Rutgers-Newark Athletics

By Jim Hague

His full name is Chidoziem Ikwuegbu. It’s pronounced exactly how it’s spelled. At first glance, it looks more like the eye chart at the optometrist’s office. You know, read the last two lines, letter by letter, and you’d end up with that name.

“I get a lot of people who mess up with the name,” said the young man who now prefers to be known simply as Doze. “Everyone destroys it. I always get comments about my name.”

Doze Ikwuegbu (phonetically pronounced as DOZE ICK-WEIGH-BOO) is making a name for himself these days as a freshman member of the men’s basketball program at Rutgers-Newark.

No matter how it’s said or spelled, the freshman guard is proving to be the future of Joe Loughran’s Scarlet Raiders and has worked himself into the regular rotation right away.

“We knew that he was a good get,” said Loughran, who recruited Ikwuegbu out of Union High School in New Jersey. “We knew that he had a big upside, that he could play the point or the two guard (shooting guard). We anticipated that he could come in and play right away.”

Ikwuegbu didn’t know if he would be able to contribute to the Scarlet Raiders immediately, especially with the R-N roster filled with veteran guards like Al’Don Muhammad, Pedro Burgos and Greg Moore.

“I figured I could come in and handle my role,” Ikwuegbu said. “I thought I would get in some games and just play and get comfortable on the court. I just wanted to be confident and have fun. I didn’t want to be intimidated or afraid. I liked the competition in the backcourt and liked the challenge of fighting for playing time. It’s always good to have great guards working with you. I took it as a challenge to play with those guys. I was real eager to play with them.”

As it has turned out, Ikwuegbu has fit right in with the veteran Scarlet Raider backcourt performers.

“He gives us a new dimension,” Loughran said. “He’s very coachable and picks up things right away. I love having big guards and Doze has long arms and defends well. I like having guards who can disrupt things with his length. We expected him to come in and do what he’s doing, so it’s no surprise.”

Ikwuegbu is averaging 4.7 points, averaging about 17 minutes per game off the bench. The 6-foot-3 guard has seen time both at the point and shooting guard and he’s displayed the ability to handle the ball and has been somewhat of a surprise with his long-range shooting touch. He’s registered in double figures in three games.

“He’s getting better at doing what he does, getting better every day,” Loughran said. “He comes from a good high school program and he received good coaching in high school, so he knows what he’s doing.”

Ikwuegbu had some other college offers, but decided to come to Rutgers-Newark.

“I came for a visit and met the team,” Ikwuegbu said. “I really liked the way they all made me feel welcomed with open arms. I was very comfortable right away. I knew I could fit in.”

Ikwuegbu was born in Newark to Nigerian parents and raised in Union. He said it wasn’t hard to explain to his parents that he wanted to play basketball.

“They understood the game and they followed what I was doing,” Ikwuegbu said.

He had some help, since his older brother, Victor, played basketball at Union.

Wait a second. Victor? How did he get a more recognizable name and Doze ended up with Chidoziem?

“Everyone always says that, too,” Ikwuegbu said.

Ikwuegbu realizes that he represents the future of the program, that standout players like himself and fellow freshman Christian Garcia are the ones that Loughran will mold the entire program around over the next few years.

“I can see myself being the future of the program,” Ikwuegbu said. “With others leaving, I have to be the one to step up. I’m getting that experience right now. I’m learning more how to play the game. I know that there are going to be high expectations of me to lead the team in the future.”

“Christian and Doze are the core of the future and they’re both off to a good start,” Loughran said. “We have those two in the freshman class and we will look to add others to help them. It’s not a bad start. Doze is a good kid and he never complains. He understands his role and works hard. I never have to worry about him. He keeps getting better. We’re very lucky to have him.”

Ikwuegbu is hopeful to pursue a career in pharmaceutical sciences.

“I had a friend who is close to my family who became a pharmacist,” Ikwuegbu said. “I look up to him and decided that’s something I’d like to do.”

For now, Ikwuegbu continues to make his mark as a talented freshman.

“I’m not surprised with what I’ve done,” Ikwuegbu said. “I really think I can be better. Right now, I’m just happy to help the team in any way I can. I know I can help.”

He already is – just as much as outsiders need help with the spelling of his name.