Prospect Spotlight: Ofure Ujadughele (2018)
Chino Hills wing Ofure Ujadughele knew his moves to a new high school and club program would serve him well as far as improvement goes.
“I was competing at the college level,” he said during some down time at the UC Irvine Elite Camp. “I played against all the top Division I players and I think I held my own every game. It was a really good experience for me.”
The athletic 6-foot-3 swingman played alongside highly regarded players on both the high school and club levels in LaMelo Ball, LiAngelo Ball, Elizjah Scott and Onyeka Okongwu along with Marvin Bagley III with Nike Phamily.
“Coming into Chino Hills and the EYBL was easy for me,” Ujadughele said. “I didn’t have much adjustment because we’re all so athletic and playing with them was really fun.”
The rising senior, who is known for his ability as a lockdown defender, used all of last season with the Huskies and this spring and summer to improve offensively and become more of a physical presence.
“Offensively, I had to find a way to create my shot more because they were better defenders,” he said. “Defensively, I learned I have to get in the weight room and get bigger and stronger because there were a lot of bigger guys than me out there. That’s really my main focus going into next season.”
Ujadughele’s zeroing in on heightening the consistency on his perimeter jump shot to compliment his ability to get to the rim and finish.
“I’ve been working on getting my outside shot better and more consistent all throughout high school,” he said. “I need to get my mid-range going, but I’m getting better every day and that’s all I can really ask for.”
An improved offensive repertoire is going to be important for Ujadughele and Chino Hills this season as the losses of Gelo Ball and Scott drained more than 50 points that will need to be filled in next season.
“I for sure have to be more of a scorer this year,” Ujadughele said. “My coaches talked to me and emphasized that I have to look get mine. We’re going to play more of a system this year. It’s still going to be Chino Hills basketball, but with more structure.”
Ujadughele has interest from a handful of schools with much of it coming from the Ivy League as his 3.6 grade point average and schedule full of AP and Honors classes bodes well for academic success on that level.
“I have interest from UC Irvine, Princeton, Cornell and Brown,” he said. “They’re all looks right now; no offers. I work so hard on my game and I know I can compete and belong on the Division I level, so I’m pretty sure by the end of the season I’ll have some offers.”
As for why he believes he belongs on the Division I platform and what skills translate to that level, Ujadughele spoke of his intangibles.
“I’m just a winner. I do whatever my coach wants me to do,” he said. “If he wants me to lock down the best offensive player, one through five, I can do that. If he wants me to score, I can do that. I just want to win.”