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Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Men’s Hoops Adds 7-Foot South Carolina Transfer Christ Essandoko
May 01, 2026 | Men's Basketball
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Essandoko Appeared In 21 Games With Four Starts For South Carolina
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball program and head coach Todd Simon announced the signing of transfer forward Christ Essandoko. The 7-foot rising redshirt senior spent the 2025-26 campaign with South Carolina after spending his first two seasons with Saint Joseph's and the 2024-25 campaign at Providence. Essandoko appeared in 21 games with four starts for the Gamecocks.
Over the course of the 2025-26 season, Essandoko totaled 155 minutes for South Carolina, scoring 43 points, including six three-pointers. He added 34 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and two blocks to his stat line. Arguably his best game of the season came against Virginia Tech, scoring eight points, including a perfect 2-for-2 from behind the arc.
As for the 2024-25 campaign at Providence, Essandoko appeared in 22 games with seven starts for the Friars. He totaled 94 points on the season, including shooting 50.7-percent from the field on 71 attempts. Averaging 15.0 minutes per game, Essandoko completed his stat line with 85 rebounds, 18 assists, 14 blocks and five steals. He added a near double-double against Delaware State, finishing with nine points and a season-high 12 rebounds.
Essandoko spent his first two collegiate seasons at Saint Joseph's, sitting out the 2022-23 season. As for the 2023-24 year, Essandoko appeared in 25 games for the Hawks, including 15 starts. He averaged 21.0 minutes per game while adding 204 points, 143 rebounds, 38 assists, 27 blocks and 12 steals. He maintained a 50.0-percent clip from the field while making 14 three-pointers as well. He posted a double-double against Duquesne with 21 points, including three three-pointers, and 12 rebounds before being named the A-10 Rookie of the Week.
Coming out of high school, Essandoko was named to the U18 EuroLeague Junior First Team, was selected as the 2018 Freshman of the Year with Nanterre and was a member of the 2019 U18 French National Champions. He transitioned to Winston Salem Christian School for his junior and senior seasons, averaging 15.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game as a senior before competing with Team Curry on the UAA circuit.
"Christ is a unique talent with his inside and outside ability on the offensive end," said Simon. "His size immediately impacts the game on both ends as well. Offensively, his ability to get catches, command double teams and also shoot the three will allow us to move him around the floor."
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons' men's basketball team on social media
Twitter - @BGSU_Athletics and @BGSUMBB
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Over the course of the 2025-26 season, Essandoko totaled 155 minutes for South Carolina, scoring 43 points, including six three-pointers. He added 34 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and two blocks to his stat line. Arguably his best game of the season came against Virginia Tech, scoring eight points, including a perfect 2-for-2 from behind the arc.
As for the 2024-25 campaign at Providence, Essandoko appeared in 22 games with seven starts for the Friars. He totaled 94 points on the season, including shooting 50.7-percent from the field on 71 attempts. Averaging 15.0 minutes per game, Essandoko completed his stat line with 85 rebounds, 18 assists, 14 blocks and five steals. He added a near double-double against Delaware State, finishing with nine points and a season-high 12 rebounds.
Essandoko spent his first two collegiate seasons at Saint Joseph's, sitting out the 2022-23 season. As for the 2023-24 year, Essandoko appeared in 25 games for the Hawks, including 15 starts. He averaged 21.0 minutes per game while adding 204 points, 143 rebounds, 38 assists, 27 blocks and 12 steals. He maintained a 50.0-percent clip from the field while making 14 three-pointers as well. He posted a double-double against Duquesne with 21 points, including three three-pointers, and 12 rebounds before being named the A-10 Rookie of the Week.
Coming out of high school, Essandoko was named to the U18 EuroLeague Junior First Team, was selected as the 2018 Freshman of the Year with Nanterre and was a member of the 2019 U18 French National Champions. He transitioned to Winston Salem Christian School for his junior and senior seasons, averaging 15.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game as a senior before competing with Team Curry on the UAA circuit.
"Christ is a unique talent with his inside and outside ability on the offensive end," said Simon. "His size immediately impacts the game on both ends as well. Offensively, his ability to get catches, command double teams and also shoot the three will allow us to move him around the floor."
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons' men's basketball team on social media
Twitter - @BGSU_Athletics and @BGSUMBB
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsumhoops'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube - 'Falcon Athletics'
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