Wednesday, Jun. 30
Ademola Okulaja
 
EXPERT ANALYSIS
  "For two consecutive years playing alongside Antawn Jamison, Ademola Okulaja was the best role player in the ACC. He is 6-9 with the ability to pass the ball and hit the open jumper when he has time. Okulaja was the best percentage 3-point shooter in the ACC because when he was allowed to get his feet set, he drilled it.

He is a capable handler for a bigger man, and a solid passer. Okulaja is smart and a good rebounder. He does not get his shot off quickly and only shoots the ball with range or consistency when he has time to set. However, Okulaja finds a way to blend. Okulaja will have to play small forward in the NBA, where he must develop a pull up jumper and improve his handle. On the defensive end, Okulaja is suspect moving his feet from side to side, and could have trouble on the perimeter against quicker players."
-- ESPN's Jay Bilas

College: North Carolina
Height: 6-9
Weight: 235 pounds
Position: Forward
Age: 23 (July 10, 1975)
Birthplace: Lagos, Nigeria

Career highlights

  • Named Honorable Mention All-America by The Associated Press as a senior
  • Finished his career with 1,254 points, 34th on North Carolina's all-time list
  • Finished ninth in school history with 890 career rebounds
  • His steal total of 175 placed him seventh among Tar Heels
  • Also dished out 327 career assists
  • In four years at North Carolina, played in every one of his team's 139 games
  • At Nike Desert Classic, averaged 5.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game

    College highlights
    Senior

  • Named First Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference after averaging 13.9 ppg and 8.4 rpg
  • Also earned honors from the USBWA ( All-District 3 team) and was voted as North Carolina's Most Valuable Player
  • Registered 10 double-doubles (points-rebounds)
  • Hit career-high five 3-pointers against Weber State in the first round of the 1999 NCAA Tournament
  • Dished out a career-high eight assists against California
  • Scored season-high 23 points to go along with 15 rebounds vs. Louisville
  • Was named to the All-Tournament team in both the Atlantic Coast Conference and Preseason NIT

    Junior

  • Second on team in rebounds with 5.6 per game
  • Had 80 assists and only 59 turnovers, while making 44 steals
  • His 80 assists placed him third on the team
  • Grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds to go along with 11 points against Maryland in the ACC tournament
  • It was the fifth double-double of his career

    Sophomore

  • Ssecond on team in 3-pointers made (40) and steals (51), and was third on team in rebounding (6.5 rpg) and assists (96)
  • Scored 13 points and grabbed 12 rebounds vs. Duke
  • Was 10th in ACC in rebounding
  • Coaching staff graded him as team's top defender in 18 games
  • Scored 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds vs. Colorado in the NCAA Tournament and scored 11 points vs. Louisville in the East Regional Final

    Freshman

  • Started 15 games, including the final eight of the season
  • Was the team's third leading rebounder with 167
  • Shot 52.5 percent from the field and 74.2 percent from the free throw line
  • Was second on the team with 34 steals and third with 69 assists

    College statistics
    SEASON G FGM FGA PCT FTM FTA PCT REB AST PTS AVG
    SEASONGFGMFGAPCTFTMFTAPCTREBASTPTSAVG
    1995-963264122.5254966.742167691976.2
    1996-9735101143.4163866.576226962808.0
    1997-9838104251.41471114.623213803038.0
    1998-9934155351.442105141.7452848247413.9
    TOTALS139424967.438263387.68089032712549.0
    Three-point field goals: 1995-96, 20-41 (.488); 1996-97, 40-111 (.360); 1997-98, 24-93 (.258); 1998-99, 59-for-137 (.431); Totals: 143-for-382 (.374 ).











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