Men's Basketball to Honor Center Emmanuel Ogbole on Senior Day
Mar 06 | Men's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers men's basketball will recognize senior center Emmanuel Ogbole during its Senior Day ceremony at Jersey Mike's Arena on Sunday against Penn State at noon on the Big Ten Network, celebrating the impact the veteran center has made during his time with the Scarlet Knights.
The 6-foot-10, 265-pound center from Aune-Adoka, Nigeria, has appeared in 63 career games, making 41 starts at center, including 26 starts this season. Throughout his Rutgers career, Ogbole has provided toughness in the paint and efficiency offensively, shooting 56.5 percent from the field while averaging 3.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game with 49 career blocks.
Ogbole enters Senior Day coming off one of his strongest performances of the season, recording 13 points and six rebounds against Michigan State in Rutgers' last outing.
For Ogbole, the moment represents the culmination of a long journey that brought him from Nigeria to New Jersey.
"It's been a journey for me," Ogbole said. "I appreciate the coaching staff as well as our academic staff, strength and conditioning, and our training staff. They gave me an opportunity to get a degree and play the game I love. I want to thank God too, my family and friends, and everyone that supported me."
Before arriving in Piscataway, Ogbole spent time at Monroe College in New Rochelle, New York, before transferring to Rutgers and spending the last three seasons with the Scarlet Knights.
While his impact has come on the court, Ogbole has also excelled in the classroom. He graduated last year, earning a double major in Labor and Consumer Relations and Information Technology & Mathematics, a testament to his commitment as both a student and athlete.
As he prepares for his final Senior Day moment, Ogbole is focused on appreciating the experience.
"I am just going to be thankful when I'm walking out because this is everything you dream of growing up as a kid," he said.
Reflecting on his time in Piscataway, several moments stand out to the Rutgers center. Ogbole had a career-high 21 points and 13 rebounds in Las Vegas at the Player's Era Tournament in Las Vegas against UNLV on Thanksgiving Day. He also recalled last year's Garden State Hardwood Classic Victory over Seton Hall at Jersey Mike's Arena as a top memory.
"My best memories were the performance I had against UNLV — that was a nice one," Ogbole said. "The last game against Michigan State as well. I will never forget the win against Seton Hall last year when Dylan Harper had the buzzer-beater."
Rutgers will honor Ogbole in a pregame Senior Day ceremony, giving Scarlet Knights fans the opportunity to celebrate a player who has represented the program with pride both on the court and in the classroom.
Rutgers will also honor five senior student managers for their contributions to the program. The five who will be honored are Jack Reicheg (a Sport Management major from Princeton, NJ), Richard Wu (a Packaging Engineering major from Woodbridge, NJ), Andrew Taffe (a Sport Management major from New City, NY), Tim Ziemba (a Supply Chain Management major from Mount Laurel, NJ) and Hailen Arp (a Sport Management major from Highland Park, NJ).
