Rising Star in College Basketball

So, there’s this remarkable 18-year-old freshman making waves in the ACC, and, believe me, he’s hard to miss. Right now, he leads the league in scoring. Just the other day, he dropped 28 points in a stunning win against Louisville, then followed it up with a last-second 31 points against Virginia Tech. Oh, and he put up 36 points against the 14th-ranked team in the nation on Wednesday. Impressive, right?

But I should clarify—this isn’t about Duke’s powerhouse Cameron Boozer or the highlight reel that is Caleb Wilson from North Carolina.

No, the spotlight is on Stanford’s own Ebuka Okolie. Interestingly, he’s currently ranked just 119th in the 2025 recruiting class by 247 Sports and 227th by Rivals/On3. It’s kind of surprising considering he didn’t even make the mock draft over the summer nor bag any preseason accolades.

If you haven’t caught wind of Okolie yet, well, it’s probably time you do.

Wednesday night, against North Carolina, he showcased his best game so far, driving Stanford to a crucial victory. Averaging nearly 23 points per game, that really says something.

Okolie was matched up against UNC’s Wilson, who’s a heavy favorite for a top-five NBA draft pick this summer. Still, Okolie came out triumphant with his 36 points, not to mention nine assists and two steals, while shooting 12 for 20. Quite the performance!

There’s a short list since 2010 of freshmen who managed at least 35 points and nine assists in a single game:

• Ebuka Okolie, Stanford University (2025-26)

Well, that pretty much wraps it up.

It’s a bit shocking, right? I mean, who would’ve thought Okolie—hailing from Nashua, New Hampshire—would be making such a name for himself? He attended Brewster Academy, renowned for its top-tier basketball program. In his senior year, he averaged 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals, helping Brewster reach the semifinals of the national tournament.

Even though many viewed him as the team’s backbone, he often faded into the background compared to other star players like Sebastian Wilkins (who’s now with Duke) and Dwayne Aristodo (who signed with Arizona). It’s strange, really, because he wasn’t even on the radar for many power conference schools.

When his final high school season kicked off, Okolie had only a handful of Division I offers, including schools like Sanford, Bryant, and Ivy League institutions like Harvard. His parents, both Harvard alumni, probably felt a bit of pressure for him to continue that legacy and attend a Boston-area school.

His mother, Jeoma, mentioned, “His commitment to Harvard reflects our parents’ influences.” She recalled that, at times, they felt like they were guiding him a bit too strictly.

His father, Charles, didn’t shy away either, adding, “We pushed him.”

In October 2024, during the school’s fall break, a crucial conversation unfolded between Ebuka and his parents regarding his future. He expressed a desire to prioritize basketball over academics, which must have been a tough moment for them. Fearing he might regret not attending a prestigious university later down the road, Charles reached out to Brewster’s head coach, asking him to contact some power conference schools with strong basketball and academic programs.

Aside from Stanford, they got in touch with schools like Georgetown and Michigan. Kyle Smith, who had just been hired as Stanford’s head coach, already knew of Okolie. Shortly after arriving, he called Brewster’s coach about guard Elijah Crawford, who had once been offered by Stanford but was hesitant about re-committing.

Though Smith was interested in Okolie, he couldn’t assess him fully until he learned about Okolie becoming available again. Stanford’s assistants were already in New Hampshire when they heard the news and swiftly arranged a meeting with him.

During his first summer at Stanford, Okolie started generating some buzz. Observers felt he might be good enough to start, which turned out to be an understatement. He not only started but also became the first Stanford freshman since Brook Lopez in 2007 to score 20 or more points in his first four games.

After a promising November, which included a pair of excellent 30-plus point performances against Colorado and Cal State Northridge, it was easy to think he might face a reality check when ACC play began.

But, surprise! He seems to be just warming up.

In a nail-biting 80-76 victory against No. 16 Louisville, Okolie was nearly unstoppable. Despite fierce competition from a talented freshman point guard, he still managed to score 28 points.

Just four days later, in Blacksburg, he delivered another standout performance, finishing with 31 points, seven assists, and clinching the game with a deep three-pointer just before the final buzzer against Virginia Tech.

Interestingly, his former high school coach, who also coached the well-known Donovan Mitchell, isn’t shocked by Okolie’s soaring success. He noted, “It’s similar to when people asked me if I was surprised by Donovan Mitchell’s NBA journey. It’s not about the numbers; I always saw his day-to-day effort and demeanor. Ebuka has that same spark.”

Now, while his three-point shooting could use some polishing—hovering just below 33%—what’s truly impressive is how he uses his 6-foot-2 frame to drive toward the basket. He can create almost all his shots at the rim and consistently draw fouls, averaging 8.5 free throw attempts per game with an 81.5% shooting rate.

As Okolie blossoms into a star, he’s likely facing some significant decisions soon. Sure, NBA scouts are taking notice, and while he might not be a lock for the first round quite yet, the potential for lucrative NIL offers through the transfer portal is definitely on the horizon.

“When that time comes, I’ll handle it,” Okolie remarked back in November. “But for now, I’m all in on this season. Stanford feels right for me.”

Thanks to players like Okolie, Stanford is shaping up to be more than just another NIT contender this year. With an overall record of 14-4 and 3-2 in the ACC, they’ve managed to secure notable wins over teams like Louisville and North Carolina. Sure, some earlier losses might weigh them down, but they’ve racked up the most Quadrant I wins of any ACC team, aside from Duke.

Yet, it’s important to note that a spot in the NCAA Tournament isn’t guaranteed. And without that, even a rising star like Okolie might miss out on showcasing his talents at the highest level.

If you’re a real basketball fan, make sure to catch Stanford on national television when you can—it’s shaping up to be one of college basketball’s most entertaining stories this season.