Playing college basketball for Syracuse is close to being as good as it gets for many of the best high school athletes in the nation.  For one nearby star, that dream will become a reality next fall and for hoops fans in the Western New York area, you’ll get plenty of chances to see why he’ll be an Orangemen.

Chinonso Obokoh, a 6-foot-9 star center out of Bishop Kearney in Rochester has committed to playing basketball for head coach Jim Boeheim and the national powerhouse Syracuse program.

“I would say that I felt at home at Syracuse,” Obokoh told Scout.com upon his decision. “Just everything when I got there. It was all positive. The coaches and the players. It felt right.”

A native of Nigeria, Obokoh averaged 14.9 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists as a junior at Kearney last year as Kings won the Section V Class A championship and advanced to the State Class A semifinals before falling to Harborfields.

ESPN.com had the following to say about Oboh

“Obokoh’s physical tools are the basis for his value. He’s an excellent athlete at the power forward spot and has the size and length necessary to move over to the center position if necessary. He’s got good feet and mobility for the frontcourt.”

Syracuse has a pretty strong bond with area hoopsters in recent years.  Niagara Falls high school stars Johnny Flynn and Paul Harris both played their college ball at Syracuse.

Fans of future Division I players that follow high school hoops in the Buffalo area will get plenty of chances to see Obokoh in action his senior year.  Kearney is slated to have games against Canisius, St. Joe’s, Niagara Falls, Timon and St. Francis this season.

Come out and see Obokoh play if you can.  He’s a pretty special talent.