Ifeanyi Onyekaba 6-9 230 Nigerian at Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg

[TabbHokie]

Plays for Hoo Curtis Staples, and reportedly has VT & WF offers, with heavy Pitt interest. Has only played basketball a couple years, may still be growing, raw, athletic. Averages 20+ points and 15+ rebounds. Appears to be a 2014 guy. Can the Hokies get the big guy?

[TabbHokie]

Here's a blurb from the Daily Press in April on one of Boo Williams guys.

Like Okerafor, Boo's third import fits the bill literally. Ifeanyi Onyekaba, a 6-8 junior forward at Virginia Episcopal in Lynchburg, came to the United States two years ago, leaving his parents, three brothers and sister in their native Nigeria.

Onyekaba is far less refined than Anderson and Okereafor, indeed all of his teammates. Not surprising for someone who's been playing organized basketball for little more than two years.

"Playing with (Boo) I know my game is going to get better," Onyekaba said in deliberate but well-spoken English.

"He's a great kid," Williams said. "I wish he was two inches taller."

Onyekaba plays limited minutes but contributed eight points and plenty of hustle in Saturday's win over Ohio Red. He hit the floor for a loose ball and dunked off an offensive rebound.

Wake Forest and Liberty have offered Onyekaba scholarships, with Virginia still evaluating.

His potential was most evident in the Virginia Independent Schools Division III state championship game, when he had 29 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots in Virginia Episcopal's victory over Williamsburg Christian.

"He can shoot the basketball," Virginia Episcopal coach and former Virginia star Curtis Staples told the Roanoke Times. "That's one of the things people hadn't seen and didn't know about him. Stepping away from the basket, 8-10 feet away, he can really shoot it."

Onyekaba said he gets homesick and calls family in Nigeria each weekend. His role model, of course, is countryman and former NBA great Hakeem Olajuwon.

"Everything is about learning," Onyekaba said. "I have to work my way to the top. I see this as a challenge."

[VTCC'65]

We don't seem to win those epic local big man recruiting battles unless you call Louis Witcher a BIG WIN. I'm not over losing Ralph Sampson. That one hurt for years. I don't know that we beat UVA the whole time he was down there.

Plays for Hoo Curtis Staples, and reportedly has VT & WF offers, with heavy Pitt interest. Has only played basketball a couple years, may still be growing, raw, athletic. Averages 20+ points and 15+ rebounds. Appears to be a 2014 guy. Can the Hokies get the big guy?

[dallasvt]

I'm not over losing Ralph Sampson. That one hurt for years.

My parents say the same thing.

[VPI63]

I'm not over losing Ralph Sampson. That one hurt for years. I don't know that we beat UVA the whole time he was down there.

Didn't that have to do with a requirement for a math class that he didn't meet and UVA didn't have the requirement? Or am I mixing him up with another recruit?

[KCHokie2]

I've heard that about Herman Moore. Of course, that could've happened more than once.

[VPI63]

I've heard that about Herman Moore. Of course, that could've happened more than once.

Yes, I think you are right. It was Herman and not Sampson. Thanks.