Williams is a 5-star prospect and the No. 5 overall player in the 2020 class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. He's also listed as the best small forward and the third-rated recruit coming out of the state of California.
The Sierra Canyon High School (California) standout told David Yapkowitz of Mars Reel he tries to model his playing style after two-time NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant.
"I'm a big fan of KD. We have the same body structure, that's who a lot of people compare me to," Williams said in January. "I study his game a little bit and see the different ways I can score on the court."
At 6'7" and just 175 pounds, Williams must continue to build strength, particularly in his upper body, in order to dominate like Durant and other top wing players. KD has illustrated it's possible to reach the pinnacle of the sport with a lanky frame, but there are still limitations, especially as he heads toward the NBA level.
Otherwise, all the tools are there for him to become a stud. He's developed a well-rounded game at the offensive end, while his quickness and athleticism should make him an impact defender, as well.
He possesses all the hallmarks of a one-and-done collegiate player, and working with a college training staff should accelerate the process of adding more power.
Williams is a game-changing addition to the 2020 class for head coach Jerod Haase and the Cardinal. The fact that they were able to secure a top in-state recruit is always a great sign.
Not only will he make an instant impact as a freshman for Stanford, likely emerging as one of the team's top scorers by season's end, but his decision could help sway other recruits, too. And landing him over other Pac-12 rivals, like Arizona, USC and UCLA, will only make Sunday's news sweeter.
Kentucky Transfer Johnny Juzang Commits to UCLA; Averaged 2.9 PPG Last Year
Apr 9, 2020
LEXINGTON, KY - DECEMBER 14: Johnny Juzang #10 of the Kentucky Wildcats is seen during the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Rupp Arena on December 14, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Johnny Juzang is transferring to UCLA after spending the 2019-20 season at Kentucky.
"It's a crazy time in the world right now, and with this current pandemic, I think being close to home, and close to family and friends is so important," Juzang wrote. "I'm also very happy to be home with family and friends for support and well-being reasons. I'm sending prayers to everyone affected by this situation."
The Studio City, California, native added that playing for the Bruins is a longstanding dream of his, and he plans to apply for immediate eligibility.
Juzang was the No. 9 small forward and No. 33 player in the 2019 recruiting class, per 247Sports'composite rankings.
He played only a minor role for the Wildcats as a freshman though. He averaged 2.9 points and 1.9 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per game.
What UCLA's 2020 recruiting class lacks in depth, it makes up for with talent.
Daishen Nix, the No. 1 point guard, already signed his letter of intent, andJaylen Clark, the No. 21 shooting guard, has committed to the school. Should Juzang be successful in his pursuit of a transfer waiver, head coach Mick Cronin will have the pieces necessary for an NCAA tournament run.
Leading scorer Chris Smithdeclaredfor the 2020 draft, but most of UCLA's key players from 2019-20 will otherwise return. Ten of the 15 players on the roster were freshmen or sophomores.
Cronin inherited adifficult joband was the chosen candidate in a coaching search thatdidn't exactly goaccording to plan. However, he's doing well in laying the groundwork to make UCLA nationally relevant again.
Arizona's Nico Mannion Declares for 2020 NBA Draft
Apr 7, 2020
Arizona guard Nico Mannion shoots against Washington State during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Tucson, Ariz. Arizona won 83-62. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Point guard prospect Nico Mannion has declared for the 2020 NBA draft after one season at Arizona, according to a post on his Instagram page.
Head coach Sean Miller had initially confirmed in early March that Mannion was leaving after the season, but his father, Pace Mannion, denied those reports, according to Sam Vecenie of The Athletic.
The 19-year-old has now made his decision, although he will have the opportunity to withdraw from the draft by June 15.
An Italian native, Mannion first gained national attention in the United States as a high school player, becoming a viral sensation thanks to his athleticism:
Nico Mannion says he doesn’t “look like a good player in all honesty.” But the Red Mamba is the nation’s No. 1 point guard prospect for a reason.
He was rated the top point guard prospect and No. 9 overall player in the 2019 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.
The high level of play continued at Arizona, where he averaged 14.0 points, 5.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
It was enough for Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman to consider him the No. 20 overall prospect in the class heading into March.
At 6'3", 190 pounds, Mannion is slightly undersized for the NBA, and his outside shooting was a bit inconsistent at 32.7 percent this season. On the other hand, the guard showcased good athleticism with the ability to attack the basket and finish with ease.
Adding in his quality work on the defensive end, he has a chance to be an impact player in the pros.
His departure will also leave Arizona especially short-handed next year after it lost much of the rotation from the 2019-20 squad, including seniors (Dylan Smith, Stone Gettings, Chase Jeter, Max Hazzard) and other top draft prospects Zeke Nnaji and perhaps Josh Green, who has yet to decide. Miller will have a tough challenge getting the Wildcats back into contention in the Pac-12 with a lot of turnover during the offseason.
Remy Martin Declares for 2020 NBA Draft, Forgoes Senior Year at Arizona State
Mar 30, 2020
FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2020, file photo, Arizona State's Remy Martin (1) shows his feelings after a run by his Sun Devils against Oregon State during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Tempe, Ariz. Martin was selected to the Associated Press All Pac-12 team selected Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb, File)
Arizona State guard Remy Martin has declared for the 2020 NBA draft, according to Jeff Goodman of Stadium:
Arizona State junior point guard Remy Martin has declared for the NBA Draft, he tells @Stadium. Averaged 19.1 points and 4.1 assists this past season for the Sun Devils. pic.twitter.com/w3pECSjejB
The junior had one year of eligibility remaining but will try to capitalize on a big season that saw him rank second in the Pac-12 with 19.1 points per game. He also averaged 4.1 assists and 1.5 steals on his way to being named to the All-Pac-12 First Team.
Though Martin could still withdraw his name from the draft and return to school,Doug Hallerof The Athletic reported he is "full-steam ahead" about becoming a pro.
Martin wasn't listed among the top 50 players in the 2020 class by Bleacher Report'sJonathan Wasserman.
At 6'0", 170 pounds, the guard is undersized for the NBA, while his shooting was inconsistent with just a 33.5 percent mark from three-point range this year.
The California native was still able to impress with his unique scoring ability, reaching 20 points in 18 of 31 games.
"He makes some plays out there that very few guards instinctively, athletically, can make off the dribble and especially in the open court," Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley said in January, perMichelle Gardnerof theArizona Republic.
Chef Remy's recipe for #Pac12Hoops Player of the Week: 👨🏾🍳
2⃣3⃣ points per game 6⃣7⃣ percent shooting 2⃣ more victories
With a versatile offensive skill set and good instincts defensively, Martin will have a chance to continue his basketball career in the NBA.
Sabrina Ionescu Reflects on Oregon Career in Heartfelt Instagram Post
Mar 16, 2020
Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu (20) reacts after her team scored against Stanford during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Pac-12 women's tournament Sunday, March 8, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Sabrina Ionescu penned an open letter for the Players' Tribune last April and captioned it "Unfinished Business" on Twitter, announcing her decision to return to the Oregon Ducks for her senior season with the intention of winning a national title.
She couldn't have imagined the men's and women's NCAA basketball tournaments would be canceled due to the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. The 22-year-old star guard addressed the abrupt end to her collegiate career in an Instagram post on Monday, calling this "the toughest year of her life":
Sabrina Ionescu gives her farewell to Oregon after an abrupt ending to her senior season 🙏 pic.twitter.com/WmDkbHPN0J
Ionescu was one of several speakers at the Staples Center memorial for Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, who had been her mentor, and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, on Feb. 24. The two died in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26 alongside seven others.
The list of records Ionescu broke while at Oregon is lengthy. She averaged 17.5 points, 9.1 assists and 8.6 rebounds across 33 games for the 31-2 Ducks this season.
Ionescu is nearly a lock to go No. 1 in the WNBA draft.
Pac-12 Tournament 2020: Betting Tips for Quarterfinal Odds, Spreads, Over/Under
Mar 12, 2020
EUGENE, OREGON - MARCH 07: Payton Pritchard #3 of the Oregon Ducks drives to the basket on Tyrell Terry #3 of the Stanford Cardinal during the first half at Matthew Knight Arena on March 07, 2020 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
The Oregon Ducks begin their quest to win the Pac-12 tournament Thursday with a rivalry matchup against the Oregon State Beavers.
The top-seeded Ducks are led by National Player of the Year candidate Payton Pritchard, who has been one of the most consistent producers in men's college basketball this year.
Oregon State was one of two higher seeds to win during Wednesday's opening round, as it defeated the Utah Utes. The Arizona Wildcats also came out on top to set up an intriguing matchup with the USC Trojans that features plenty of potential NBA draft selections.
The other Pac-12 offerings Thursday feature a pair of double-digit seeds. The 11th-seeded Washington State Cougars face the Arizona State Sun Devils, and the No. 10 California Golden Bears take on the UCLA Bruins.
Pac-12 Tourmament Quarterfinal Schedule
No. 1 Oregon (-7) vs. No. 8 Oregon State (3 p.m., Pac-12 Network) (Over/Under: 137.5)
The added element of a rivalry contest in a conference tournament game may make you think twice about taking Oregon with the seven points.
There is always a chance the Beavers remain close with Dana Altman's side and make it eke out a small victory. However, Oregon is rolling with a four-game winning streak that includes a 15-point home win over Wayne Tinkle's squad.
In fact, each of the past three Oregon victories have been by double digits over a team in the bottom half of the Pac-12 standings.
Pritchard enters with five 20-point showings over the past six games, including a four-game streak that began with 38 points versus Arizona February 22. If the senior guard continues to score at a rapid pace and is able to distribute to the other scorers around him, the Beavers may have a hard time remaining in the contest.
In Oregon's regular-season finale against Stanford, Anthony Mathis and Will Richardson joined Pritchard in double digits.
If the Ducks get enough production from their supporting cast, they could not only win big Thursday but also carve a path to a potential Pac-12 tournament championship Saturday.
Arizona (-5) vs. USC
Arizona has been one of the hardest teams to figure out this season.
The Wildcats have three star freshmen in Nico Mannion, Josh Green and Zeke Nnaji who have all shown flashes of dominance for parts of the campaign.
But Sean Miller's team experienced a three-game losing streak from February 22-29 and has not won two games in a row since mid-February. The good news for the Wildcats is they got a game under their feet in Las Vegas on Wednesday, as they avenged a loss to the Washington Huskies.
Green, Mannion and Nnaji were three of four Arizona starters to reach double digits in the 77-70 victory, and if more scoring consistency appears Thursday, it could move past USC.
The Trojans are riding a three-game winning streak that started against Arizona, but in two of those wins, they failed to reach 60 points.
If Arizona continues its play from the first round, Andy Enfield's team must keep up the scoring pace.
Mannion, Green and Nnaji are late first-round picks in Wasserman's latest projection.
While Okongwu could dominate parts of the game down low, USC might not have a long list of scorers to keep up with Arizona.
That was evident in the Wildcats' 85-80 win over the Trojans on February 6, when Okongwu had 23 points but only two other USC players reached double digits.
If most of Arizona's starting lineup can produce at a high clip for the second straight game, the Wildcats could set up another meeting with Oregon in the semfiinals.
Pac-12 Tournament 2020: Betting Tips for Round 1 Odds, Spreads and Over-Under
Mar 11, 2020
Arizona forward Zeke Nnaji (22) shoots over Washington forward Isaiah Stewart during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 7, 2020, in Tucson, Ariz. Washington won 69-63. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
After a down 2018-19 campaign, the Pac-12 has rebounded in style this year.
With seven teams projected to make the NCAA Tournament, per ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi, and six teams boasting at least 10 conference victories, this week's conference tournament will do a great job of identifying which teams are hottest heading into Selection Sunday.
Starting Wednesday and running through Saturday, the Pac-12 conference tournament has given the top four seeds—Oregon, UCLA, Arizona State, and USC, respectively—first-round byes, and each will eagerly await the winner of the four first-round matchups being played today.
Speaking of that quartet of games, we've compiled a list of the betting information for each matchup, per Caesars Palace. Listed underneath each game is the spread and the point total over/under.
First-Round Matchups (all times E.T.)
No. 8 Oregon State vs. No. 9 Utah (3 p.m., Pac-12 Network)
Spread: Oregon State, -3.5 (-110, Wager $110 to Win $100)
O/U: 135.5 (O -105, U -115)
No. 5 Arizona vs. No. 12 Washington (5:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network)
Spread: Arizona, -4.5 (-110)
O/U: 139.0 (-110)
No. 7 Stanford vs. No. 10 California (9 p.m., Pac-12 Network)
Spread: Stanford, -10.0 (-105)
O/U: 128.5 (O -115, U -105)
No. 6 Colorado vs. No. 11 Washington State (11:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network)
Spread: Colorado, -8.0 (-110)
O/U: 138.0 (-110)
Best Overall Bet: Over 139.0, Arizona vs. Washington
This is a battle of two underachieving rosters, with both teams looking to claim a statement win on Wednesday night.
Arizona and Washington have met twice this season, each winning on the other's floor. The Wildcats took the first matchup on January 30 by a 75-72 final, while the Huskies responded in kind just last Saturday, ending the Pac-12 season with a 69-63 victory in Tucson. The overall three-point differential between the two clubs suggests that we might be in for another barnburner tonight.
As of right now, each team appears to have a fully healthy roster, so wagering on this game seems particularly fair, and the amount of healthy talent on both sides could lead to an offensive outburst.
In that January 30 matchup, Arizona and Washington combined for 147 points, far outpacing the 138.5 over/under mark set for this game, and though the second game led to just 132 total points, Arizona's top-40 offense, per KenPom, and outbursts of 87 and 90 points in two of Washington's last four games suggest two teams willing and able to score at a high clip.
It may not be the best basketball game ever played, but you can bet on Arizona and Washington playing an entertaining one today.
UCLA Bans Fans from Home Events Through April 10 Amid Coronavirus Concerns
Mar 10, 2020
COLLEGE PARK, MD - MARCH 25: The UCLA Bruins logo on a pair of shorts during a NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament - Second Round game against the Maryland Terrapins at the Xfinity Center Center on March 25, 2019 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
The UCLA Bruins athletic department is the latest in the sports world to respond to concerns about the coronavirus outbreak.
Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times noted the Pac-12 program will not allow fans to attend home athletic events until "at least" April 10. Notably, the school also announced it will suspend all in-person classes for students until the same date and will offer final exams remotely.
Theannouncementfrom the athletic department explained essential personnel who will attend the home events are limited to "student-athletes, coaches, team trainers and medical personnel, game officials, operational and administrative staff, and credentialed media members."
It also said it is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and will make any changes needed as the situation develops.
Both the men's and women's basketball teams have played their final home games of the season for the Bruins, and the spring football game is not scheduled until April 18.
However, the baseball, softball, men's tennis and men's volleyball teams are among those withscheduledhome games during the time period where fans will not be allowed to attend.
UCLA's announcement comes after the NCAA issued the followingstatementwith the men's and women's basketball tournaments approaching: "The NCAA continues to assess how COVID-19 impacts the conduct of our tournaments and events. We are consulting with public health officials and our COVID-19 advisory panel, who are leading experts in epidemiology and public health, and will make decisions in the coming days."
The Ivy League also issued astatementsaying it would cancel the men's and women's basketball tournaments and award the regular-season champions (Yale men and Princeton women) the automatic bids to the Big Dance.
The Big West and MAC bothannouncedthey will play their conference tournaments without fans present.
According toCNN, more than 113,000 people have been infected by the virus that has led to more than 4,000 deaths globally.
Oregon's Payton Pritchard, UCLA's Mick Cronin Among 2019-20 Pac-12 Award Winners
Mar 9, 2020
Oregon's Payton Pritchard, right, celebrates after making a 3-point shot against Colorado during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Eugene, Ore., Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Chris Pietsch)
Oregon Ducks senior guard Payton Pritchard was named the 2019-20 Pac-12 men's basketball Player of the Year, the conference announced alongside other awards Monday.
The 22-year-old was the sixth Duck to be named Pac-12 Player of the Year and third in the last six years. Joseph Young won for the 2014-15 season, and Dillon Brooks did so in 2016-17.
Pritchard was also named to the All-Pac-12 first team, the only Duck to receive that honor. He is Oregon's leading scorer and distributor with 20.5 points and 5.5 assists per game.
Pritchard made an impressive leap this year after averaging 12.9 points and 4.6 assists across 38 games (37 starts) in 2018-19. The Oregon native was the 2018-19 Pac-12 tournament MOP and helped the Ducks reach the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament, where they lost to eventual champion Virginia.
No. 13 Oregon is 24-7 and won the regular-season conference title by defeating Stanford 80-67 on Saturday.
UCLA head coach Mick Cronin was selected as the John R. Wooden Coach of the Year. This is Cronin's first season in charge of the Bruins (19-12) after he was the head coach at Cincinnati from 2006-07 to 2018-19.
Under Cronin, junior guard Chris Smith earned Pac-12 Most Improved Player of the Year. Smith leads the Bruins with 13.1 points per game alongside 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists. The Chicago native is shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 34.1 percent from three.
No UCLA player had won the award before Smith.
The Bruins finished second behind the Ducks (13-5) with a 12-6 league record.
Arizona forward Zeke Nnaji was the Freshman of the Year. Nnaji recorded 14 double-doubles, third among freshman nationally, while averaging 16.3 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
The Sixth Man of the Year award belonged to Arizona State junior guard Alonzo Verge Jr. According to the Pac-12, Verge "averaged an NCAA Division I-leading 16.8 points in 19 games off the bench compared to 9.9 points per game in nine starting assignments."
The Defensive Player of the Year was Colorado junior guard-forward Tyler Bey, the only player ranked in the top 10 in the conference in rebounding (9.0 per game), steals (1.5) and blocks (1.2).
Arizona State finished the regular season 20-11 (11-7), while Arizona went 20-11 (10-8) and Colorado was 21-10 (10-8).
The Pac-12 tournament will begin Wednesday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The full schedule can be seen here.
It's Onyeka Okongwu's Time to Shine
Mar 9, 2020
Onyeka Okongwu walks into USC's locker room and finds his cubby in the far corner. He touches the band around his wrist, black with green letters—NNAMDI OKONGWU #21, WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU—and kisses it. He takes a seat, clasps his hands, shuts his eyes and begins to pray.
In these moments, Nnamdi, his older brother is there. With him. In his chair, in his locker. On the whiteboard, on the door. Inside his sneakers, inside his jersey. Onyeka can feel it. Feel him.
Nnamdi died in 2014 after suffering a brain injury from a skateboarding accident. He was 17 years old, a promising basketball player himself.
"I think about him every day," says Onyeka, now 19. Some days he wants to talk about it. Some days he doesn't. For him, grief isn't something to get over, to go through. It is constant—both motivating and devastating. But when he is playing basketball, Onyeka feels like he can connect with Nnamdi. Speak to him. Learn from him.
Just like he did as a kid, when Nnamdi taught Onyeka how to do the move that has become Onyeka's signature at USC: spin, turn baseline, dunk two-handed. Onyeka remembers the day his brother taught him how to do it, in a gym in Carson, California. Onyeka was 12. It took his older brother weeks to master the move, but Onyeka spun and flushed the ball home with ease on the first try.
Onyeka smiles, remembering how Nnamdi used to brag to friends about him. Used to tell people, "My little brother's going to be way better than me."He remembers how much they looked alike, even sounded alike: same goofy laugh, same lanky gait. He remembers how they used to dream about each in turn winning a state championship at Chino Hills, then playing at USC, then jumping to the NBA.
When it's time to leave his locker, Onyeka kisses the band one more time, as if to say to his brother: I'm here. I'm right here. I'm here where you wanted me to be.
Okongwu, who goes by "Big O," pulls up a chair after a morning practice at USC in late January. His elbows rest on his knees, making him look even longer than his 6'9", 245-pound frame and 7'1" wingspan. He is bright. Energetic. Smiling. "I'm a gentle giant," he says, laughing. Except on the court. There he turns into a shot-blocking savant. Has done so ever since he was nine years old when he came out of nowhere to smack a boy's shot so hard that the ball torpedoed into the seventh row. "I hit 'em with one of them LeBron blocks," he says.
"I have the mindset of: 'You're not going to score on me no matter what you do,'" he adds.
Okongwu is agile, coordinated—can juggle three tennis balls at once (he used to play tennis)—and has magnificent touch around the basket, scoring with a variety of low-post moves as one of the top big men in the nation. He's averaging 16.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game for the Trojans, who at 22-9 look like a good bet to make the NCAA tournament but could seal it with a win or two in the Pac-12 tournament, which begins Wednesday.
His best asset is his energy. His work ethic. His humility. He was genuinely surprised when he found out he might be a top-10 2020 NBA draft pick this June. He doesn't talk about the NBA with his family. At all. That's partially because of Nnamdi. Because he knows how quickly life can change. He could easily not be on the draft boards tomorrow. He could easily not be here, at all, tomorrow.
His mother, Kate Okongwu, often reminds him that he'd be lucky to play the game for the next 10 years.
Okongwu was nationally ranked as a teen, but he was never viewed as a sure NBA player. His freshman season at Chino Hills High, 2015-2016, he was mostly a defensive standout. Given that he was sharing a court with the famed Ball brothers, he rarely touched the ball on offense, except for dunks in transition. His primary role was to rebound, run and block shots. The team went undefeated and won a state championship.
Over the three years that followed, he developed post moves. Became an offensive force. Cultivated a jump shot. Now, he's working on his three-point range. "I'm proud of him. He's always in the gym," says Lonzo Ball, now with the Pelicans. "He has a lot of potential. He's always been able to block shots, and he's only gotten better over the years."
He will likely continue that trend. "I think he has a chance to be in the league for a long time," says Glen Worley, one of his former Compton Magic AAU coaches. "He's always been kind of overshadowed, and now, this is the first time where everybody's like, 'OK, Onyeka can really play.'"
Okongwu still feels he has a lot of work to do, a lot to prove. "I'm not guaranteed anything in life. I'm really not," he says. "And I'm not trippin', because everything happens for a reason."
Some reasons, he is still searching for.
What reason could there possibly be for God to take my brother? He wondered this, night after night, when he couldn't stop crying. Once, he asked his mom: "Mama, Nnamdi was such a good guy. Why would it happen to him?"
Kate tried to find an answer when there wasn't one. "Sometimes things just happen," she managed. "God wants to take some people a little earlier." She pulled him close and repeated: "Sometimes things just happen."
Onyeka would remember every detail of the day Nnamdi died, from the moment he woke up. 6:30 a.m. on a Tuesday. Nnamdi, 17, had to go to summer school. Chemistry class. Onyeka, 13 at the time, remembers him walking out of his room, going downstairs, leaving. He remembers playing NBA2K, going to Carl's Jr. down the street, taking a nap, wondering where his brother was. Wondering why when he called, his brother's phone rang and rang. He must be with his friends.
Onyeka remembers arriving at the hospital, his mom crying.
"Why are you crying?"
"Your brother."
"What happened?"
"He got into an accident."
"Is he gonna make it?"
"No."
Onyeka knew his mom wouldn't be so direct if she didn't truly believe he was not going to make it. (She works as a nurse and so had more of a sense than anyone.) And then Onyeka saw his brother lying on the hospital bed. He remembers a scar, a ring, around his neck. He remembers his brother's teeth, normally straight, perfect, with a big gap down the middle.
How could this happen? Why is this happening? Onyeka started crying. Couldn't feel anything.
He still tried to have faith in his brother. He thought of him as a warrior. The most arrogant guy he had ever met. He would defeat this. Brag to him later about how he overcame this.
But Kate kept telling Onyeka that Nnamdi was not going to wake up. He just wasn't.
He didn't.
Chino Hills High held a candlelight vigil. The basketball team was there, devastated, including Lonzo, who was close with Nnamdi. "That was it. A week later, that was it," Onyeka says. The finality of it all hurt the most. That there was nothing he could do to change the outcome. Erase the pain he was feeling. "I would cry every single day," Onyeka says. "Just break down for four weeks straight."
He'd walk past Nnamdi's room and think: 'His room is right here. His clothes are right here. His life was right here. And now it's not.' He had to accept that—that every sentence he uttered about his brother would now be in past tense.
He would never get to see him again. Never get to practice two-handed dunks with him again. Never get to watch their favorite movies, like the Rush Hour series. Never get to eat their favorite Chinese food down the street, orange chicken and kung-pao chicken.
"He was in so much pain," Kate says. "So much pain."
Onyeka thought about quitting the game he's loved since the fourth grade. The only reason he started playing was he wanted to tag along with Nnamdi. Be like him. Be better than him. Then he started falling in love with basketball himself. He'd wake everyone in the house at 6 a.m. on game days, too excited to stay under the covers. When Kate would drive to the gym, he'd have shortcuts planned so they'd get there quicker. "Take that street!" little Onyeka would yell from the backseat.
He had a knack for the game, boxing out so hard that he was accused of being older, even holding himself back. By the eighth grade, a school project asked him to write about his dream career. He said his dream was to be an NBA lottery pick.
But without his brother? "I didn't play basketball for a while," Onyeka says. "I was like, 'Do I really want to do this?'"
The more Onyeka wrestled with that question, the more he realized his brother would have wanted him to keep playing. He vowed to play for him. Every time he felt down, he'd tell himself: You'll be all right. Be strong. Life goes on. Have faith. "God is not going to give you something you can't handle," he says.
Chino Hills embraced him as he joined the team. They had all known Nnamdi, who played for the school. "We all went up to him and told him, 'We're your brothers,'" says Andre Ball, a Pepperdine guard and cousin of Lonzo and LaMelo. "We were there for him. It was rough, the first couple of months after it happened, but when he was on the court, he didn't look depressed. He switched into this gear, like: It's time to hoop."
The court became a place where he felt connected to his brother, protected by his brother. "Basketball became his heaven," Kate says. "It's where he found his peace, where he found his soul."
Chino Hills routinely blew teams out. But when the season started, Okongwu was still trying to just make it up and down the floor. The team ran and ran all practice. Players had to make it up and down in nine seconds, and Okongwu would keep missing the mark. The team would have to run again. But then he started making it. Then he always made it.
He became a starter, but more so a role player. "He never complained about anything," says former teammate Eli Scott, who's now at Loyola Marymount. "He was always the first one in the gym, always staying after to get extra hooks in." He put his head down, boxed out, got boards, ran the floor and defended as hard as he could.
Okongwu and LiAngelo Ball defend De La Salle's Colby Orr in the 2016 state title game.
He was the same way on his Compton Magic team, becoming the lone 14-year-old to start on the U17 team in the history of the program, which has produced dozens of NBA players. That's why he was prepared to face some of the nation's top competition with Chino Hills that first season.
He remembers facing Bam Adebayo, then with High Point Christian Academy and now with the Miami Heat. "I'm a scrawny, little freshman," Okongwu says, "and this dude is a muscleman. Like Thanos." He was so nervous. Damn, I am really going against this dude.What am I going to do? I don't want to get embarrassed. Everyone is watching. He told his teammates: "Help me if you can. He's a big dude." He tried to calm himself down. But Adebayo dominated him.
The next time they matched up? "I wasn't going for any of that," says Okongwu, who remembers having 14 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks. He continued to rise in high-pressure situations, with sold-out venues, as people came to see the Balls play. "He's a great player to play with," says LaMelo Ball, also a projected lottery pick this year. "He blocks shots. He runs the lane. I loved playing with him."
Okongwu would do the little things that mattered, like a momentum-changing dunk or deflecting a critical pass. "People don't understand how instrumental Onyeka was, from the beginning of the season to the end," says Steve Baik, the former Chino Hills coach. "If 'O' wasn't there, we don't even come close to having that dream season. Not even close."
After the 2015-16 season, the Balls left—Lonzo for UCLA, LaMelo for Lithuania. Many thought Chino Hills was doomed. They'd chant: "WHERE'S LA-MEL-O! WHERE'S LA-MEL-O!" during games. Some wondered if Okongwu would leave the school. But he didn't.
"I wasn't going to leave my city. I wasn't going to leave my people," he says.
Okongwu had a chance to become involved in the offense, to become more than a shot-blocker. Newly hired coach Dennis Latimore came and taught him post moves, helped develop his footwork around the basket. They'd do Mikan drills, drop steps, spin moves, jabs. Over and over.
"I don't think he was comfortable with dominating the game," Latimore says, "so what our coaching staff was trying to get through to him junior year was: 'It's time for you to be the man. You gotta step up. You gotta be the man now.'"
Okongwu finished his career as a three-time state champion and two-time California Mr. Basketball honoree. Yet he still was not selected as a McDonald's All-American. Some questioned whether he would be good enough at the college level. "I think it's one of the biggest snubs in McDonald's selection history," says Etop Udo-Ema, Compton Magic's founder and director.
Latimore went to Okongwu's history class on the day rosters were announced to deliver the news. "Hey, Coach, don't worry about it," Okongwu said. "I know my worth." Latimore knew it bothered Okongwu deep down, but the coach was impressed at how mature, how wise, he was. That he had bigger goals. Okongwu told him his goal that year was to get other players on the team scholarships.
He also knew he had accomplished his other top goal: winning the state titles Nnamdi never got to.
Okongwu with teammates after winning the 2019 state championship.
"I hope Nnamdi is proud of what I'm doing," Onyeka told his mom.
She smiled. "I think he would be very, very proud of you."
At USC, Okongwu immediately emerged as the team's best scorer and rebounder, starting his college career with two straight 20-point double-doubles and scoring 33 in his fifth game. But his coaches say he has even more potential. Assistant coach Eric Mobley often works on post moves with him. When a defender cuts Okongwu off, he usually likes to make a move before finishing. "I'm more like: Run the dude over. Just run 'em over," Mobley says.
Okongwu is quicker than many of his opponents. He has a quick first step, and he's able to maneuver around defenders with his speed. He has the ability to shoot the three but doesn't do it much in USC's offense. He does shoot jumpers late into the night, though. "Even the night before game days," says forward Isaiah Mobley, his roommate.
Okongwu will have to stretch the floor a bit at the next level. "He's exceptional in the lane, and he can make a 15- to 17-foot jump shot," says USC head coach Andy Enfield.
His former coaches tell him to enjoy this moment. Enjoy how far he has come. "He's a prime example of what you do when you keep working, keep playing hard, and now you have a chance to be a lottery pick," Worley says.
Still, Onyeka and his mother don't really believe the hype yet. They just want to honor Nnamdi. There is a picture of him in their living room near the front door. Onyeka has a ritual where he has to knock on the picture before leaving the house.
Grief has brought him and his mom closer. They often go grocery shopping at Walmart together, with Kate making Onyeka pull down the items from the top shelf, despite being 6 feet herself. He pushes the cart for her too.
Then they go home and watch his highlights together. "Why did you turn the ball over? You gotta be strong with the ball!" she tells him, critiquing his moves.
When he isn't with her, he texts her: How are you? Are you OK? Where are you? She does the same with him. "I'm 19, and I still got a curfew because she's still so scared. Anything can happen," Okongwu says.
But while watching him play, she feels a little more at ease. She takes her customary seat behind the backboard and watches how he sprints down the court, notices how much he looks like his brother from the side. Especially when he spins, turns baseline and throws down that two-handed dunk.
She smiles. Looks up. It's true. Nnamdi always said how great his little brother would become.
Mirin Fader is a staff writer for B/R Mag. She's written for the Orange County Register, espnW.com, SI.com and Slam. Her work has been honored by the Associated Press Sports Editors, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, the Football Writers Association of America, the Los Angeles Press Club and the Best American Sports Writing series. Follow her on Twitter: @MirinFader.
