Recently named among the 20 finalists for the trophy for the best player of the season, but also among the 10 finalists for the “Jerry West Award”, which rewards the best back in the NCAA, Ochai Agbaji is finishing his university cycle in style.
For his last year in the NCAA, the “senior” from Kansas had a great individual season and attracted the interest of “scouts” from the NBA franchises. In the “3&D” mould, highly sought after in the NBA, he shines with the quality of his outside shooting, but also with his defensive seriousness and his mentality at the service of the collective. In sum, the Milwaukee native, who grew up in Kansas City, is establishing himself as the leader of the Jayhawks, a national title contender team, and he ticks all the boxes of a future top quality role player in the NBA. .
An impressive scoring season
The player shows amazing consistency in attack: he started the season with three consecutive matches at 25 points or more, and has still not finished a game below 10 points scored. And in total, of the 21 games played by the Jayhawks so far, Ochai Agbaji has exceeded 20 points 12 times.
But the most impressive thing are the shooting percentages: the back has averaged 20.1 points this season, at… 51.5% on shots and 46.4 from 3-pointers! Add to that 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists and you have one of the most complete players on the NCAA circuit.
He particularly marked the spirits at the end of January, when he chained two immense offensive performances. First on January 22 on the floor of rival Kansas State. Led by 16 points at halftime, the Jayhawks caught up in the second half before winning in the dying seconds, on a “game-winner” from Ohcai Agbaji, who finished at 29 points, his career high.
Then, two days later, at home, the back already pulverized this record and planted 37 points against the yet tough defense of Texas Tech, for a victory for Kansas after two overtimes! Either the highest total for a Kansas player on the floor of the Allen Fieldhouse since 1991, just that.
« Honestly, as soon as the ball leaves his hand, I have a feeling it’s gonna go said his teammate Christian Braun after Agbaji’s card against Texas Tech. ” They managed to slow our pace, for most of us. Except for Ochai. But no one can really slow him down. »
A progression that bears witness to his efforts
Natural leader and best player of the Jayhawks this season, Ochai Agbaji does not owe his status as “star” in the NCAA to chance. The fullback, whose work ethic is touted by those around him, hasn’t always been front and center during his first few months on campus at Lawrence.
First a “role-player” during his first two seasons, he gradually gained momentum in Bill Self’s rotations, according to departures in the Kansas workforce, but above all thanks to his constant progress. The full-back has been working consistently for four years and deserves to be the center of attention this season.
« When he says he gives it his all, he really does. He gives more thoroughly than everyone else in all the exercises. explained his coach Bill Self. ” He does more than everyone else in shooting exercises. And yet, we have a hardworking team. But he is another level. »
If the Draft has never been and will never be an exact science, it nevertheless seems unlikely to suggest that Ochai Agbaji will be selected in the first round next June. And if he continues to display such a level of play, especially during the “March Madness”, it is even a place in the “lottery” that could await him.
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