Some things you probably didn't know about new UCLA basketball commit Ikenna Okwarabizie.
First the stats:
1. He's been reported between 6'9" to 6'11" and either 250# or 260#. Now matter what the final number he's solidly built
2. Reminiscent of the similarly sized Akeem Olajuwon, his first love was soccer and he grew up playing the game
3. He started playing basketball about five years ago
4. His JC route had nothing to do with grades, instead it was about a foreign primary education and he wasn't cleared by the NCAA in late September of 2014
5. Unlike Bolden, who had the same issue but was a very polished basketball player, Ikenna didn't sign with a university, but instead went to a JC so he could play and keep developing his game
6. He only got play part of his one year in an American HS (at Sioux City, Iowa East High), coming on very strong at the end with easy double - doubles. This included 18 points and 21 rebounds against state ranked Sioux City North
7. His name is pronounced Oak-war-uh-BEE-zee-ay, not to be confused with the 19th century classic Ta-ra-ra-BOOM-de-ay
8. His Tyler JC coach Mike Marquis has known Coach Alford for a long time. He also raves about Ikenna noting he's very physical, and has compared him favorably with a raw version of Knicks bruiser Charles Oakley
9. Okwarabizie will have four years to finish his three years of eligibility
10. The Bruins may not be done taking fast developing big men as they've reportedly offered talented shot blocking post man Ike Anigbogu. Ike's game during the last half of his senior season at Corona Centennial HS has come on like a rocket, and he was also just offered by Arizona
This post was edited on 4/19 1:45 PM by Mazatlan
Sioux City Journal
First the stats:
1. He's been reported between 6'9" to 6'11" and either 250# or 260#. Now matter what the final number he's solidly built
2. Reminiscent of the similarly sized Akeem Olajuwon, his first love was soccer and he grew up playing the game
3. He started playing basketball about five years ago
4. His JC route had nothing to do with grades, instead it was about a foreign primary education and he wasn't cleared by the NCAA in late September of 2014
5. Unlike Bolden, who had the same issue but was a very polished basketball player, Ikenna didn't sign with a university, but instead went to a JC so he could play and keep developing his game
6. He only got play part of his one year in an American HS (at Sioux City, Iowa East High), coming on very strong at the end with easy double - doubles. This included 18 points and 21 rebounds against state ranked Sioux City North
7. His name is pronounced Oak-war-uh-BEE-zee-ay, not to be confused with the 19th century classic Ta-ra-ra-BOOM-de-ay
8. His Tyler JC coach Mike Marquis has known Coach Alford for a long time. He also raves about Ikenna noting he's very physical, and has compared him favorably with a raw version of Knicks bruiser Charles Oakley
9. Okwarabizie will have four years to finish his three years of eligibility
10. The Bruins may not be done taking fast developing big men as they've reportedly offered talented shot blocking post man Ike Anigbogu. Ike's game during the last half of his senior season at Corona Centennial HS has come on like a rocket, and he was also just offered by Arizona
This post was edited on 4/19 1:45 PM by Mazatlan
Sioux City Journal
