Finding a Family at K-State
Oct 10, 2024 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
He surprised his mother. Sort of. Ugonna Kingsley Onyenso did return to the arms of Lilian Chinyere, his mother, who he had not seen for the last two years of his life. He was born in Owerri, the capital city of Imo State in Nigeria. It was the state's largest city with more than 1.4 million residents. Ugonna said that he was going to surprise his mother in mid-July. He was going to knock on the door and say, "Surprise!" But it didn't go quite as he had pictured inside of his head.
His mother moved to another house. He did not know where it was located. He found someone who knew. He knocked on the front door. She couldn't believe her eyes.
"You grew," she said. "Why are you this tall?"
He hugged her tight.
Ugonna tells the story about their reunion shortly after rising from a table at an intimate news gathering inside the team meeting room at the Ice Family Basketball Center shortly after Kansas State men's basketball practice last week. Practice, he says, is going fine. Sitting in front of reporters, he repeats the word "family" over and over again. He loves his new teammates. He says that how K-State head coach Jerome Tang and members of his coaching staff speak to the players is like a family.
"It's like adopting kids into a family," he says.
Whereas upperclassmen or returning players might've been somewhat cool to the newcomers at some places, Ugonna appreciated how K-State senior wing David N'Guessan was like, "Welcome to the family."
"I love it," Ugonna says.
Then he says, "I need family everywhere I go."
Ugonna is 7-foot and 247 pounds and a former consensus top-25 recruit. He arrived in Manhattan in June after spending two seasons at Kentucky (2022-24), where he was a member of two NCAA Tournament teams. He played 40 games at Kentucky, including 14 consecutive starts to end last season. He developed into one of the top shot blockers in Division I college basketball, posting 82 blocks in 40 games, while his 2.75 blocks per game in 2023-24 ranked fifth in Kentucky history. He tied a Rupp Arena record with 10 blocks in a win over Ole Miss — equaling the mark set by David Robinson in a game in 1987.
Over his Kentucky career, Ugonna averaged 3.1 points on 54.3% shooting with 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 14.0 minutes per game.
The smile on Ugonna's face reveals his delight in being a member of the K-State Wildcats.
"I take pride in defense," he says. "For me, defense wins games. Whatever I can do to help my team, that's what I do. I have their back when their man drives for a layup. Being able to block a shot, I get a different kind of joy when I pin the ball on the backboard or swat one away. It's a different kind of feeling. I really love it. I take pride in it."
The family piece became evident to Ugonna during a recent practice. Tang gave Ugonna some tough love.
"I got a rebound and missed a layup," Ugonna says. "I was supposed to dunk the ball, but I didn't. Coach Tang told me to go to the treadmill and run. He told me to go run. To me, I'm not going to get frustrated or mad because that's a coach who wants you to improve. He's looking out for you. That's every player's dream."
Ugonna, a 20-year-old with NBA aspirations, is happy with his decision to take the trip to Manhattan in June.
"The coaches here are more involved with the players, especially the head coach — Coach Tang," he says. "That's one thing I love when I go to a school. I love a head coach who's involved with the players. It doesn't matter when or what time, he's involved. And that's one thing I want from a team, and we have it here."
Ugonna announced that he was declaring for the NBA Draft on April 15 and opted to return to the college scene and play a junior season on May 29. He was ranked by ESPN as a top-70 prospect in the 2024 draft. He opted not to stick around Kentucky and several other prominent schools came calling.
That included K-State.
"When I got out of the NBA Draft, I came here on my visit," Ugonna says. "I only took one visit, which was here."
It was all Ugonna needed.
"The coaching staff tells me I'm not here just to block shots," Ugonna says. "They're looking for me so I'm being involved with the plays, and the guards are looking for me down low in the post, so I'm really looking forward to it. We're going to drop big numbers this year, big numbers this year."
Soccer was Ugonna's first love. He was always tallest in his class. It wasn't until age 12 that he picked up a basketball for the first time. As for surprises? Ugonna's early skills were rooted in the NBA Academy Africa student-athlete program in Thies, Senegal for three years. He played in a number of high-profile international competitions in Europe, Mexico and the U.S.
At age 17, he became one the youngest players ever to play on the Nigeria national team.
In January 2021, Ugonna moved to the United States and played for the Putman Science Academy in Putnam, Connecticut, his senior season, leading Putnam to 20 consecutive wins and a National Prep Basketball Championship. He averaged 11.4 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.7 blocks.
Ranked as a top-25 prospect in the 2023 class by all the major scouting services, he reclassified to the 2022 class.
The first time Tang saw Ugonna was inside a gym in June 2022 — three months after Tang was hired at K-State. Ugonna played really well in his first game, and then was unbelievable the next. Then Tang spotted John Calipari in the stands. Tang said, "Oh, that's why."
Shortly after, Ugonna committed to Kentucky over Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Kansas.
And now he prepares for his first K-State basketball game in late October. Amazing how life can change in a few short years.
"I'm really excited," Ugonna says. "The SEC has some competition, and I've been there most of my college career. I know what it's like to play in a different conference. We have pretty good teams in this conference. I'm really looking forward to it because most of the top bigs (centers) are in this conference.
"I'm looking forward to showing what I can do and showing I'm one of the top bigs in the country. I'm really looking forward to it."
It all traces back to a central theme: Ugonna feels comfortable with his new basketball family.
"When I left my family when I was 14, I felt some type of way," he says. "I was like, 'Maybe basketball isn't my thing because I need my family around.' At some point I grew out of that. Moving is a part of being a basketball player. Changing environments is a part of it."
But there's nothing like returning to a loving home — even if the address has changed — and into the arms of a mother. Which is what Ugonna did in mid-July after being away for the last two years. Much can change. And, oh, the stories he had to share about his journey. But when Lilian opened the front door to her new home, her eyes grew wide. He had surprised her.
"You grew," she said. "Why are you this tall?"
The son had grown into a man.
And he gave his mom a hug.
He surprised his mother. Sort of. Ugonna Kingsley Onyenso did return to the arms of Lilian Chinyere, his mother, who he had not seen for the last two years of his life. He was born in Owerri, the capital city of Imo State in Nigeria. It was the state's largest city with more than 1.4 million residents. Ugonna said that he was going to surprise his mother in mid-July. He was going to knock on the door and say, "Surprise!" But it didn't go quite as he had pictured inside of his head.
His mother moved to another house. He did not know where it was located. He found someone who knew. He knocked on the front door. She couldn't believe her eyes.
"You grew," she said. "Why are you this tall?"
He hugged her tight.
Ugonna tells the story about their reunion shortly after rising from a table at an intimate news gathering inside the team meeting room at the Ice Family Basketball Center shortly after Kansas State men's basketball practice last week. Practice, he says, is going fine. Sitting in front of reporters, he repeats the word "family" over and over again. He loves his new teammates. He says that how K-State head coach Jerome Tang and members of his coaching staff speak to the players is like a family.
"It's like adopting kids into a family," he says.
Whereas upperclassmen or returning players might've been somewhat cool to the newcomers at some places, Ugonna appreciated how K-State senior wing David N'Guessan was like, "Welcome to the family."
"I love it," Ugonna says.
Then he says, "I need family everywhere I go."
Ugonna is 7-foot and 247 pounds and a former consensus top-25 recruit. He arrived in Manhattan in June after spending two seasons at Kentucky (2022-24), where he was a member of two NCAA Tournament teams. He played 40 games at Kentucky, including 14 consecutive starts to end last season. He developed into one of the top shot blockers in Division I college basketball, posting 82 blocks in 40 games, while his 2.75 blocks per game in 2023-24 ranked fifth in Kentucky history. He tied a Rupp Arena record with 10 blocks in a win over Ole Miss — equaling the mark set by David Robinson in a game in 1987.
Over his Kentucky career, Ugonna averaged 3.1 points on 54.3% shooting with 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 14.0 minutes per game.
The smile on Ugonna's face reveals his delight in being a member of the K-State Wildcats.
"I take pride in defense," he says. "For me, defense wins games. Whatever I can do to help my team, that's what I do. I have their back when their man drives for a layup. Being able to block a shot, I get a different kind of joy when I pin the ball on the backboard or swat one away. It's a different kind of feeling. I really love it. I take pride in it."
The family piece became evident to Ugonna during a recent practice. Tang gave Ugonna some tough love.
"I got a rebound and missed a layup," Ugonna says. "I was supposed to dunk the ball, but I didn't. Coach Tang told me to go to the treadmill and run. He told me to go run. To me, I'm not going to get frustrated or mad because that's a coach who wants you to improve. He's looking out for you. That's every player's dream."
Ugonna, a 20-year-old with NBA aspirations, is happy with his decision to take the trip to Manhattan in June.
"The coaches here are more involved with the players, especially the head coach — Coach Tang," he says. "That's one thing I love when I go to a school. I love a head coach who's involved with the players. It doesn't matter when or what time, he's involved. And that's one thing I want from a team, and we have it here."
Ugonna announced that he was declaring for the NBA Draft on April 15 and opted to return to the college scene and play a junior season on May 29. He was ranked by ESPN as a top-70 prospect in the 2024 draft. He opted not to stick around Kentucky and several other prominent schools came calling.
That included K-State.
"When I got out of the NBA Draft, I came here on my visit," Ugonna says. "I only took one visit, which was here."
It was all Ugonna needed.
"The coaching staff tells me I'm not here just to block shots," Ugonna says. "They're looking for me so I'm being involved with the plays, and the guards are looking for me down low in the post, so I'm really looking forward to it. We're going to drop big numbers this year, big numbers this year."
Soccer was Ugonna's first love. He was always tallest in his class. It wasn't until age 12 that he picked up a basketball for the first time. As for surprises? Ugonna's early skills were rooted in the NBA Academy Africa student-athlete program in Thies, Senegal for three years. He played in a number of high-profile international competitions in Europe, Mexico and the U.S.
At age 17, he became one the youngest players ever to play on the Nigeria national team.
In January 2021, Ugonna moved to the United States and played for the Putman Science Academy in Putnam, Connecticut, his senior season, leading Putnam to 20 consecutive wins and a National Prep Basketball Championship. He averaged 11.4 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.7 blocks.
Ranked as a top-25 prospect in the 2023 class by all the major scouting services, he reclassified to the 2022 class.
The first time Tang saw Ugonna was inside a gym in June 2022 — three months after Tang was hired at K-State. Ugonna played really well in his first game, and then was unbelievable the next. Then Tang spotted John Calipari in the stands. Tang said, "Oh, that's why."
Shortly after, Ugonna committed to Kentucky over Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Kansas.
And now he prepares for his first K-State basketball game in late October. Amazing how life can change in a few short years.
"I'm really excited," Ugonna says. "The SEC has some competition, and I've been there most of my college career. I know what it's like to play in a different conference. We have pretty good teams in this conference. I'm really looking forward to it because most of the top bigs (centers) are in this conference.
"I'm looking forward to showing what I can do and showing I'm one of the top bigs in the country. I'm really looking forward to it."
It all traces back to a central theme: Ugonna feels comfortable with his new basketball family.
"When I left my family when I was 14, I felt some type of way," he says. "I was like, 'Maybe basketball isn't my thing because I need my family around.' At some point I grew out of that. Moving is a part of being a basketball player. Changing environments is a part of it."
But there's nothing like returning to a loving home — even if the address has changed — and into the arms of a mother. Which is what Ugonna did in mid-July after being away for the last two years. Much can change. And, oh, the stories he had to share about his journey. But when Lilian opened the front door to her new home, her eyes grew wide. He had surprised her.
"You grew," she said. "Why are you this tall?"
The son had grown into a man.
And he gave his mom a hug.
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