University of North Carolina Athletics
Okulaja Dubbed the Prototypical North Carolina Senior
June 21, 1999 | Men's Basketball
February 24, 1999
By Cameron Batten
Sports Information Student Assistant
He has been dubbed iron man, statesman, player-coach, and even godfather. Atlantic Coast Conference coaches call him "the prototypical North Carolina senior." His own call him Addie.
Regardless of the titles that predicate his name, the Chapel Hill community has become attached to the player formally known as Ademola Okulaja. His diversity, leadership, conviction and skill have made him one of the leagues finest, and one of Carolinas most cherished. Tonight, he plays his final game at the Smith Center.
Almost from the day he entered Carolina as an unknown freshman in the fall of 1995, Okulaja was overshadowed by highly-touted classmates Antawn Jamison and Vince Carter. While Jamison and Carter provided the high-flying dunks and the SportsCenter-worthy highlights, Okulaja happily did the dirty work, diving for loose balls, setting screens and grabbing rebounds. Now that Jamison and Carter are making the highlight reels in the NBA, Okulaja has moved into the spotlight.
"This year I have a different role," he says. "Im just trying to get every rebound and if I have an open shot, knock it down. What Im proud of is that Im not forcing those shots. I didnt have to adjust much. If you go through our program, you get open shots."
Indeed, when the Tar Heels have needed a big three-pointer, a crucial rebound or a gritty defensive stop, Okulaja has delivered this season. He credits his improvement to his three years playing with Jamison and Carter.
"Guarding Vince Carter or Antawn Jamison, thats a really good challenge," he says. "If you do that for three years, youre going to improve. Theyre constantly improving, and you dont want to lag behind, so youre right there trying to beat them."
Okulajas improvement has not gone unnoticed around the ACC and the nation.
"I think theyve got an all-conference player," Wake Forest head coach Dave Odom said of Okulaja in January. "If I had to vote for a player, and I think there are a lot of good players on their team, I think Okulaja is one of the five best players in this league. Hes had that kind of season 14 points, nine rebounds, and hes the prototypical North Carolina senior. Hes the guy whos taken over the leadership and hes the rock of that team."
The 6-9 senior has crossed all borders, on and off the court. Having been born in Nigeria and raised in Germany, he is familiar with strange environments. When asked what he expected coming to North Carolina, he insouciantly replies, "whatever comes." His major is International Studies and he enjoys trying foods of other nations. Such an embrace for change explains his versatility on the court.
He knows how to score inside or on the perimeter. On the defensive side, his long arms and height help him defend everyone from small forwards to towering centers. He leads the Carolina team in scoring, rebounding, three-point field goals and steals. He is the only player in Tar Heel history with career totals of at least 1,000 points, 800 rebounds, 300 assists and 150 steals. His all-around play has helped the Tar Heels earn top-three finishes in the ACC in each of his four years.
While his scoring, rebounding and defensive contributions have been significant, his leadership role has been irreplaceable. Those who see him play know it. His teammates take note of his acrobatic leaps and dives for loose balls, and give their undivided attention when he directs team huddles.
With a roster that includes five sophomores and four freshmen, Okulaja knew that he had to step into that position. "I now know what it was like when Dante Calabria and Jeff McInnis had to do the same thing my freshman year. Youre part of a new team climate, and you have to create a new rhythm for yourself."
Okulajas leadership has certainly been exemplified in his performance. In his first three years, he averaged 7.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, and shot 64 percent from the free-throw line. This year, he boasts averages of 13.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, and his free-throw percentage has improved to 75 percent. He has scored in double figures in 25 of the 30 games this season and has had double figures in rebounds 10 times.
More impressive, however, is the devotion he has shown to playing basketball. Okulaja has never missed a game in his four years as a Tar Heel. He has played in 134 consecutive games at UNC, meaning he has stayed injury-free and played well enough to remain in the Tar Heels rotation all four years.
"Basketball is my life," he says. "I never missed a game because I never want to miss a part of my life." With tonights game with Duke and the postseason remaining, he has a chance, depending on postseason play, to break the school record of 140 games played.
For Okulaja, basketball has been a retreat from everyday life. "95x50 is a different world for me, a fantasy world. You dont have to worry about school stress, family stress or social stress. Even if youre having a bad day, you can change that in that world. Its just you and a couple of other guys with one ball, trying to be the best."
There have been several times Okulaja has helped the Tar Heels be the best this season. In Carolinas 67-66 win at Virginia on Feb. 20, Okulaja hit a clutch three-point shot with 1.6 seconds left to secure the victory. In Carolinas 75-66 win over Georgia Tech Jan. 31, he had 11 points, seven rebounds, five steals, three assists and no turnovers in 32 minutes. Late in the game, with UNC ahead, 67-61, he stole an outlet pass after a Tech rebound and converted two free throws to seal the victory.
Okulaja is not often satisfied with his performances in his fantasy world. And to him, satisfaction does not necessarily mean winning. He recalls the Tar Heels 1996-97 loss to Virginia in Charlottesville, in which he went 8 of 12 for a career-high 19 points and had 10 rebounds. "Even though we lost, it was the first time in my career I finally felt like I had played a good game."
Even though the All-ACC candidate had several successful games early this season, he did not credit himself with a profitable performance until Carolinas 77-72 win over Lousiville on Dec. 17. He scored a career-high 23 points on 5 of 10 shooting, grabbed 15 rebounds and was a career-best 12 of 15 from the free throw line.
Okulaja has high expectations, and why shouldnt he? He was groomed for success. In his early years, he and his older brother, a 1998 graduate of UNC, went head to head in every aspect. His brother helped him earn a high degree of self-motivation and a passionate desire to succeed. "There wasnt a day that went by that we werent competing in something. Whether it was eating, walking to the bus, counting the change, you name it."
Even though he is a fierce competitor at heart, Okulaja epitomizes everything sportsmanship in collegiate athletics should be. He values team climate and strives to be the best, while crediting his opponents and acknowledging his own failures. When referees whistle him, he hardly turns and argues. Instead, he calmly shakes his head, turns to the ref and lets out that warm smile that so many Tar Heel fans are accustomed to.
Okulaja is considerate and enjoys crediting others. When asked an interesting thing about himself, he says humbly, "My mother is an electrical engineer and my brother is a business counselor." He says his mother has been a pillar of support and he has enjoyed making her smile.
He credits former Tar Heel Henrik Rodl for opening up the connection between former head coach Dean Smith, Coach Bill Guthridge and him. He also cites former teammates Jamison and Carter for their team leadership and motivation.
Okulaja says he is proud to have been a part of North Carolina and its rich tradition. "Everybody is a family here, and Ill cherish that. Warm smiles greet you wherever you go, and that has made it much easier."
He says he will take from the University a degree, a lot of friends, a lot of experiences and great episodes. "My three goals when I came here were to get my degree, make the NBA and find new friends and experience a new culture. Im close to having all three goals accomplished."
He aspires to play professional basketball next year. "I love this game and I want to play it for a long, long time."
Regardless of his professional status, Ademola Okulaja will now go down in history as one of the best players in Carolinas rich basketball history.
