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Got Next: Agunwa Okolie

Published by Jason Gairey on April 23, 2010

Toronto and the surrounding areas are becoming a hotbed for NCAA schools and the new wave of the U.S Prep School movement. Every so often, we get a big body that attracts the most attention. Jamal Magloire is the most notable big, along with the likes of Ryan Wright (Oklahoma), Damien Reid (St Joes) and most recently Andrew Nicholson (St Bonaventure) and All-American Tristan Thompson (Texas bound). Big men come a dime a dozen, but as quiet as kept, another one is knocking on the door and is making his presence felt when he steps on the basketball court. 6-foot-7 Agunwa Okolie a 2013 class prospect could be that next big, that as humble and quiet as he seems, is ready to be that next versatile big man, coming from Canada.

OKolie has tremendous upside.

Still growing and only 16, this long, lanky forward as the ability to be more versatile than the average big, the new prototype big, ala Lamarcus Aldridge. At his age he has been very dominant in the low post over the years, but his experience with playing for one of the best OBA organizations at St. David’s Blues, has allowed him to compete at a high level and experience going up against older and stronger players on both sides of the border. Oak (his nick name), is becoming more and more athletic, and because he is able to play all year long with high school, OBA and AAU basketball, his skill level seems to improve in almost every game.

“Oak has tremendous upside. He is a hard worker, his basketball IQ is very good, and he continuously works on his game. He genuinely is a great kid on and off the court. A real joy to coach!” says Okolie’s OBA coach Mauro DiVito.

Okolie has spent years doing damage in the post using his size and length as his key asset, but he now is able to step out to the perimeter and handle the ball in transition, while also developing a decent shot outside of the paint. His experience last summer on Team Ontario’s U15 Squad was also a plus, and being able to play along side two teammates Henry Tan, Troy Knight from his St David team.

Okolie is a gifted athlete but academically he is just as phenomenal, being a straight A student where scholastics run deep in the family tree, being that both parents are in the teaching profession. “Agunwa is the quintessential student-athlete that most NCAA schools are looking for. He brings athleticism as well as a great work ethic in the classroom which is a testament to his mom and dad, Mary and Andrew.”

With the high school season elapsed, Oak has wasted no time preparing for his OBA team. Things have been looking even more impressive for the Blues, as they have dominated at this age for years (3 Gold and 1silver in 4 years) under the tutelage of Coach Mauro DiVito. They’ve also made a smart decision by making the big fella and his teammates play up at U17 level. They have already given some of the more dominant older teams a run for their money as the short OBA season begins for the U17 age division. It is a for sure that the NCAA schools have shown interest, but as he steadily improves and refines his game, and knowing that he may hit that 6’9 to 6’10 range, he may have many pursuing him in next couple of years. “There’s no doubt in my mind that if Agunwa continues on that path that’s been laid out for him amazing things will happen.”

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