UNC on Oriakhi's Radar - NCAA

http://northcarolina.scout.com/2/1171928.html


UConn transfer Alex Oriakhi and his father informed InsideCarolina.com on
Tuesday evening that North Carolina has not yet made contact, however they
confirmed that they are interested in the Tar Heels.

With ACC Player of the Year Tyler Zeller graduating, and junior John Henson
contemplating a jump to the NBA, UNC could be left with no upperclassmen in
its frontcourt and a lot of playing time available for the taking.
“North Carolina is definitely on our radar,” Alex Oriakhi Sr. said. “I
know a lot of the big boys are leaving this year. So, we’ll see what happens.
”

A 6-foot-9, 240-pound post player, Oriakhi averaged 6.7 points and 4.8
rebounds this season and 9.6 points and 8.7 rebounds for his sophomore
season, which included a starting role on UConn's national title team.

New NCAA academic requirements are expected to make UConn ineligible for the
2013 NCAA Tournament. While other factors contributed to the transfer, Oriakhi
’s father said missing the NCAA tournament was the final straw.

“He really wants to play in the tournament -- that’s the bottom line,”
Oriakhi Sr. said. “Especially in his final year of college. College isn’t
like the pros, it’s a once in a lifetime chance. You have to be able to
enjoy your college career.”

If, as expected, Oriakhi receives a waiver from the NCAA to be eligible for
the 2012-13 season, his father says they want a place that will prepare him
for the NBA.

“On the court, Alex is a gentle giant," he said "He’s a student of the game
and he loves to learn. He listens, doesn’t talk too much and doesn’t argue.
I want a coach that’s going to work with him -- someone who can teach him
the game of basketball on the big man level.”

After being granted his official release from UConn on Tuesday, Oriakhi said
his son’s phone has been ringing off the hook. While he declined to name
which schools had contacted Alex, he said they were “all big D1 schools.”

A report by CTNews.com on Tuesday claimed UNC had already contacted Oriakhi,
but both father and son said they had not heard from the Tar Heel staff.

“Everybody’s been calling,” he said. “But I have a lot of friends in the
basketball world – a lot of contacts. We’re going to use them to help us
make a decision. We cannot go wrong this time.”

With a reported 3.6 GPA, it’s no surprise academics will play a major role
in Oriakhi’s decision. According to his father, had he stayed at UConn, he
would’ve graduated over the summer with a degree in Mass Communication.

UConn’s semester ends the first week in May, which is a target date for the
Oriakhis to make their decision.

“This is not something we’re going to do overnight,” Oriakhi’s father
said. “Coming out of high school he only to took one visit, and that was to
UConn when he was only 16. Not everyone has a second chance, so he wants to
make the best decision available. I’m going to get the best possible advice.
It’s going to be a very careful, deliberate decision.”

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