PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers men’s basketball team has officially signed Monroe College (New Rochelle, N.Y.) center Emmanuel Ogbole, the program and head coach Steve Pikiell announced on Monday. 

Ogbole is a 6-foot-11, 242-pound center from Aune-Adoka, Nigeria. Ogbole attended the Excel Model Secondary School for high school in Nigeria before moving to the United States. The Scarlet Knights are excited for Ogbole’s size and raw athleticism to translate at the Big Ten level. Ogbole was a dominant force in the paint, and on the boards in junior college in 2022-23.

“His stature alone is going to provide a lot of things for Rutgers defensively,” Monroe College head coach Jeff Brustad said. “He’s physical and he can run the floor north-to-south. He’s a great athlete that is improving in all areas, especially offensively. He’s got a great work ethic so I’m sure that Rutgers is going to take him to the next level. The Big Ten is a physical conference and I think that plays into his hands a little bit. Experience is going to key for him at the next level.”

“I chose Rutgers because Coach Pikiell came to see me train and came in person last season,” Ogbole said. “When he invited me to my first visit in January, I saw how great the facilities were. I saw how great the coaching staff was, and how hard the players were working. I saw the bond and chemistry between everyone there. This is a family and it’s nice to say I am joining them.”

Ogbole took his first visit to Rutgers at the beginning of January and attended the 64-50 Scarlet Knight’s victory over Maryland on Jan. 4 at Jersey Mike’s Arena. 

Ogbole took his official visit to RU’s basketball facilities on Friday, June 2. Ogbole has been on the radar of the Scarlet Knights and was first offered by the program on Nov. 21 during last season. Ogbole also held an offer from Seton Hall before choosing Rutgers.

“The second time I came to campus I had dinner with Coach Pikiell and the entire coaching staff,” Ogbole said. “I met with all the staff, the academic advisor, I met with everyone. I felt that instant connection with them. I knew it would be a great choice to join this family at Rutgers.”

Ogbole quickly picked up the sport when he started playing basketball at age 18 after he graduated high school. He joined the basketball academy in Nigeria and drew the attention of college coaches in the United States. Ogbole chose the route of junior college for his first season in the States.

“It all happened so fast,” Ogbole said. “When I first started training, I didn’t even understand the game yet. When I started playing some games, I realized I was capable of big things. Even though I am new to the game of basketball I have great things I want to achieve. I realized it was going to take hard work to live up to the expectations of all the coaches who were recruiting me.”

Ogbole played in 24 games in his freshman season for Monroe College, and started in 22 of them. He averaged 12.3 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game. He shot 69.3 percent from the field last season (124-179) to lead his team in that category. His field goal percentage last season was good for sixth in the nation in junior college. Ogbole scored in double digits in 18 games during the 2022-23 including scoring in double digits in the first ten games of the season.

Ogbole played 20.7 minutes per game for Monroe College. Ogbole was a defensive presence for the Mustangs, collecting 49 blocks and 19 steals. Ogbole was the team leader in rebounds and blocks per game (2.0) and he was second on the team in scoring.

Ogbole led the charge for a Monroe College team that had its best season in 11 years.

The Mustangs won the 2023 East District Championship which it hosted at the Monroe Athletic Complex. With a 102-69 win over Hagerstown Community College, Ogbole’s Mustangs moved on to the conference championship as the home favorite. Monroe defeated Allegany College of Maryland 89-78 in the conference championship, claiming the East District Title and the district's automatic bid to the NJCAA Championship Tournament.

Monroe College carried a 28-4 record into the NJCAA Championship tournament, the Mustang’s best win percentage (.875) since finishing 33-4 (.892) in 2011-12. The Mustangs made it to the NJCAA Championships for the first time in six seasons and for the 11th time in program history with the big man as one of the team’s top contributors. Due to a knee injury, the Mustangs were without Ogbole for the final two games of the season in the tournament including a victory in the tournament play-in game against #17 South Georgia State College and the tournament defeat to #1 John A. Logan College. Monroe College finished 29-5 on the season.

Ogbole will join senior center Clifford Omoruyi and sophomore forward Antwone Woolfolk in the front court. Ogbole is excited to embrace the competition of joining both big men at Rutgers and loves the fact that Omoruyi is from his native land of Nigeria as well. 

“It’s going to be great, and I really want to get better having him there,” Ogbole said. “With how well he has impacted the game of basketball he has set the standard. It’s going to be great competition in practice playing against each other and us all trying to make each other better. Having two Nigerians on the team I know the bonding will be great, our charisma, don’t you worry you’ll see what’s going to happen!”

Ogbole joins an incoming 2023-24 class on newcomers in guards Gavin Griffiths and Jamichael Davis, as well as graduate student UMass Amherst guard Noah Fernandes from the transfer portal. Ogbole will have three seasons of college eligibility at RU entering as a sophomore.

What will Rutgers Nation be getting on the court from Emmanuel Ogbole?

Ogbole said he is looking forward to helping the team win games first but shared an individual goal to lead the nation in rebounds for a full season by the time he’s done at Rutgers.