fuerza Regia in the LNBP.

Personal Life
Adeleke’s name, “Adeleke”, means “the crown achieves happiness” in Yoruba, reflecting his Nigerian heritage.