Pronunciation: O-MOR-EE
Big Cliff had a highly decorated season in 2022-23. Omoruyi became the first player in Rutgers basketball history to be selected Preseason First-Team All-Big Ten in 2022-23. At the completion of the season, the Benin City, Nigeria native was selected to First-Team All-Big Ten Defensive Team and to the Second-Team All-Big Ten (media). Omoruyi averaged 13.2 points-per-game, 9.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks for the Scarlet Knights. His 72 blocks on the year were good for 15th in the nation and third in the Big Ten. His 325 rebounds were tied for 17th in the country.
He became the first Rutgers player to lead the team in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots since Keith Hughes did so in the 1990-1991 season. Omoruyi led the country in dunks heading into the NCAA Tournament last season and was one of the nation's best dunkers in 2022-23. Omoruyi had 73 dunks on the year, the sixth-most in the country. Omoruyi racked up double-doubles in 13 of the 34 games played this season. Omoruyi was also chosen as a member of the semi-finalist watch list for the 2023 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, consisting of the top 10 centers in the country. The USBWA selected Omoruyi to their All-District II Team.
Omoruyi earned recognition in the preseason as he was named to the 2022-23 All-Big Ten Preseason Team. Omoruyi has worked tirelessly during the offseason sculpting his body through conditioning and preparing himself to take the next step of becoming an NBA-caliber big man.
CLIFF IN RUTGERS CAREER RECORDS (Updated Following Big Ten Tournament)
Field Goal Percentage
1. Rashod Kent - .603 (432-of-721)
2. Myles Johnson - .599 (270-of-451)
3. Gene Armstead - .555 (422-of-760)
4. Cliff Omoruyi – .549 (506-of-922)
Blocks
1. Hamady Ndiaye - 358
2. Roy Hinson - 355
3. James Bailey - 304
4. Herve Lamizana - 254
5. Chuck Weiler - 246
6. Cliff Omoruyi - 221
Rebounds
1. Phil Sellers - 1111
2. James Bailey - 1074
3. Swede Sundstrom - 942
4. Cliff Omoruyi - 933
Points
20. Rob Hodgson - 1,275
21. Keith Hughes - 1,257
22. Cliff Omoruyi - 1,251
Field Goals Made
17. Ricky Shields - 512
18. Cliff Omoruyi - 506
Single Season Records
Blocks
1. Hamady Ndiaye (2009-10) 145
2. Roy Hinson (1982-83) 144
3. Herve Lamizana (2003-04) 102
t-4. Chuck Weiler (1991-92) - 94
t-4. James Bailey (1975-76) - 94
t-6. Hamady Ndiaye (2007-08) - 93
t-6. Cliff Omoruyi (2023-24) - 93
2023-24:
- Honorable Mention All-Big Ten
- Big Ten All-Defensive Team
- Starter at center, averaging 10.3 points and team-best 8.3 rebounds and 93 blocks
- Had the most blocks of any Big Ten player since 2018 and among nation's leaders in blocks
- Has 10 games of at least four blocks, three games of at least seven blocks and at least two blocks in all but eight games
- Had 12 points, 7 rebounds against Princeton
- Posted double-double with 13 points and career-high tying 15 rebounds against Bryant
- Notched another double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds against Howard
- Scored 17 points in win over Saint Peter's
- Against No. 24 Illinois, had eight blocks, most by a RU player in a game since 2010 and most ever in a Big Ten game
- Was the Big Ten first player to record at least nine rebounds, eight blocks and seven points in a Big Ten game since Penn State's Mike Watkins in 2017 versus Nebraska.
- Named Joe Calabrese Game MVP in win over rival Seton Hall in the Garden State Hardwood Classic after posting 11 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocks
- Scored career-high 25 points with 11 rebounds and three blocks in win over LIU
- Had a double-double with 17 points and career-high 17 rebounds against Stonehill
- Had 11 rebounds and five blocks in win over Indiana
- Posted double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds
- Put in 22 points with nine rebounds at No. 14 Illinois
- Had double-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds in win at Michigan
- Recorded 13 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocks in win over No. 9/11 Wisconsin.
- Is the first Big Ten player with eight or more blocks in multiple conference games during a season since 1999-00
- Posted 19 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and three steals at Minnesota.
2022-23 (Junior):
- Selected to First-Team All-Big Ten Defensive Team and to the Second-Team All-Big Ten (media)
- Named First Team All-MET
- Named one of the finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (given to the nation's best center).
- Named to the All-District II Team by the USBWA
- Played and started in all 34 games, leading team with 13.2 points and 9.6 rebounds
- Had 72 blocks and 20 steals
- Shot 50.7% from the field
- 325 rebounds were 6th most in a season by a RU player
- 72 blocks were 12th most in a season by a RU player
- Three straight double-doubles, all with 20+ points, vs. UMass Lowell, Temple and Rider. Had 13 double-doubles on the season.
- Scored in double-figures in 26 of 25 games, with five games of 20+ points.
- Reached double digit rebounds in 17 games.
2021-22 (Sophomore):
- Named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten
- Named Big Ten Sportsmanship Honoree
- Breakout campaign as starting center
- Had career-high 22 points at Northwestern
- Grabbed career-high 14 rebounds versus Iowa
- Scored in double-figures 21 times
- Has five double-doubles (Merrimack, CCSU, Penn State, Maryland, Illinois)
- Averaged career-highs in points (11.9) and rebounds (8.2)
2020-21 (Freshman):
- Played in 23 games with six starts, averaging 3.8 points and 3.9 rebounds with 16 blocks, shooting 63.2 percent from the field
- Ranked as No. 12 Top Impact Freshman by NCAA.com
- Named No. 21 Most Intriguing Player in the nation in preseason ranking by The Athletic
- Made Rutgers debut in season-opening win over Sacred Heart (Nov. 25) with a double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds), the first RU freshman to have a double-double in his debut since Gregory Echinique against Marist in 2008.
- Had seven points and seven rebounds in win over Hofstra (Nov. 29)
- Notched six points with five rebounds and a block in victory in Big Ten opener at Maryland (Dec. 14)
- Had eight points in 12 minutes in win at Indiana (Jan. 24)
- Posted eight points and five rebounds at Iowa (Feb. 10)
Scholastic:
- A consensus four-star prospect who was universally lauded as a top-50 prospect in the nation
- Ranked 36th nationally by Rivals and the seventh-ranked center in the nation
- 43rd ranked prospect in the 24/7 composite, third highest player in New Jersey and eighth center in the rankings
- Ranked 49th nationally by ESPN, their third ranked prospect in the state and ninth ranked center
- First consensus top-50 high school prospect to commit to Rutgers since Kadeem Jack in 2010 and the first from New Jersey since Mike Rosario in 2007
- Posted 14.2 points, 11.5 rebounds and 5.4 blocks while shooting 57 percent from the field as a senior, leading Roselle Catholic to a 22-7 record and NJSIAA Non-Public B North title
- Averaged 16 points, 9.8 rebounds and 6.5 blocks in four tournament games, including a triple-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocks in win over the Patrick School in section semifinals and 20 points, 14 rebounds and 10 blocks in quarterfinals against Marist
- Named New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year, the program’s first New Jersey Gatorade State Player of the Year
- Named first-team all-state by NJHoops.com and second team by The Star-Ledger
- SI All-American nominee
- Sixth top-75 high school recruit to commit to Rutgers since 2006
- Second-highest ranked player in the Garden State by NJHoops.com
- Finalist for Jersey Sports Zone Mr. Hoop Zone
- As a junior, averaged 11.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in leading team to 28-4 record and Union County Tournament championship.
Personal:
- Born in Nigeria before moving to New Jersey at 14 years old
- Began high school at Queen of Peace before transferring to Roselle Catholic
- Mother is Gladys Omoruyi
- Has two brothers, Alfred and Brodrick, and a sister, Stella
- Chose Rutgers from over 20 offers, including Arizona State, Auburn, Kentucky, UConn, Memphis, NC State, Miami, Alabama and Arizona, among others
- Honor roll student who intends to pursue an Engineering major in college.
