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BU Commit- 2015- Joel Okafor

Joel Okafor is a 5'11" point guard from Richmond, Indiana (the same high school as Billy Wright, BU point guard from 1992-96). He had been committed to UW-Green Bay, but was just released from that commitment. he was visiting Bradley this past weekend as an unofficial visit. He had a great senior season at Richmond, and would probably have had a lot of other schools interested in him if he decided to open his recruitment back up. But he was sold on Coach Wardle, and after his visit this past weekend, decided to commit to Bradley
 
 
His stats his junior season at Richmond were 8.5 points per game, 6 assists and over 2 steals per game. He committed to UW-Green Bay way back on August 1st, 2014 over offers from Western Michigan, Middle Tennessee State, and Wright State.
But in his senior season, he put up terrific numbers- 15.2 ppg, 6.4 apg, 6.6 rpg and 2.3 steals per game. He was a 1st team All State pick in Indiana-
http://www.indystar.com/story/recru...ll-state-basketball-list-supreme-15/70502392/
 
Won't he have to sit a year or is that different for incoming freshmen? I know the NCAA made some changes so was wondering?

By the way a great big welcome to all 3 of the new BU Braves.
 
No, as long as he got released from his National letter of Intent, which he was, he is free to sign with any school and will be eligible right away.
 
Scholarship situation

For 2015-16
Freshman Class: (currently they are all committed or signed but not enrolled yet) - Joel Okafor, Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye, Ronnie Suggs - each has four years left
Sophomore Class: Donte Thomas - has three years left
Junior Class: none
Senior Class: Ka'Darryl Bell, Mike Shaw, Anthony Fields, Warren Jones, Omari Grier - each has only one season remaining
...also Jackson Kane will be a senior walk-on

Four more scholarships currently open


BTW - the current Bradley roster page lists Omari Grier as a junior in 2015-16, but I believe that is incorrect - he is a senior in 2015-16
http://www.bradleybraves.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3400&SPID=1498&SPSID=19333&DB_OEM_ID=3400
 
Been watching Okafor since his freshman year in HS. Thick and strong with an intense desire to win. First saw him when we played them in the regular season conference game. Has grown as a player under Coach Luce and blossomed this last year. He is a good pick up. Billy was a player in HS, Ok is not quite a polished or loose as Billy was so there is no comparison in my eyes as that Richmond team was legendary around these parts winning the single class state championship.

Ok is a good scoring point guard with a great ability to finish at the rim or find a teamie with a nice interior dime. Hustle and grit, I always thought he could do more play and less talk to stripes but that is the old fart in me. Jumper still needs work but he is a player. Saw that 4 years running against some of the best comp in Indiana in the NCC(and OHIO if you want to include Dayton Dunbar)and OOC like Indy Tech, Pike and Zionsville. Like most guys who play 4a ball in Indiana he will come in this summer ready to roll and challenge to roll through 4 years as a integral part if not an immediate starter.
 
chicav said:
Been watching Okafor since his freshman year in HS. Thick and strong with an intense desire to win....
Click to expand...

man, have we been missing this attribute...
despite all the talk about and the promises about "toughness" over the past few eyars - we have been oh-so-soft and no desire to actually win games...
Anyone who recalls the Memphis or Wichita or UNI game in St. Louis - where our guys just quit and lost the 2nd half by 20 or more were pretty dismal - something most of us 40-50-year Bradley fans have essentially NEVER seen before let alone see on a regular and repeated basis!
(and right in front of the AD who never even bothered to take notes on what was happening)
 
What good would it have done to take notes? He, along with others, knew what the problem was and nothing could be done for the rest of the season.
 
I learned one thing from watching that video - his first name is not pronounced the typical one-syllable way, but as 2 syllables with the emphasis on the 2nd syllable.
 
Da Coach said:
I learned one thing from watching that video - his first name is not pronounced the typical one-syllable wayway, but as 2 syllables with the emphasis on the 2nd syllable.
Click to expand...

Like Superman's Father.

Indiana all star team is a hot button here. Talent is deep and the coaches have to put together a TEAM....not just an indiscriminate all star list of centers or wings or players .....they got to fill out a team to play KY (and win)...so guys get left off. Many past players who starred in College and became pros were left off. Jeff Teague was one being left off a deep class with Eric GOrdon, Robbie Hummel, Jajuan Johnson, Etwan Moore and others. He finally got added at the last minute. Having guys like Smith Rivera leave the state for Sr year has eased the logjam a bit recently.

No doubt on Joel. He has been at the top of the list from the start. '15 is deep but he is secure at his position at G on the All Star TEAM.
 
I also recall Mike Conley and the 2007 #1 draft pick Greg Oden. I also recall Gordon Hayward, Courtney Lee, Josh McRoberts, Zach Randolph, Glen Robinson, the Zellers, and one or more of the Plumlees among others who have played in those All Star games.
On the other hand, the only recent (last 10-15 years) Kentucky player I can recall making it to the NBA was Shelvin Mack, who played at Butler.
The games have been so one-sided in the last 15 years, and the fan interest has dropped way off (they used to fill 15,000 seat arenas and recently they sell only 1500 tickets) that some think it is time to drop the games.
http://kentsterling.com/2013/06/17/indiana-all-stars-time-to-drop-kentucky-as-an-annual-opponent/
http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/high...cle_8423ca05-4b28-5231-b451-722eda3efb1e.html
 
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