Jerry Evans Jr
June 15, 2023
Edgar Sosa
- Nationality: DOM/USA
- Date of Birth: 15/01/88
- Place of Birth: New York, New York (USA)
- Position: PG
- Height (CM): 188
- Weight (KG): 79
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Louisville (2006–2010)
- NBL DEBUT: 8/10/17
- AGE AT DEBUT: 29
- LAST NBL GAME: 5/03/18
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 30
- NBL History: New Zealand 2018
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Edgar Sosa was born in New York, New York (USA).
NBL EXPERIENCE
Edgar Sosa made his NBL debut with the New Zealand Breakers at 29 years of age. He scored 15 points in his first game.
After an injury-riddled 2016/17 season saw New Zealand miss the playoffs with a 14-14 record, the Breakers entered Paul Henare’s second season without Kevin Dillard (to PAOK Thessaloniki), Akil Mitchell (to Long Island Nets), Paul Carter (to Châlons-Reims), David Stockton (to Reno Bighorns) and Ben Woodside (retired). Corey Webster (to Perth) also departed after New Zealand declined the third-year option on his contract, although he was released by the Wildcats before the season to pursue an opportunity overseas. With the NBL allowing teams to carry three imports, New Zealand added Édgar Sosa (via Al Riyadi Beirut), DJ Newbill (via Oostende) and James Hunter (via Southland), while keeping its third import position open.
Sosa was announced as New Zealand’s first import on July 26 after helping Al Riyadi Beirut win the Lebanese League championship, giving him three consecutive league titles following championships in Italy and Iran. Henare said Sosa would bring “experience and calmness”, while Sosa said, “I am a hard-nosed player that will give you everything I have in the game.”
New Zealand opened the season against Cairns at Spark Arena on October 8, where Sosa (15 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists) started in his NBL debut as the Breakers lost 82-71. Thomas Abercrombie (23 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks) and Newbill (12 points and 5 rebounds) provided support, while Dayshon Smith (18 points and 5 rebounds) led Cairns.
Sosa (15.8 points and 3.8 assists across 28 games) started all 28 games he appeared in and led New Zealand in scoring, playing 26 of 28 regular-season games and both semifinals. The Breakers recovered from their opening loss to start 6-1 before a nine-game winning streak carried them to 9-1 and top spot on the ladder entering the FIBA World Cup qualifying break.
One of Sosa’s best games came in Cairns on November 4, where Sosa (9 points, 1 rebound, 6 assists, and 1 steal) hit the winning three-pointer with two seconds remaining as New Zealand defeated the Taipans 73-70 for its sixth consecutive win. Kirk Penney (16 points) and Abercrombie (12 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks) provided support, while Michael Carrera (16 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Cairns. Sosa said, “It was a great play by coach, I was supposed to be the decoy but they came out in a zone so I took it.”
That winning shot tho ??? @Edgarsosa, YOU THE MAN.
— SKYCITY Breakers NZ (@NZBreakers) November 5, 2017
Sosa’s best scoring game of the season came against Adelaide on December 10, where Sosa (26 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) made four three-pointers as New Zealand lost 95-92. Abercrombie (12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks) and Mika Vukona (11 points and 3 steals) provided support, while Nathan Sobey (22 points and 6 assists) led Adelaide.
The Breakers struggled following the international break and were 12-6 after losing five of eight games when they used their vacant third import position on January 8 to sign Rakeem Christmas (via Galatasaray) for the remainder of the season. Hunter (2.5 points across 2 games, released) was waived to open the roster spot despite Henare stressing the decision was not performance related. Christmas (7.6 points and 5.7 rebounds across 12 games) was brought in to provide another interior presence, with Henare saying, “Releasing Jimmy was extremely hard, he is a victim of circumstance.”
Sosa rolled his ankle during New Zealand’s January 18 win over Melbourne and was unable to play two days later in Cairns after testing the injury during warm-ups, with Henare saying, “We didn’t have full confidence in him in the warm up so we pulled the pin.” Sosa returned against Perth on January 27 after training without any further problems, although the ankle continued to trouble him later in the season.
Sosa’s best game of the season came against Melbourne at Spark Arena on February 11, where Sosa (25 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 steal) shot 9-of-12 from the field as New Zealand lost 100-82. Christmas (13 points and 2 steals) and Newbill (13 points) provided support, while Chris Goulding (21 points) led Melbourne as United secured the minor premiership and the Breakers slipped to fourth following their second loss to Melbourne in three days.
Sosa missed only two games during the season, with the rolled ankle accounting for his January 20 absence before he also sat out New Zealand’s final regular-season game against Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on February 18. No specific injury was given for Sosa’s absence against Sydney, with New Zealand dressing only eight players and Henare hoping to have Sosa, Penney and Alex Pledger back for the semifinals. Sydney defeated New Zealand 101-86, handing the Breakers their fourth consecutive loss as they finished fourth with a 15-13 record.
Sosa led New Zealand in scoring and earned All-NBL Second Team honours, while Newbill (13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 steals across 30 games) provided another major backcourt option. Penney (10.1 points across 22 games), Abercrombie (9.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks across 30 games), Shea Ili (9.3 points and 3.1 assists across 30 games), Robert Loe (7.3 points and 4.3 rebounds across 30 games), Pledger (6.4 points and 4.9 rebounds across 28 games), Vukona (6.2 points and 6.1 rebounds across 30 games) and Finn Delany (5.1 points and 3.4 rebounds across 28 games) rounded out the main rotation, with Ili named the NBL Most Improved Player.
New Zealand entered its semifinal series against Melbourne without Delany, who was sidelined with concussion. Melbourne opened the series at Hisense Arena on March 3, where Sosa (10 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block) started as United won 88-77 behind Casper Ware (33 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists), Casey Prather (15 points and 5 rebounds) and Tai Wesley (13 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists), while Newbill (19 points and 3 steals) and Ili (16 points and 5 assists) led the Breakers.
Game two moved to Spark Arena, where Sosa (12 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal), Newbill (21 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists), Penney (17 points) and Loe (16 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) pushed Melbourne to overtime. Josh Boone (33 points, 15 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks), Ware (15 points and 6 assists), Goulding (14 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals) and Prather (12 points and 11 rebounds) led United, with Boone scoring the winning put-back in the final second as Melbourne won 88-86 and completed the 2-0 sweep in Penney’s final NBL game.
Edgar Sosa played one season in the NBL. He averaged 15.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 28 NBL games.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 30 | New Zealand | 15-13 (4) | 28 | 775 | 442 | 62 | 106 | 13 | 49 | 26 | 2 | 60 | 65 | 143 | 345.00 | 41% | 74 | 192 | 39% | 82 | 98 | 84% | 52% | 26 | Totals | 28 | 775 | 442 | 62 | 106 | 13 | 49 | 26 | 2 | 60 | 65 | 143 | 345 | 41.4% | 74 | 192 | 38.5% | 82 | 98 | 83.7% | 26 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 30 | New Zealand | 15-13 (4) | 28 | 27.7 | 15.8 | 2.2 | 3.8 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 5.1 | 12.3 | 41% | 2.6 | 6.9 | 39% | 2.9 | 3.5 | 84% | 52% | 26 | Total | 28 | 27.7 | 15.8 | 2.2 | 3.8 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 41.4% | 38.5% | 83.7% | 26 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 26 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
|---|
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Dominican Republic - Reales de La Vega (2012), Leones de Santo Domingo (2013) | Egypt - Zamalek (2021–2022) | France - BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque (2018–2019), Boulazac (2020–2021) | Germany - ratiopharm Ulm (2013–2014), Rasta Vechta (2021) | Iran - Petrochimi Bandar Imam (2015–2016) | Iraq - Al-Naft (2022–2023) | Israel - Hapoel Jerusalem (2016), Hapoel Gilboa Galil (2019–2020) | Italy - Angelico Biella (2010–2011), Dinamo Sassari (2014–2015), Juvecaserta (2016–2017), Reyer Venezia (2018) | Lebanon - Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut (2017), Al Riyadi (2024–present) | Libya - Al Ahli Tripoli (2023) | Puerto Rico - Cangrejeros de Santurce (2013) | Saudi Arabia - Al-Fateh (2023–2024) | Spain - Blancos de Rueda Valladolid (2013)
Sosa joined Angelico Biella for the 2010–11 Italian Serie A season, beginning his professional career in Italy and later earning Italian Serie A All-Star recognition in 2011 during his time in the league.
After recovering from a leg injury suffered during the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship that ruled him out for an extended period, Sosa moved into Caribbean and European club stints in 2012–13, suiting up for Reales de La Vega in the Dominican Republic and then joining Blancos de Rueda Valladolid in Spain on a short-term deal before also playing for Cangrejeros de Santurce in Puerto Rico and Leones de Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic later in 2013.
Sosa joined ratiopharm Ulm for the 2013–14 German Bundesliga season before moving back to Italy with Dinamo Sassari for 2014–15, where he played EuroLeague action and averaged 10.4 points, 4.2 assists, and 1.4 rebounds across 10 EuroLeague games while sharing the Sassari roster with Jerome Dyson, Rakim Sanders, and Shane Lawal, and he finished the season as an Italian Serie A champion and Italian Cup winner with the club in 2015 after winning the Italian Supercup with Sassari in 2014.
In 2015–16, Sosa played in Iran with Petrochimi Bandar Imam and won the Iranian league title in 2016, then finished the season in Israel with Hapoel Jerusalem after joining for the remainder of the campaign in April 2016.
Sosa returned to Italy with Juvecaserta for the 2016–17 Serie A season and averaged 19.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game before leaving in March 2017, after which he joined Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut and won the Lebanese league title in 2017.
In 2018, Sosa signed with Reyer Venezia in Italy and was part of the club’s 2018 FIBA Europe Cup championship season, then moved to France with BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque for 2018–19 and averaged 13.2 points and 5.2 assists per game across 18 league games.
Sosa returned to Israel with Hapoel Gilboa Galil for 2019–20 and produced a season-high 38 points with four rebounds and four assists in a January 12, 2020 win over Hapoel Jerusalem, a performance that led to Israeli League Round 15 MVP recognition, and he shared that Gilboa Galil roster with Justin Tillman.
He continued in France with Boulazac for 2020–21 before joining Rasta Vechta in Germany during the 2020–21 season, where he averaged 16.5 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.0 rebounds per game after arriving in February 2021.
Sosa joined Zamalek for the 2021–22 Egyptian season and was named to the All-BAL First Team in 2022 while helping Zamalek to a third-place BAL finish, and during the 2022 BAL Nile Conference run he and teammate Ike Diogu combined for 40 points in a key win that clinched the conference title, with Zamalek teammates during that BAL season including Dewarick Spencer and D.J. Strawberry.
He moved to Iraq with Al-Naft in 2022–23, then played in Libya with Al Ahli Tripoli in 2023 and continued to Saudi Arabia with Al-Fateh in 2023–24 before returning to Lebanon with Al Riyadi in December 2024.
COLLEGE
Sosa played college basketball at Louisville from 2006–07 through 2009–10 under head coach Rick Pitino, appearing in 140 games and averaging 9.7 points, 2.8 assists, and 1.8 rebounds per game while shooting 41.7% from the field, 35.6% from three-point range, and 68.8% at the free-throw line across his four-year career.
As a freshman at Louisville playing with Derrick Caracter, Earl Clark and Jerry Smith, the young group struggled early in the 2006/07 season. The team went on to win 8 out of its last 10 games, earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament.
In 2006/07, Sosa played 34 games with 32 starts and averaged 11.4 points, 2.6 assists, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 25.2 minutes per game, shooting 41.4% from the field, 34.5% from three, and 70.6% from the line, and he was named to the BIG EAST All-Rookie Team while Louisville finished 24–10 overall (12–4 Big East) and reached the NCAA Tournament Round of 32.
In the second round of the NCAA Tournament against Texas A&M, Sosa scored 31 points, shooting 15 for 17 from the line and 7 for 9 from the field. He also shot 15 for 15 on free throws to start the game, but missed his final two, as Texas A&M won the game.
In 2007/08, he played 36 games with 9 starts and averaged 7.6 points, 1.8 assists, and 1.6 rebounds in 21.4 minutes per game (39.3% FG, 37.3% 3PT, 65.2% FT) as Louisville went 27–9 and advanced to the Elite Eight, and in 2008/09 he appeared in 37 games with 17 starts and posted 7.3 points, 2.4 assists, and 1.4 rebounds per game in 19.8 minutes (39.8% FG, 31.1% 3PT, 75.0% FT) while Louisville finished 31–6, won the Big East regular-season title and Big East tournament title, and again reached the Elite Eight.
As a senior in 2009/10, Sosa played 33 games and averaged 13.1 points, 4.5 assists, and 2.1 rebounds per game in 27.5 minutes, shooting 45.0% from the field and 38.3% from three (65.4% FT), while Louisville went 20–13 and played in the NCAA Tournament (Round of 64).
AWARDS
- 1x All-NBL Second Team
Related
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