Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
St. John’s announced Friday the suspension of sophomore center Chris Obekpa for tonight’s Red Storm Tip-Off and SJU’s two exhibition contests vs. San Francisco State and Humboldt State in early November.
The two-game penalty and absence from tonight’s event is a result of a violation of St. John’s university policy.
“We expect our student-athletes to conduct themselves in a responsible manner in representing St. John’s University,” said head men’s basketball coach Steve Lavin. “Chris understands this suspension can serve as a learning experience.”
A game-changing shotblocker, the 6-9 Obekpa averaged 4.03 blocks to lead the NCAA in rejections per game and totaled a school and BIG EAST-record 133 blocks as a freshman in 2012-13. Obekpa swatted a school-record 11 shots in a victory against Fordham (Dec. 8, 2012) en route to matching the St. John’s single-season record (76) in just 15 games before eclipsing it in only his 16th contest as a collegian.
Obekpa will continue team practice throughout the preseason and will be reinstated for the Red Storm’s season-opening contest vs. No. 21 Wisconsin in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Nov. 8.
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
St. John’s announced Friday the suspension of sophomore center Chris Obekpa for tonight’s Red Storm Tip-Off and SJU’s two exhibition contests vs. San Francisco State and Humboldt State in early November.
The two-game penalty and absence from tonight’s event is a result of a violation of St. John’s university policy.
“We expect our student-athletes to conduct themselves in a responsible manner in representing St. John’s University,” said head men’s basketball coach Steve Lavin. “Chris understands this suspension can serve as a learning experience.”
A game-changing shotblocker, the 6-9 Obekpa averaged 4.03 blocks to lead the NCAA in rejections per game and totaled a school and BIG EAST-record 133 blocks as a freshman in 2012-13. Obekpa swatted a school-record 11 shots in a victory against Fordham (Dec. 8, 2012) en route to matching the St. John’s single-season record (76) in just 15 games before eclipsing it in only his 16th contest as a collegian.
Obekpa will continue team practice throughout the preseason and will be reinstated for the Red Storm’s season-opening contest vs. No. 21 Wisconsin in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Nov. 8.
