April 30, 2001

Columbia, Mo. ? Junior college center Uche Okafor (pronounced ooh-CHAY OAK-uh-four) has signed a national letter-of-intent and financial aid agreement to attend the University of Missouri, as announced today by MU Head Coach Quin Snyder.

The 6-foot-11-inch, 245-pound center has played the past two years at the College of Southern Idaho (Twin Falls, Id.), where he quickly developed into one of the nation's top centers under Head Coach Derek Zeck. Okafor averaged 9.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game as a sophomore, and helped lead the Golden Eagles to a record of 29-4 in 2000-01. Southern Idaho finished the season ranked fourth in the final NJCAA national polls.

Tabbed as the top junior college center in the nation earlier this year by CNNSI.com, Okafor was named honorable mention NJCAA All-Region 18 following the season, in addition to being named a third-team All-American by Van Coleman of Future Stars. A native of Anambra State, Nigeria, Okafor chose MU over Illinois, North Carolina State, North Carolina, Connecticut and Memphis, among others.

"We are very pleased that Uche will join our program," said MU Coach Quin Snyder. "He's a very talented young man who has progressed nicely under outstanding instruction from Coach Zeck, despite the fact that he has only played basketball for four years. He is athletic and mobile, and is a proficient shot-blocker who has the ability to impact a game in a number of ways. Of equal importance to us is that he is a quality individual who will mesh well with what is already an outstanding group of young men," he said.

Okafor adds to a recruiting class that is already considered among the nation's top-10 by many services.

"I feel that's an indication of what we're building here at Mizzou," said Snyder. "We've been able to accomplish quite a bit in just two years, and it's very gratifying to know that there's a recognition out there of our efforts," he said.