New Player Joining Team This Week- Emmanuel Okorafor
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Louisville men's basketball announced Thursday the addition of forward/center Emmanuel Okorafor to the roster for the current 2022-23 season.
Okorafor (oh-CORE-uh-FOR), a 6-foot-9 prospect from Lagos, Nigeria, will join the team this week and be eligible to compete immediately as a freshman.
"We're fortunate to have one of the premier players coming out of NBA Africa be a part of what we're doing here at the University of Louisville," UofL head coach Kenny Payne said. "Emmanuel is one of the bright stars coming out of NBA Africa. He's versatile, strong, a great rebounder and excellent running the floor. We're blessed to have him. The global impact of what NBA Africa is doing – to go out and target the young, bright stars of the continent of Africa and bring them into their facility – is vital not only to the continent, but to the world. It's great for our program to be connected to the work they're doing."
Okorafor (oh-CORE-uh-FOR), a 6-foot-9 prospect from Lagos, Nigeria, will join the team this week and be eligible to compete immediately as a freshman.
"We're fortunate to have one of the premier players coming out of NBA Africa be a part of what we're doing here at the University of Louisville," UofL head coach Kenny Payne said. "Emmanuel is one of the bright stars coming out of NBA Africa. He's versatile, strong, a great rebounder and excellent running the floor. We're blessed to have him. The global impact of what NBA Africa is doing – to go out and target the young, bright stars of the continent of Africa and bring them into their facility – is vital not only to the continent, but to the world. It's great for our program to be connected to the work they're doing."
Yeah no player could come in now and turn this crap around, but they couldn't have at least brought in a freaking guard?
Listening to a North Carolina fan that went to the game....he says UofL actually has a good team. They can play for about a 30 out of 40 minutes with most teams. UOFL just needs another really good guard to help ellis
This has trouble written all over it. I would hate to count on this coaching staff to know how to go through all of the channels to bring this kid in without breaking some kind of rules. That's all we need from this **** show. Put us through a 2-30 season then get us in trouble for bringing in an illegal player.. That would be just our luck..
News of Payne’s HC “ability” must not have reached Africa. 
UofL actually has a good team? I’d love to go there with you brother, but that’s more than a bit of a stretch.
Bringing in an eighteen year old kid in late January is something I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. Since Kenny did it, I have to believe he plans to play him. My question is whose minutes does he get? My vote is he takes them from Phat Syd.
They're still waiting on the Falcon Super Bowl Champion t-shirts to arrive lolNews of Payne’s HC “ability” must not have reached Africa.
BHH. He of the “injured foot.” Expect that he is done with UofL and off to the NBADL
I guess NBA Africa didn’t have any guards?
Been wondering if this was the case, especially given the very vague and strange way Payne talked about the BHH injury.
To me, everything Kenny says is vague and strange.
If HH is indeed already gone, he could start the process. I could see three more leaving in February and then it all comes crashing down on KP. If the team has to play out the last few games with walk ons it's going to be very ugly round these parts.
can you believe, in Emmanuel's first practice we spent a lot of time running?
precious practice time is wasted.
how about showing him where to go on the floor, how to switch, improving his shot, scouting the opponent, rebounding drills?
KP is still stuck on his practice from a fatigue state. dumbest way to practice.
precious practice time is wasted.
how about showing him where to go on the floor, how to switch, improving his shot, scouting the opponent, rebounding drills?
KP is still stuck on his practice from a fatigue state. dumbest way to practice.
Payne unsure if Okorafor will play this season or not.
"I want him comfortable," Payne said. "I want him to know and to feel good about knowing all the plays that we have. Knowing exactly what we're doing and our defensive schemes, and our offensive stuff, so that he can just play basketball without thinking."
"A lot of it depends on how he feels and how I feel about where he is," Payne said. "I don't want to waste any of his (eligibility). But if he can come in and help us and get more comfortable with college basketball, that's an option for him. But I haven't made a decision one way or the other."
"I want him comfortable," Payne said. "I want him to know and to feel good about knowing all the plays that we have. Knowing exactly what we're doing and our defensive schemes, and our offensive stuff, so that he can just play basketball without thinking."
"A lot of it depends on how he feels and how I feel about where he is," Payne said. "I don't want to waste any of his (eligibility). But if he can come in and help us and get more comfortable with college basketball, that's an option for him. But I haven't made a decision one way or the other."
So much could be said about KP’s comments here but it’s not worth it. I did get a good laugh out of it though.
We have plays and defensive schemes? Hmmm, who knew!
Knowing what plays, what are our schemes and offensive stuff ? Does the rest of the team know these things ? Doesn't seem like it..
Yep, why is he expected to know more than anyone else?