Okafor: The New Kid on the Hoop
From Nneoma Ukeje-Eloagu, in Washington
Nigeria'S Emeka Okafor led his University of Connecticut (UConn) Basketball team, the Connecticut Huskies, to win the season's national championship with an 82-73 points win against Georgia Tech, Monday night. With 24 points to his credit and 21 from teammate Ben Gordon, UConn outclassed Georgia Tech 82-73 on Monday night for the national championship.
This makes UConn the first team since the 1996 Kentucky Wildcats to win the title after being ranked first in the preseason. The team's success in college basketball is attributed to the 'tall, quick, deep and talented roster, assembled by coach Jim Calhoun that includes 6-foot-10 Okafor a junior who earned his degree in three years.
Many say the Huskies' success starts with Okafor, the Final Four's most outstanding player. He grabbed 15 rebounds to record the 24th double-double of a season that was marked by persistent injuries. Prowling the lane on both ends, using his lanky 6-foot-10 frame to block two shots and alter dozens more, he dominated on offense and negated Tech's Australian center, Luke Schenscher.
His parents, who are reported to have grown up in Nigeria but found success in America, were in the stands watching.
Early in the second half, Okafor kept his hands straight up and denied three straight Tech attempts to get the ball close to the basket.
He celebrated at the end of the game by running around the court with the game ball, laughing and hugging his teammates in what many in the industry regard as a farewell for Okafor, as he is almost certain to make the NBA.
Okafor born September 28, 1982, was a Finance major at University of Connecticut. He is regarded as the U.S premier defensive player and among the top shot blockers in the history of college basketball and represented the USA last year as a member of the Pan American Games squad. He started all five games, averaging a team-high 12.0 points and shooting 68.3% from the field.
He holds the UConn career record for blocked shots with 294 (4.38/game) and holds the top two single season marks for blocks with 156 (in 2002-03) and 138 (in 2001-02). His 4.38 career blocked shot average is No. 7 in NCAA history and the best overall average in BIG EAST history. His BIG EAST games blocked shot average of 4.41 is the best in league history, surpassing Patrick Ewing of Georgetown (3.98/game)..
Has blocked nine shots in a game four times and eight shots in a game on six occasions in his career. The only player in BIG EAST history to block nine or more shots in three BIG EAST games. His field goal percentage of 58.3% is number one all-time at Uconn.
In high school, Okafor made the top 50 national recruit, was named Most Valuable Player for Team USA at Pittsburgh Hoops Classic All-Star game in April of 2001 after posting a rare "triple-double" with 26 points, 12 rebounds, 10 blocked shots in pacing a 121-116 victory and averaged 22 points, 16 rebounds and six blocked shots per game as a senior for 26-5 Bellaire HS.
During his freshman years at college, 2001 - 2002, he was named a First Team Freshman All-American by the Sporting News, Basketball News and Basketball Times and named to the All-BIG EAST Third Team and a unanimous selection to the BIG EAST All-Rookie Team and named to the USBWA All-District I First Team and to the NABC All-District I Second Team. Okafor started all 34 games at the center position and averaged 7.9 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.1 blocks per game. He led the team in rebounding and blocks. His 138 blocked shots set a UConn single season record, breaking the old mark of 111 set by Donyell Marshall in the 1993-94 season. He also led the BIG EAST and was number three in the nation in blocked shots at 4.1 per game. His 9.0 rebounding total was second in the nation among freshmen (45th overall) and is the second highest freshman average in UConn history. He is the first UConn freshman to record 300 or more rebounds. Shot 59.0% from the field, number six on the UConn single season lists and reached double figures in points 11 times, in rebounds 16 times and had seven double-doubles on the season. Okafor was named CBS Player of the Game in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament versus Hampton after recording his seventh double-double with 12 points, 15 boards and adding five blocks. Averaged 8.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament.
For his performance against Arizona, Andy Katz of ESPN.com listed Okafor as his National Player of the Week and Dick Vitale of ESPN had Okafor and teammate Ben Gordon as his 'Diaper Dandies of the Week.' He was also the winner of ESPN's weekly poll "Big Man on Campus", which runs throughout the course of the evening during the Big Monday telecasts and was named the Sporting News National Player of the Week.
According to ESPN's Scouting report, Okafor is "The country's top defender, shot-blocker and rebounder ... A bruiser with impressive physical skills ... Owns outstanding speed and body control at 250-plus pounds ... Able to contest shots without fouling his opponent ... Possesses great shot-blocking instincts, attacking the ball rather than his man ... Also an emphatic rebounder ... Displays tremendous quickness off the floor on the second and third hop ... Tracks caroms out of his rebounding position ... Good outlet passer to ignite the fast break ... Has become a premier low post scorer ... Moves well with the ball, keeps the ball high and finishes strong ... Use great footwork and has an instinct for feeling out the weak side ... Shows a lot of touch for a big man on offense, and has an improving jumper ... A potential number one NBA draft pick.
And on Sunday, Okafor justified this huge media hype by leading his school to the NCA title. His next stop is certainly to be the universally acclaimed NBA.
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