Samkelo Cele
ROC NATION Sports
TEAM: Cape Town Tigers
POSITION: Small forward
HOMETOWN: Durban, South Africa
DOB: December 28, 1997
Samkelo “Sam” Cele is a 26-year-old South African Basketball player who plays for the Cape Town Tigers in the Basketball Africa League (BAL). The shooting guard will spend the NBA Summer League with the New York Knicks.
Cele played college basketball in the United States, attending Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Southern College and Marist College.
Due to his inability to play in the NCAA, he then finished his career with the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma in the NAIA, where he was named an All-American third-team selection in 2023.
In 2023, Sam signed his first professional contract with the Cape Town Tigers. In the first season, he was named to the BAL All-Defenders team for the 2023 season, averaging 13 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game.
In the 2023/24 season, Sam averaged 21 points (second in the league) and 2.4 steals per game. He was named to his first All-BAL First team, becoming the first South African to make it.
In February 2024, Cele made his debut for the South Africa National team.
POSITION: Small forward
HOMETOWN: Durban, South Africa
DOB: December 28, 1997
Samkelo “Sam” Cele is a 26-year-old South African Basketball player who plays for the Cape Town Tigers in the Basketball Africa League (BAL). The shooting guard will spend the NBA Summer League with the New York Knicks.
Cele played college basketball in the United States, attending Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Southern College and Marist College.
Due to his inability to play in the NCAA, he then finished his career with the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma in the NAIA, where he was named an All-American third-team selection in 2023.
In 2023, Sam signed his first professional contract with the Cape Town Tigers. In the first season, he was named to the BAL All-Defenders team for the 2023 season, averaging 13 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game.
In the 2023/24 season, Sam averaged 21 points (second in the league) and 2.4 steals per game. He was named to his first All-BAL First team, becoming the first South African to make it.
In February 2024, Cele made his debut for the South Africa National team.
