Ochai Agbaji
-
Saw this from Daniel Cunningham on Twitter:
Ochai Agbaji joins Frank Mason as the second #kubball player under Bill Self to be recruited as a guy outside the top 100 and win Big 12 POTY and become a AP First-Team All-American. Marcus Morris was also outside the top 100 and earned B12 POTY/2nd team AA.
-
@Gorilla72 Marcus Morris was absolutely a top 100 recruit. Most sites at the time had him ranked somewhere in the 30’s.
-
@BeddieKU23 said in Ochai Agbaji:
Deserving of his own thread.
Named AP 1st Team All-American.
Congrats Ochai, your a STUD. Let’s see you add some more hardware to the collection coming up
He’s going to have to make a whole bunch of money, because he’s going to need an extra room for all of his trophies and awards. The list of his awards is crazy. AP ALL AMERICAN!
-
@Jethro Can’t think of anyone who deserves it more.
-
Ochai was named 1 of 4 finalists for National Player of the Year. What an honor and achievement to make it to that final list.
Would be surprised if he won it but I’ll be hoping for it
Johnny Davis, Oscar Tshiebwe & Keegan Murray are the other finalists.
-
@BeddieKU23 said in Ochai Agbaji:
Ochai was named 1 of 4 finalists for National Player of the Year. What an honor and achievement to make it to that final list.
Would be surprised if he won it but I’ll be hoping for it
Johnny Davis, Oscar Tshiebwe & Keegan Murray are the other finalists.
If I’m not mistaking all 3 of these other finalists are out of the tourney aren’t they ? - - IF they are then I think a lot would depends on how Ochai preforms in his remaining games right? - -Would be awesome, not for sure but I think the other 3 are done
-
Voting for these things almost always is completed before any playoffs. Otherwise, some players get lots more national exposure during the voting period.
-
“Whats it like to play alongside Calvin mccormack?”
-
-
heh. that’s what the reporter asked him. Didn’t know Dave’s name… even though he was a McDonald’s All America player
-
@bskeet what a dip wad!
-
It really is amazing that “journalists” cannot be bothered to even know anything about the team or players they are interviewing. One of my pet peeves in sports.
The world is constantly on their smart devices and carry them around everywhere. I’ve seen any number of people trying to text while riding their bikes it’s so pervasive. Yet this dude can’t take 5 seconds to do a google search of the Jayhawks’ roster to make sure he gets a name right.
Had I been Ochai I would have ended the interview as the guy clearly can’t be bothered to do any prep work and it’s tantamount to a slap in the face, IMO. Ochai is a better man than I would have been to put up with that.
-
Many of you are basketball people with a much more vast repository of knowledge than I, so you all may know this story, but I would wager it’s one of the more expensive name screw ups in history. I ran out of time to type it a bit earlier.
When Stephen Curry was being courted by the shoe companies years ago it was all but assumed he would be a Nike guy. He wore Nike throughout his entire career at Davidson and the first few years in the league. His godfather worked for Nike. So, when Nike came and pitched Stephen the executive kept pronouncing it Steph-ON instead of Steph-EN.
Stephen’s Dad, Del, wasn’t taken aback so much by that as he was that a correction never came. That was all it took for Stephen to sign with Under Armour, a HUGE financial boon for UA and a huge whiff on the part of Nike, which has cost them handsomely over the long haul. I suppose I should mention that, in addition to the name flub, one of the Powerpoint slides in the presentation still had Kevin Durant’s name in the text.
I mean, Stephen was not the phenom he eventually would become at that point, but I simply don’t know how errors like that are missed by those in the know. Being a copy writer in a former life I know I’m a bit more sensitive to language and to proof-reading (and don’t get me started on people misusing apostrophes and turning a plural noun into a possessive) but how these things are allowed to slide at a professional level I’ll never know.
Perhaps @BShark or @JAYHAWK214 or @FarmerJayhawk or @BeddieKU23 can comment on this if they would like, but I’ve heard that Bill Self has an almost photographic memory for names. Word is he can meet you and then run into you sometimes years later and still remember your name. That is a gift and I’m sure it has served him well over the years. I have put my kids into various leagues and activities over the years simply because those in charge took the time to learn their names after just a single visit.
Anyway, I don’t mean to belabor the point, but names are so important as it’s about the only thing each person truly owns. Taking the time to learn someone’s name shows that you cared enough to do so, which can make a big impression as Nike found out.
-
@tis4tim said in Ochai Agbaji:
Many of you are basketball people with a much more vast repository of knowledge than I, so you all may know this story, but I would wager it’s one of the more expensive name screw ups in history. I ran out of time to type it a bit earlier.
When Stephen Curry was being courted by the shoe companies years ago it was all but assumed he would be a Nike guy. He wore Nike throughout his entire career at Davidson and the first few years in the league. His godfather worked for Nike. So, when Nike came and pitched Stephen the executive kept pronouncing it Steph-ON instead of Steph-EN.
Stephen’s Dad, Del, wasn’t taken aback so much by that as he was that a correction never came. That was all it took for Stephen to sign with Under Armour, a HUGE financial boon for UA and a huge whiff on the part of Nike, which has cost them handsomely over the long haul. I suppose I should mention that, in addition to the name flub, one of the Powerpoint slides in the presentation still had Kevin Durant’s name in the text.
I mean, Stephen was not the phenom he eventually would become at that point, but I simply don’t know how errors like that are missed by those in the know. Being a copy writer in a former life I know I’m a bit more sensitive to language and to proof-reading (and don’t get me started on people misusing apostrophes and turning a plural noun into a possessive) but how these things are allowed to slide at a professional level I’ll never know.
Perhaps @BShark or @JAYHAWK214 or @FarmerJayhawk or @BeddieKU23 can comment on this if they would like, but I’ve heard that Bill Self has an almost photographic memory for names. Word is he can meet you and then run into you sometimes years later and still remember your name. That is a gift and I’m sure it has served him well over the years. I have put my kids into various leagues and activities over the years simply because those in charge took the time to learn their names after just a single visit.
Anyway, I don’t mean to belabor the point, but names are so important as it’s about the only thing each person truly owns. Taking the time to learn someone’s name shows that you cared enough to do so, which can make a big impression as Nike found out.
Stephen is pronounced “Steven”. I am a leading authority on this subject.
-
@tis4tim I have heard similar. Bill knows EVERYONE on the circuit and remembers their names.
-
As @Jethro writes, Stephen is pronounced Steven. I too am a leading authority on the subject. In the greek our name means crowned one. For the last 10 years or so of my teaching career I’ve had students who see my first name on ID’s or whatever tell me or ask me if my name is steffen. I first of all say my first name is Mr. to you and if we were on a first name basis it’d be Stephen with the V sound. They then tell me I’m saying my own name wrong, even going so far as one kid telling me my parents spelled my name wrong. One school I was new in the secretary was not familiar with who I was and paged me over the intercom “Miss Gantz”. I guess she thought I was a Stephanie?? LOL, fun name moments.
-
@wissox said in Ochai Agbaji:
As @Jethro writes, Stephen is pronounced Steven. I too am a leading authority on the subject. In the greek our name means crowned one. For the last 10 years or so of my teaching career I’ve had students who see my first name on ID’s or whatever tell me or ask me if my name is steffen. I first of all say my first name is Mr. to you and if we were on a first name basis it’d be Stephen with the V sound. They then tell me I’m saying my own name wrong, even going so far as one kid telling me my parents spelled my name wrong. One school I was new in the secretary was not familiar with who I was and paged me over the intercom “Miss Gantz”. I guess she thought I was a Stephanie?? LOL, fun name moments.
LOL.
-
@tis4tim I’m terrible with names. It’s definitely something I wish I was better at.
That said, when making a multi-million dollar pitch, there is no excuse for the message and materials to be polished. That’s something anyone can do.
-
@bskeet said in Ochai Agbaji:
@tis4tim I’m terrible with names. It’s definitely something I wish I was better at.
That said, when making a multi-million dollar pitch, there is no excuse for the message and materials to be polished. That’s something anyone can do.
I was certainly never great with them until I made more of a conscious effort to learn them. It really has served me pretty well in dealing with clients and the public at large.
Funny, but when I call clients or really any business for that matter they often have a litany of information they put in their greeting, like “Hey, thanks for calling such and such where a little of this and a little of that is the way we do things here…yada yada…sliced bread, my name is Mumbly Joe can I help you?” kind of thing.
I generally have to try really hard to pluck out the name of the person I’m speaking with from all the noise. Sometimes I ask them to repeat their name if it is completely unintelligible because it does make a difference.
OK. Back to basketball-related things!
-
Had some fun last week running into a Google search about “ph” and its proper pronunciation. Included the age-old ironic query, Why is “phonetic” pronounced with an F sound?
-
Amazing. As the first graduate of the Commandant of the Marine Corps Court Reporter School circa July 1970 I salute your ability to write long offerings to these threads. I cannot type worth a flip anymore due to loss of control over my hand movements. It takes a bit of effort and time so spelling and grammar adherence slip past me like a Remy Martin drive. Admiration and respect to you and the others.
-
@mayjay said in Ochai Agbaji:
Had some fun last week running into a Google search about “ph” and its proper pronunciation. Included the age-old ironic query, Why is “phonetic” pronounced with an F sound?
No one does that, really? Nice indeed!
-
@tis4tim yeah, Bill is one of the most personable and charismatic people you’ll ever meet. I saw him once walking around my neighborhood while I was out with my dog and we had a good talk about football of all things.
-
@Zabudda said in Ochai Agbaji:
Amazing. As the first graduate of the Commandant of the Marine Corps Court Reporter School circa July 1970 I salute your ability to write long offerings to these threads. I cannot type worth a flip anymore due to loss of control over my hand movements. It takes a bit of effort and time so spelling and grammar adherence slip past me like a Remy Martin drive. Admiration and respect to you and the others.
Thank you, sir, for your service. And I’m not one of those grammar N@zis that points out others’ foibles, especially in this kind of forum where sometimes one has to type quickly to avoid detection in the workplace!
Don’t know if you were here during @jaybate-1-0’s heyday as a lurker before becoming a regular participant, but you want to talk about lengthy posts! I don’t know who the guy is/was or where he studied or what, but talk about someone with a seemingly vast depth of knowledge about damn near everything. Sometimes blurred that line between genius and madness, but he did make you think.
Good times.
-
@FarmerJayhawk said in Ochai Agbaji:
@tis4tim yeah, Bill is one of the most personable and charismatic people you’ll ever meet. I saw him once walking around my neighborhood while I was out with my dog and we had a good talk about football of all things.
That’s really cool. I don’t get to rub elbows with people like that too often though I recently got to chat some with Ralph Sampson - yeah, that one.
He just opened up a new restaurant concept in Charlottesville, VA and we mostly talked music. Really nice guy, though I cringe a bit thinking about our conversation, since I inadvertently brought up the knee injury that derailed what should have been a productive and lengthy career. I don’t think he minded, but one of those things like locking your keys in your car where you realize what’s happening and you’re powerless to stop it!
-
@tis4tim said in Ochai Agbaji:
@Zabudda said in Ochai Agbaji:
Amazing. As the first graduate of the Commandant of the Marine Corps Court Reporter School circa July 1970 I salute your ability to write long offerings to these threads. I cannot type worth a flip anymore due to loss of control over my hand movements. It takes a bit of effort and time so spelling and grammar adherence slip past me like a Remy Martin drive. Admiration and respect to you and the others.
Thank you, sir, for your service. And I’m not one of those grammar N@zis that points out others’ foibles, especially in this kind of forum where sometimes one has to type quickly to avoid detection in the workplace!
Don’t know if you were here during @jaybate-1-0’s heyday as a lurker before becoming a regular participant, but you want to talk about lengthy posts! I don’t know who the guy is/was or where he studied or what, but talk about someone with a seemingly vast depth of knowledge about damn near everything. Sometimes blurred that line between genius and madness, but he did make you think.
Good times.
Yes I remember Jaybate. He knew how to stir the pot and I quit the ljw thread after he left because it wasn’t as interesting or as much fun. I was really sad.
-
https://naismithfanvote.com/ Vote Och! Vote every day.
-
@wissox I can relate- my last name is stephenson … it gets mis-pronounced quite often because some people see the “ph” and want to say “steffenson “
-
@Crimsonorblue22 said in Ochai Agbaji:
https://naismithfanvote.com/ Vote Och! Vote every day.
It appears you can vote once per day on every device you own.
-
INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT. Bought his Jersey yesterday!
Big 12 Conference Title
Big-12 Player of the Year
Big-12 Tournament Champion
1st team All-American
Finalist for POY
Final 4
ONE more box to check
-
Updated
Big-12 Player of the Year/1st Team Big-12
Big 12 Conference Title
Big-12 Tournament Champion
1st team All-American
Finalist for POY
Final 4 MOP
NCAA CHAMPION
Unlike that other guy that was unanimous National Player of the Year while winning NOTHING. Not a conference title, not an NCAA tournament game. Just crazy how disrespected Ochai was in the voting
-
Och got what he came back for and shared it
-
What he shared w/his family was pure joy!
-
@BeddieKU23 Never seen a guy who I believed ONLY cared about winning more. I mean, they all say it, but Och meant it. He did not care about any of those accolades except the third, the fourth, and the last one. I hope he lands with a decent NBA squad so he can keep on winning!
-
@benshawks08 said in Ochai Agbaji:
I hope he lands with a decent NBA squad so he can keep on winning!
Please don’t go to the Kings. Please don’t go to the Kings. Please don’t go to the Kings …
-
@tis4tim said in Ochai Agbaji:
@benshawks08 said in Ochai Agbaji:
I hope he lands with a decent NBA squad so he can keep on winning!
Please don’t go to the Kings. Please don’t go to the Kings. Please don’t go to the Kings …
the draft I seen him projected in and he was pick 22 going to the Golden State Warriors
-
@jayballer67 said in Ochai Agbaji:
the draft I seen him projected in and he was pick 22 going to the Golden State Warriors
Honestly, I’ll be happy to see Och fulfill his dream on any NBA roster, though Ben McLemore, Frank Mason and Thomas Robinson’s time with the Kings has soured me on that franchise.
I think Cole Aldrich and Drew Gooden also had a cup of coffee with them some years back. Former Jayhawks just don’t seem to do very well there. Of course, nobody has done well there since about 2006.
-
I think Och is a couple of years away from separating himself from much of the NBA pack. I hope he gets at that level. He has the potential but he’ll have to stay dedicated and I think it is hard to do that in the NBA. So many distractions. Hope he strays away from the ladies and focuses on ball. We saw how he focused and worked hard in college… I think he is such a great kid and from a solid family. I think he has his head in the right spot to advance!
-
@drgnslayr he has a strong family, not all of our Jayhawks have had that. Plus he’s a Sr.
-
Didn’t realize Ochai also got snubbed from the Jerry West Award given to the Top Shooting Guard. Hard to even believe as he was a 1st TEAM ALL AMERICAN
-
@drgnslayr His parents are Wisconsin grads and he was thought to be headed to Wisconsin at one point if my memory is correct.
-
@wissox said in Ochai Agbaji:
@drgnslayr His parents are Wisconsin grads and he was thought to be headed to Wisconsin at one point if my memory is correct.
His parents are UW-Milwaukee grads.
-
@Texas-Hawk-10 Thanks for the fact check, had never heard that aspect of it.
-
@wissox said in Ochai Agbaji:
@Texas-Hawk-10 Thanks for the fact check, had never heard that aspect of it.
They both played basketball for the Panthers.
