2019-20 USC Men's Basketball Roster
Roster
Onyeka Okongwu
- Height:
- 6-9
- Weight:
- 245
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Chino, Calif.
- High School:
- Chino Hills
BREAKDOWN: Onyeka Okongwu (Own-yea-cuh Oh-KONG-woo) was a 6-9, 245-pound forward who played one season for USC and produced one of the finest freshman seasons in school history. He was a tough rebounder and defender and was a key component to USC’s attack on both defense and offense. He is the USC all-time freshman leader in blocks (76) and field goal percentage (61.6 percent) and ranks in the top 5 in rebounds (2nd, 242), points (4th, 454), free throws made (5th, 103) and field goals made (5th, 103).
2019-20: Okongwu had one of the best freshman seasons in school history, starting all 28 games he played and averaging a team-leading 16.2 points and 8.6 rebounds. He also set the USC freshman record with 76 blocks, which is the fourth-most all-time by a Pac-12 freshman. He had nine games with four or more blocks. He was the only player in the country to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 3.0 blocks per 40 minutes played. Okongwu was named first team All-Pac-12 and to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team, as well as to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association All-District IX team. Okongwu scored in double figures in 25 of his 28 games and posted 11 double-doubles. He had a special debut with 20 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocks vs. Florida A&M on Nov. 5. He also had a double-double in his second game with 20 points and 10 rebounds vs. Portland on Nov. 8. He scored a season-high 33 points vs. Pepperdine on Nov. 19 and made 17 of 21 free throws, the third-most ever in a game by a Trojan. He scored 27 points and had a season-best 14 rebounds vs. Harvard on Dec. 1 and was named to the Orlando Invitational All-Tournament team. He also had 14 rebounds and scored 23 points at Oregon on Jan. 23. He scored 13 points, had 6 rebounds and 7 blocks in USC’s 80-78 win at TCU on Dec. 6. He scored 28 points, had 12 rebounds and 3 steals vs. Long Beach State on Dec. 15...He was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week fro Dec. 9-15. Missed the game vs. FGCU on Dec. 29 with a sprained right ankle, but returned on Jan. 2 to score 27 points and haul in 12 rebounds at Washington State. He scored 11 points, had 11 rebounds and 4 blocs vs. Utah on Jan. 30 and blocked Timmy Allen’s shot and made a pair of FT to ice the game. He missed the games vs. Washington on Feb. 13 and Washington State on Feb. 15 while in concussion protocal. He returned with 21 points and a career-best four steals at Colorado on Feb. 20. He had his 11th double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds vs. Arizona on Feb. 27...also hit his only three-pointer of the season, a three-quarter court make at the end of the first half.
HIGH SCHOOL: Okongwu graduated from Chino Hills High in Chino Hills, Calif. in 2019. As a senior he averaged 27.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.3 blocks, 4.0 assists, while shooting 62 percent from the field and 77 percent from the free throw line. He led Chino Hills (25-10) to its third Division I state title in his four seasons. In the 69-63 win in the title game against James Logan, Okongwu had a double-double of 26 points and 15 rebounds. Okongwu was named California “Mr. Basketball” for the second straight season, becoming the fifth player in the CIF state title era to win the award in back-to-back years. He was named the L.A. Times Player of the Year and to the All-CIF Southern Section Division I first team. USA Today named him to the All-California first team and to the national honorable mention team. Among the 2019 national recruit rankings, he was ranked No. 17 by ESPN.com, No. 20 by 247Sports and No. 28 by Rivals.com. He was also ranked as the No. 2 recruit in California behind his current teammate Isaiah Mobley by 247Sports. As a junior he averaged 28 points, 12 rebound and four blocks, earning the CIF Division I John R. Wooden Player of the Year and the Los Angeles Times Player of the Year honors. In the title win over Las Lomas, he scored 27 points, had 14 rebounds, five blocks and three assists. He was also was part of the state title-winning team in 2016 as a freshman. Chino Hills went 116-24 during his four seasons, winning three state titles.
PERSONAL: Onyeka was born on December 11, 2000 in East Los Angeles, Calif.. His parents are Kate and Mike Okongwu. He has a brother Chukwuemeka and a sister Chinemya. He also had an older brother Nnamdi, who also played for Chino Hills, but died after a skateboarding accident in 2014. Onyeka went to Chino Hills to honor his older brother, wearing the same No. 21.
