Ulrich Kamka Chomche is a Cameroonian basketball prodigy born on December 30, 2005. He joined the NBA Academy Africa at 14 and made his professional debut in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) at 16. Chomche, drafted by the Toronto Raptors in 2024, is the first prospect to join the league out of the NBA Academy Africa. Strong gameplay can be noted for this prospect in areas such as defense and shot-blocking.
Born on December 30, 2005, in the small village of Bafang, West Province of Cameroon, Ulrich Kamka Chomche's journey into basketball stardom began rather unremarkable. Until he was 11 years old, tall and wiry, with a penchant for athleticism that pointed him toward a round leather ball with the universal name of basketball decision that would change his life forever.
CAPTION: From Bafang to the NBA: Chomche’s journey begins. SOURCE: Instagram His parents were skeptical at first, as he needed to complete his education. But the potential showed, and the eyes of coaches caught on. At the age of only 14, Chomche joined the NBA Academy Africa in Saly, Senegal.
That was a big transition for Chomche: joining the NBA Academy Africa-English-speaking students were the majority, and he could barely utter a word in English. However, an unrelenting personal tutor pushed Chomche to adapt and learn his new language, eventually settling into both the academic and athletic programs. So, the stage was set for his resilience and determination to make it.
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Chomche made his professional debut at age 16 with Cameroonian club FAP in 2022 under the BAL Elevate program in the Basketball Africa League. He started to shine in the somewhat competitive league and averaged 2.1 points and 3.7 rebounds in 11.3 minutes per game. The following season, he played with the Rwandan side REG in BAL, where he was then praised for his defense by former NBA player Joakim Noah.
CAPTION: From academy standout to BAL pro at just 16. SOURCE: Instagram He was a draft pick for APR before the 2024 BAL season but was not named on the roster so that he could head to the 2024 NBA Draft.
On April 15, 2024, Chomche declared for the 2024 NBA Draft at just 18 years old, making him the youngest player in the draft. His work ethic and dedication then paid off as he got selected with the 57th overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies, who then traded him to the Toronto Raptors on draft night.
This historic moment made him the first NBA Academy Africa prospect to be drafted into the NBA and the first player to be drafted straight out of any NBA Academy. He then signed a two-way deal with both the Toronto Raptors and Raptors 905 of the NBA G League testament to his recent rise to prominence.
Chomche started his international career in February 2023, representing the Cameroon senior national team in the qualifiers for the 2023 World Cup. In his very first game against the DR Congo, he played eight minutes as Cameroon won 85-56 to get his international career underway.
CAPTION: Chomche made his national team debut for Cameroon in 2023, showcasing his defensive prowess. SOURCE: Instagram This was an important milestone that underlined his development from a young prospect into a national team member.
Standing at 6 ft 11 in, with a 7 ft 4 in wingspan, Chomche is reputed to be an excellent defensive stopper and shot-blocker. The length alone, but combined with athleticism, makes him a force on the court, especially on the defensive end.
His offense will still be a work in development, but his defensive skills have already made him an asset to any team.
For that, the journey of Chomche has drawn much attention and accolades. He is the seventh player from Cameroon ever to have gotten drafted into the NBA, following in the footsteps of notable players like Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje, Luc Mbah-a Moute, Joel Embiid, Pascal Siakam, Christian Koloko, and Yves Missi.
CAPTION: From BAL standout to NBA draft pick, Chomche's journey is filled with milestones. SOURCE: Instagram ESPN termed him the best prospect from Cameroon since Joel Embiid; he had loads of potential and was held in high regard for his career.
Chomche will be featured on the second season of NBA Africa's documentary series 'Born & Bred'—his episode, 'Small Village. Big Dreams', continues his journey from a small village in Cameroon to the NBA. This documentary delves into his life, training, and struggles through which he achieved his dreams and is an enticing story of perseverance and finally success.
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