Quick Chat: Frank Anselem

By John Frierson
Staff Writer

Frank Anselem is not the first player from Lagos, Nigeria to suit up for the Georgia men's basketball team. In fact, he's not the first in the past four years.

Before the 6-foot-10 Anselem, a junior forward, joined the Bulldogs after starting his collegiate career at Syracuse, Derek Ogbeide, a 6-9 forward, started 101 games in the post from 2015-19, finishing his career third on Georgia's all-time list for field-goal percentage (54.6%) and third in rebounding (797). Ogbeide is now playing professionally in Italy.

Lagos is one of the largest cities in the world, with a population of more than 15 million, so no, they don't know each other. But they do share a lot in common, from the worldliness that comes with travel and experiencing different cultures, to a taste for the flavors of home, like Jollof rice.

Anselem moved to the U.S. as a teenager, attending high school in the Atlanta area for two years before finishing at Prolific Prep in California. Last season at Syracuse, Anselem twice had 15-rebound performances. In his first game with the Bulldogs, the season opener against Western Carolina, Anselem went 5 of 7 from the field and scored 11 points in a 68-55 win.

During a Quick Chat, Anselem talked about starting over at a new school, being from a tall family, his funniest teammate, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:

Frierson: What was it like to suit up for the first time with a new team, new coach, in a new arena?

Anselem: It was fun. I've been here on campus a couple of times in the past, and I actually played in a scout camp a couple of years back, on that same court. Actually playing in a real game here for the first time, it was something I looked forward to — and I had a lot of fun.

Frierson: I know Lagos is a really big place, but I wondered if you and Derek Ogbeide had ever crossed paths at some point. Do you know him or know of him?

Anselem: Unfortunately, he was years before me, so I haven't had the chance to connect with him. But I'm thinking in a couple of days I might have to reach out to him on social media or something, just to hear about his experiences.

Frierson: Were you like Derek in that when you were growing up soccer was your main sport?

Anselem: I was the same way. It's the most accessible sport — all you need is a ball and some sticks to make a goal. You can play with two people, three people, it doesn't matter. Basketball, to get organized takes a bit more time to get everything set up.

I did grow up playing soccer. I did play basketball, too, but not too organized, not as organized as soccer was.

Frierson: When did you get big? Were you always the tallest person in your classes when you were young?

Anselem: My pops is about 6-5, 6-6, but he didn't play any sports. My mom, she's about 5-11 or 6-foot, and she didn't play any sports, either. Me and my brothers, we got these tall genes. As far back as I can remember, I've been a pretty tall person.

Frierson: At what point did you start thinking about playing college basketball and coming to the U.S.?

Anselem: There are these camps, like Basketball Without Borders camps, and I went to a couple of those in Nigeria, and I kind of made a name for myself in that camp. They tell you, if you do this, if you do that, you've got a really good chance of getting a scholarship. I was just playing, and fortunately for me, I was one of the guys selected out of a lot of people. I'm still to this day very blessed and thankful for the opportunities that I've had.

I got here and it's been fun, really, really fun. I'm just trying to make the most of my opportunities. I'm blessed every day.

Frierson: Who is the funniest guy on the team?

Anselem: I've got to say Justin Hill. He just knows how to say smart stuff — he knows how to get on your nerves, but not in a bad way. He just makes you laugh. He has funny reactions to things, in practice, off the floor, all the time.

Frierson: What is something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?

Anselem: Chicken wings, definitely chicken wings, or a salad — a good Cobb salad from Chick-fil-A or somewhere. I could not get tired of that.

Frierson: In seven years of doing these Quick Chats, and I do about 100 a year, I believe you're the first person to even mention a salad.

Anselem: I'll get a salad, a salad or cole slaw. I'll eat that. It's really healthy, good food.

Frierson: I wondered if you were going to give the same answer that Derek gave back in 2016 or whenever which was Jollof rice.

Anselem: Yup! That's the one. I was just talking about food I can get here in the United States. If I was back home in Nigeria, Jollof rice — whew! Yes, sir!

Frierson: Can you explain to me what makes Jollof ride so special? This is clearly not your everyday rice dish.

Anselem: How you cook it: you get oil, grease, you peppers in it, onions, sauces like tomato paste; you put in chicken, salt, you get it all nice and spicy, and then you boil the rice and put the rice in it. You simmer it all together. Mmmm.

Frierson: It sounds like you know your way around a kitchen.

Anselem: I mean, I grew up with my mom and four boys, and you've got to learn to survive in that house [laughs]. I was the first one, so I was always in charge of them. When it comes to the kitchen, I feel like I can hold my own.

(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)

Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.

Players Mentioned

Frank Anselem-Ibe

Justin Hill

University of Georgia Athletics