1997
1997 boys’ basketball team: Okike is third from left.
Kanu M. Okike
K
anu Okike first learned of Phillips Academy while searching for summer programs. After visiting campus, he quickly realized that Andover offered an environment with strong academic and athletic opportunities. Okike ran varsity cross-country all four years. Lower year he added varsity basketball and varsity lacrosse to his schedule; those teams’ records were particularly strong his upper year. As a senior, Okike was captain of the boys’ cross-country and basketball teams. Known as a hard-working team player and a motivating captain, Okike anchored his cross-country team to a second consecutive New England Interschols championship. “Kanu Okike exemplifies what the Andover-athlete is supposed to be. An honors student as well as the captain of two varsity sports, Kanu has established himself as a leader and role model both in the classroom and on the athletic field,” wrote The Phillipian. Okike was named to the Academic
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All-American Lacrosse Team, named Athlete of the Year in 1997, and received the Schubert Key award and Yale Bowl. Okike continued to play lacrosse at Harvard University and was named to the Academic All-American Lacrosse (third team) in 2001. He received the John P. Reardon ’60 Men’s Award, which is presented annually to the senior varsity male athlete who exemplifies the qualities of excellent scholarship, character, leadership, and athletic ability—in short, the top male scholar-athlete. Okike continued on to Harvard Medical School, following in his parents’ footsteps: his mother is a primary care pediatrician and his father is a cardiothoracic surgeon. Okike chose orthopaedic surgery as his specialty after an injury sustained while playing college lacrosse. Dr. Okike currently lives in Honolulu with his wife, Jennifer, and their two daughters. He continues to show his non sibi spirit via overseas volunteer work in sub-Saharan Africa. 9