Meet Kelechi Anuna

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelechi Anuna.

Hi Kelechi, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Kelechi “KC” Anuna. I am an American-born Nigerian professional basketball player, businessman, coach/trainer, and philanthropist. I moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1996 at the age of 7.

I would say, I’m one of the original Nigerians in the Nashville Nigerian community, I graduated from McGavock HS in three years in 2007. I went on to play basketball and get my undergrad degree in Business at Middle Tennessee State University.

I went on to start my MBA at Pfeiffer University in NC, before going on to playing professional basketball from 2012 – to the current. I have played in numerous countries professionally, (Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Dominican Rep, Venezuela, Mexico, Slovakia, Mongolia, Nigeria, and more). I played on the Nigerian Men’s National Team, in which I represented Nigeria in international competitions.

During my offseason, Nashville is still home. I coach HS basketball at Ezell Harding Christian School, and also run my basketball training company, ‘Kelechi Anuna Training” here in the city as well.

My passion is giving, and that’s why I also founded Kelechi Anuna Foundation in 2016. I help kids in Nigeria obtain their lifelong goals through sports. The foundation has had many different basketball camps, shoe, and equipment giveaways, talent showcases, and even just finished building a basketball court in my home city of Owerri, Nigeria.

It has also branched out of the sports cause and reached the humanitarian and educational lines. KAF feed a village in the town of Obazu, Mbieri, Nigeria during the height of COVID-19 in 2020. My foundation also partnered with Nashville basketball legend (top basketball trainer in Nashville), Marcus Kinzer, III in giving scholarships to Nigerian university students.

Kelechi Anuna Foundation does partner and works with a few Nashville companies, like ABC Sports Foundation and a3 Athletics.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. One of the toughest moments in my life was during my senior year at MTSU. My long-time girlfriend was murdered on campus.

It was a rough time in my life. I had to push myself to continue to strive and stay on the path to success, as life is short, and nobody knows tomorrow.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I like to say I’m a jack of all trades and a master of SOME. LOL.

Most people in Nashville know me for playing professional basketball overseas, some know me as “Nigerian K” because of my long time living in Nashville and the philanthropic work I do in my home country of Nigeria.

Some of the younger generations know me as the coach/trainer in the city,

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love the growth of the city and the diversity that’s coming to the city. Before when you mentioned Nashville, people would laugh or ask if anything was there. Now when you mention here, things change.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.kelechianunafoundation.org
• Instagram: @kelechianuna (main), @kelechianunafoundation (nonprofit), and @kelechianuna_training (training)
• Facebook: Kelechi “KC” Anuna
• Twitter: @kelechi_anuna
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCKlF21MfADb3gnwvqa8bEiA