At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, over a hundred players from North Carolina went on to play at the Division I, II, III,orNAIA levels, and that number looks likely to continue increasing with the current senior class. Typically, we take a closer look at guys who are overlooked and under-recruited, and today’s edition will highlight Nigel Okwakol of Quality Education.
We’ve seen Nigel countless times over the recent years, previously stating, “Given how much value lies within versatility these days, one would expect Nigel Okwakol to be receiving more action within his recruitment. The appeal of a tough, athletic 6-foot-5 wing/forward prospect who can reliably pass, handle, and score from all levels should be relatively self-explanatory. Due to his size and skill, Okwakol is able to cause matchup problems for wings and forwards alike. He’s too strong and physically overwhelming for majority of wings and too mobile and skilled for most forwards/interior opponents. Okwakol can play with or without the ball and find success. He’s a smart cutter and capable spot-up threat who looks to get downhill and attack the basket. Okwakol is a great finisher, both above the rim and through contact, and solid creator for himself and others. He also defends multiple positions and rebounds the ball at a quality rate on both ends of the floor. Okwakol has already found great success with the Pharaohs, and should only continue to appeal to a variety of next-level coaches.”
Since then, Okwakol has only continued to shine as a productive focal point for the Pharaohs. He’s strong, tough, and displays a physical approach to the game on both ends of the floor. Okwakol handles the ball well for his size, creates effectively off the bounce, and can reliably create for himself and others when necessary. He’s a well-rounded player and athlete with a nice blend of IQ, strength, and overall skill. Okwakol is strong enough to defend bigger players and fluid enough to contain guards along the perimeter. He also makes a quality impact on the glass and is capable of pushing the break in transition. Okwakol thrives at attacking in transition, but can also hit jumpers at a nice rate from midrange or beyond the arc. His recruitment has begun to pick up lately, but Okwakol is still deserving of more attention from college coaches.