2015-16 America East Rookie of the Year joins Kentucky women’s basketball team
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Former Stony Brook forward Ogechi Anyagaligbo (pronounced Oh-gech-EE On-ya-gull-IG-bo), who was the 2015-16 America East Conference Rookie of the Year last season after averaging 10.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, has transferred to Kentucky, head coach Matthew Mitchell announced Thursday. Anyagaligbo has enrolled at UK and is attending classes.
“We are thrilled that Ogechi has decided to become a Wildcat,” Mitchell said. “Ogechi is a very physical player that is talented on both ends of the court, which she proved last year by putting up impressive numbers in her rookie season at Stony Brook. She is the type of player we look for on and off the court and we think she is going to be a perfect fit for our system and what we are trying to accomplish here at UK. We’re excited to get her on campus and see her in Kentucky blue.”
Per NCAA transfer rules, the 6-foot forward will be permitted to practice, but will not be able to participate in games or travel with the team during the 2016-17 season. Anyagaligbo will have three years of eligibility remaining starting in 2017-18.
“I always wanted to play basketball at a high level after high school and after working really hard my first year at Stony Brook, I decided to transfer to a bigger program and was welcomed with open arms by the Kentucky players and staff,” Anyagaligbo said. “I knew Kentucky was right for me because looking at the history of the program, Coach Mitchell has done great things and develops players. He also has some very talented assistant coaches that were great players and I know they will help me develop. I bought in and I am excited to grind and get on the court in a year.”
Anyagaligbo played in all 32 games last season at Stony Brook, finishing first on the team in rebounds and blocks, and second on the team in scoring and steals. The forward led the AEC in rebounds and was named the AEC Rookie of the Week nine times during the season, just one honor short of the conference record. Anyagaligbo averaged 9.0 rebounds per game, 1.3 blocks per game and hit .556 from the field – all which ranked top 10 in Stony Brook’s single-season rankings. Anyagaligbo finished the season by scoring in double figures 16 times, including nine double-doubles. Anyagaligbo’s best performances came against LIU Brooklyn, where she scored a career-high 23 points, before an impressive 19-rebound performance against Wagner, which was the best rebounding performance by a Stony Brook player since 2005-06.
During her time at Miami Country Day High School, where she was an all-state honoree and three-year captain,Anyagaligbo won two state championships and nearly averaged a double-double with 11.0 points and 9.6 rebounds. Her senior season, Anyagaligbo was named the DICK’s Sporting Goods High School Nationals Most Valuable Player after leading the Spartans to the state title. Her first year in high school, Anyagaligbo helped Miami Country Day to a 29-4 record and runner-up finish in the state tournament.
A native of Miami, Fla., Anyagaligbo was a two-sport athlete, lettering two years in volleyball. She played AAU ball on the Nike EYBL Circuit for the Miami Suns Team Fowles under head coach Erika Haney.
For more information on the Kentucky women’s basketball team, visit UKathletics.com or follow @KentuckyWBB on Twitter and Instagram, or Kentucky Women’s Basketball on Facebook.
‑ GO CATS –