Okwandu relishes recollection of UConn title By Nishant Gopalachar Special to Today Magazine
THIS YEAR is the 10th anniversary of a major UConn basketball milestone — when the clock hit zeroes on April 4, 2011, an overwhelming feeling burst through senior center Charles Okwandu as UConn beat Butler to clinch the 2011 NCAA men’s championship. For the first 17 years of his life, Okwandu had never even played in a competitive basketball game, and he emphasizes that this title is “something that connects all of us for the rest of our lives as teammates and brothers.” Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, soccer was an enjoyable pastime for Okwandu, but basketball set him apart from the rest. Standing at 7 feet tall, Okwandu was one of the top 10 at the 50 Best Big Men camp held in Nigeria in 2007. He played junior-college ball at Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, PA. After a year there with coach Drew Kelly, who brought Okwandu to the States, he moved onto the big stage, where he played under legendary UConn coach Jim Calhoun. In the 2011 championship game, Okwandu led the winning Huskies in offensive rebounds, tallying four. Winning the title, he says, “was one of those moments that you see happen in movies and never really imagine it happening to you.” As a senior in 2010-11, Okwandu played in all 41 UConn games, starting 19. He now works full-time as a paraeducator at Avon High School — his first year was the 2019-20 school year — and is an assistant coach for the boys varsity basketball team. This past season (202021) was his first time in that coaching role. “He’s funny and knows the game well,” says 2020-21 senior captain Jack Hall, “so
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Coach brings big-stage chops to Avon High he can both make you laugh and help you improve your game on the court.” Okwandu came to Avon after coaching at Granby Memorial High School and East Hartford’s Two Rivers Magnet Middle School — and he made an instant impact. “Coach Charles is just a good person,” says Avon head coach Kris Pedra. “He brings a calming presence to our basketball program. The passion he has for basketball is only surpassed by the love he has for his family and students. I’ve
enjoyed getting to know Charles on and off the basketball court and am proud to call him my friend.” Many Avon players have expressed their appreciation for Okwandu, describing him as “a great mentor” and “a great person” and “the guy who always dunks on someone in practice.” In an exclusive interview, Okwandu spoke with Today Magazine: How did the experience of playing with some of the best basketball players in the country help shape you as both a player and a person? Playing with some of the best basketball players in the country was an amazing experience. In practice we would compete against each other and that would push me to be better and work harder. Playing with Hasheem Thabeet helped me develop blocking shots and getting rebounds more efficiently
and consistently. Kemba Walker gave me a model for how to be a leader on and off the court. His ability to unite and push the team in practice was amazing. This later helped me when I started my coaching career. What went through your head when you won the national championship in 2011? What was your reaction? I was excited and shocked. It was completely overwhelming. Coming from Lagos, Nigeria and winning the national championship was a huge source of pride for me. It was one of those moments that you see happen in movies and never really imagine it happening to you. After this I met President Barack Obama, and to be an immigrant from Nigeria and meet the first black American president was indescribable. The whole moment, all the work that we as a team put into making that moment a reality, was just overwhelming and will be something that connects all of us for the rest of our lives as teammates and brothers. At what age did you begin to realize you could take your talents to the next level? To be honest, I began playing basketball at 17 years old. I was always athletically inclined and obviously my height was very evident at a young age. I really started to understand that my talents could really take me someplace when I was part of a camp called the 50 Best Big Men Camp in Nigeria and I was selected as one of the top 10. That was a really eye-opening experience for me … it really hit me that basketball could take me somewhere and if I worked hard the skies were the limit. Speaking of which, you spent some time in the D-League and in the CBL (Canadian Basketball League): How was your experience playing pro basketball? How much did it differ from playing in college?
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