Meet The Player: Michael Okoye (2019)
Q: So how long have you been here in the United States? And what have you found as one of the more difficult things to adjust to?
Mike: I’ve been here for two years, and I would have to say the food.
Q: Well is there anything in particular that you didn’t like when you got here and now you do?
Mike: Yes! When I first got here and tried chopped barbeque I didn’t like it, but after some time of eating it I got used to it and now I enjoy it.
Q: What country are you from?
Mike: Nigeria
Q: Did you play basketball prior to coming to the U.S and what have you noticed that’s different?
Mike: Yes I had been playing basketball about two years before I came here, the pace of the game it’s much of a faster game over here.
Q: Does having other international players on the team make it easier to adjust to being in a new country?
Mike: Yes it help a lot, we have players from Europe and Africa on the team so it really helps.
Q: What some things you want to improve over the summer?
Mike: I’m trying to improve my midrange game, and then extend some more so I can shoot outside the three point line.
Q: Do you watch a lot of basketball?
Mike: Of course, I watch a lot of college games.
Q: Who is your favorite player? And players that you feel you would like to play similar to?
Mike: My favorite player is Russel Westbrook, and Hakeem Olajuwon is someone I would like to play like, that someone I look up to.
Q: What do you do on game day to be prepared for the game?
Mike: On game day I mostly isolate, sometimes I listen to music, an artist like Future, it gets me hyped up.
Q: What do you feel you bring to your team?
Mike: Being a leader on the floor, helping everybody know what to do and just playing hard on both ends of the court.
Q: What do you feel you can bring to a college program in the future?
Mike: Defense first of all, that’s my main priority is playing defense, so I would say my defense.