Alex Oriakhi to transfer to Missouri - NCAA

Former Connecticut forward Alex Oriakhi will transfer to Missouri, the
Tigers announced Friday.

The 6-foot-9, 245-pound Oriakhi will provide instant inside presence to a
Missouri team that had only one player at 6-8 or taller last season. Oriakhi
blocked 166 shots in 109 games at UConn.

He has one year of eligibility and can play immediately because UConn is
banned from next season's NCAA tournamanent.

Oriakhi averaged 7.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in three seasons at
UConn and was part of the team that won the 2011 national championship.

He chose Mizzou over Kentucky, Xavier, Duke and North Carolina.

Oriakhi and Missouri point guard Phil Pressey played together as youths for
the Boston Amateur Basketball Club.

"We're very excited to add a talented and proven player like Alex to our
program," Missouri coach Frank Haith said in a statement. "Addressing our
front court depth has been a major emphasis of ours for this next year, and
when you add Alex to a group of newcomers including Stefan Jankovic, Ryan
Rosburg and Tony Criswell, we are definitely heading the right direction.
Alex is a very hard worker, he's somebody who we expect to fit into our
program's culture right away. He will do whatever he's asked to help the
team, and he can impact a game any number of ways, whether it's scoring,
rebounding or defending."

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