Noel Obadiah of APR currently leads the scoring charts after the first leg games of the 2024 Sahara Conference. And with an average of 26.7 points in his debut BAL season, the American guard holds the highest scoring average across all conferences thus far.
After an impressive showing in the initial matches of the 2024 BAL Sahara Conference, Noel Obadiah, a recent addition to APR Basketball, has affirmed his status as a formidable scoring machine in his debut season in the Basketball Africa League.
Obadiah, who joined APR from the Westchester Knicks last month, a G-League affiliate of the New York Knicks, has significantly altered the team’s offensive dynamics for the better.
Under Mazen Trakh’s guidance, APR initiated early preparations for the BAL season, assembling all the necessary players to prepare them for continental competition. However, during their final preparations, the team faced a significant setback when their dependable point guard, Dixon Andree Michael, departed for Egypt’s Al Ittihad.
APR swiftly responded by bringing in Noel Obadiah, whose integration into the team proved to be a wise move, surpassing expectations set by Dixon. He led APR to victory in the GMT tourney with a convincing performance before the team journeyed to Dakar for the real challenge.
In Dakar, during the league opener, Noel Obadiah, alongside fellow American Adonis Filer, delivered a stellar performance with 24 points, leading APR to triumph over the 2022 BAL Champions, US Monastir. Despite Obadiah’s 32-point contribution the following day, APR fell short against the Rivers Hoopers, missing out on their second win of the conference.
In the third game against the hosts and last season’s finalists, AS Douanes, Noel Obadiah once again displayed his offensive prowess by scoring 24 points, concluding the 2024 Sahara Conference first leg games as the top scorer.
Not only is Noel Obadiah averaging the highest points per game in the Sahara Conference, but he also currently surpasses Lual Lual Acuil and Samkelo Cele, the top scoring leaders in other conferences. However, he still has three games remaining to master if he is determined to maintain his position at the top.
Noel Obadiah is on the verge of becoming an offensive threat.
Much like Devine Eke of the Hoopers, who currently posts offensive stats of 21 PPG and 3.6 APG, the American guard has cemented his status as a prolific scorer, consistently leading his team in points in every game. However, his offensive contributions have predominantly revolved around scoring, with less focus on facilitating plays through assists.
Despite his high scoring average, Noel Obadiah averages only 2.3 assists per game. In comparison, Rivers Hoopers’ Kelvin Amayo boasts 16.6 PPG and 9 APG, while AS Douanes’ Jacques Boissy maintains 12.3 PPG and 7.7 APG this season.
Marcus Christopher Crawford, currently playing for US Monastir, remains the all-time leading scorer in the BAL. Despite Monastir’s struggles with a 0-3 record, he averages 15 PPG and an impressive 10.7 assists per game this season, solidifying his status as a significant offensive threat in the league.
Noel Obadiah, as the primary ball handler and a key guard for APR, is expected to lead the Rwanda Champions to the playoffs in their debut BAL season. However, to leave a lasting impact on his BAL journey, he must improve his overall game, particularly in terms of facilitating teamwork.
Tomorrow, Noel Obadiah’s APR will face US Monastir in their fourth fixture of the 2024 BAL Sahara Conference Games.
