Kingsley Okoroh looks ahead to his senior season
As Cal men’s basketball enters the 2017-18 season, senior center Kingsley Okoroh will take on an expanded role, playing alongside senior Marcus Lee in the post. Together, they hope to form one of the most formidable frontcourts in the Pac-12. Especially on the defensive end of the floor.
With Wyking Jones now at the helm, Cal is putting in a new system predicated on trapping and pressing in order to force turnovers for easy baskets in transition. In order to adjust to this faster paced system, Okoroh has worked to get in the best possible shape.
“Conditioning,” Okoroh said of what has been most key. “Coach, myself, and the new coach, Coach Jackson, he’s been on me a lot since he got here just about making sure I’m in the best shape possible. He’s been putting me through a lot of workouts, and then I’ll do extra stuff with him, whether it’s on the jump rope, or just a couple of sprints or just lighter. He’s getting me to the point where I can be effective in Coach Wy’s new scheme of pressing and then just being quick and obviously continue to block shots on the defensive end.”
Shot blocking is Okoroh’s major strength. During his first three years at Cal, Okoroh has averaged 3.7 blocks per 40 minutes, making him one of the best shot blockers in the country. Okoroh hopes to make his presence known even more this year, putting himself in the conversation for Pac-12 defensive player of the year.
“I think individually, obviously, defensive player of the year in the Pac-12,” Okoroh said of his goals. “I feel like I could have gotten it last year if it wasn’t for a couple of games and then the boys at Oregon were very good, too. Aside from defensive player of the year, putting more points up on the board and as for the team, just trying to win the Pac and just playing hard and keeping our goal, making sure no team scores more than 60, that’s always been our goal and then we can be sure to implement that and just keep the same level of defense in previous seasons.”
Okoroh has put the time in with assistant coach Theo Robertson and strength and conditioning coach Jordan Jackson, focusing on developing more post moves, a more fluid shooting motion, and leaning out.
“I’ve been in with Coach Theo a lot, just working on my individual moves,” Okoroh said. “I’ve changed my shot. I feel like I shoot the ball more fluid. With Coach Jackson, he’s helping me to lean out. I feel like I’m quicker, I feel like I move a lot better, and then with Coach Theo, just working on my touch and just trying to work on finishing.”
In addition to working with Robertson and Jackson, Okoroh also spends a lot of time working with Jones. During the past three seasons, Jones and Okoroh have developed a very close relationship.
“I think I have a relationship with him where he’s always pushed me from when he came my sophomore year,” Okoroh said of his relationship with Jones. “He’s just pushed me and helped me get better, really and he’s helping me get ready for the next level. I think I’ve taken his feedback and then I just listen to it and just try to follow him and I think I’m at the stage where I’m ready to finish my senior year and hopefully head to the next level.
What I like about him is he’s very fearless. He always told me and Ivan and Kameron just to don’t think when you make a move, just attack and keep attacking and be relentless on the offensive end or the defensive end. I think he’s going to be different from Coach Martin in that he wants to play up-tempo and he wants to play quick. You can already see it in practice, he wants us to run and just be quick and I feel that’s the way we’re going to play and that’s going to help us in a way, because we have some quick players coming in. Defensively, I think he’s still going to keep the same defensive mindset that Coach Martin had, but he wants to play faster, he’s going to want us to speed up teams.”
That relationship has helped Okoroh to have full confidence in the direction of the program with Jones now at the helm. Likewise for Jones, it helps to begin his first season as head coach with a great relationship in place with one of his top players.
Okoroh hasn’t just built chemistry with his new head coach during his time at Cal. He’s also built chemistry with fifth-year senior Marcus Lee, who will be starting in the post alongside him. Lee had to sit out last year after transferring from Kentucky, but he was still able to practice, allowing him to get a feel for what it will be like to play alongside Okoroh.
“I think we have great chemistry,” Okoroh said of playing with Lee. “He played, obviously he didn’t play last year, but he was practicing a lot and then there would be times when I would be on his team, and his athletic ability is crazy. Higher than me for sure, so obviously I’m looking forward to that. I think he’ll bring more defensively than Ivan did, which is gonna be good. He’s very mobile. He has the ability to guard the 5, the 4, and the 3. So, just with him I feel like I’ll still be able to block shots. That’s what I did, but I feel like we’re going to be a great tandem.”
When looking ahead to his senior season, Okoroh has an attitude of optimism. Rather than feeling additional pressure, Okoroh is excited for the chance to be a senior leader on this team, showing the way for the younger guys on the team.
“I don’t think there’s additional pressure for me,” Okoroh said. “I’ve been here three years now. I’ve seen a bunch of players come and gone, and I feel like I’ve learned from all of them to ways to just help the younger guys out and just be an effective leader. I’m just looking forward to this season and just displaying that.
“It definitely is a whole different team. I think we lost eight guys and we gained a lot. But it’s been fun, just seeing new faces and we’ve been gelling well in practice and hopefully we’ll continue to build chemistry for the season.”
The 2017-18 season projects to be a great opportunity for Kingsley Okoroh. He’s really put the work in to develop his game and prepare himself to be a leader on this Cal team. With Marcus Lee by his side and Wyking Jones at the helm, Okoroh will have the opportunity flourish this season as a starter and emerge as one of the top big men in the Pac-12.
Note: Earlier in the summer, GoldenBearReport.com was able to catch up with a couple of walk-ons for both Cal men’s and women’s basketball. Click here to learn about Jacob Orender and click here to learn about Archer Olson.