Transferring St. John’s big man Chris Obekpa is visiting Minnesota from Thursday-Saturday and is considering several other schools as well, sources told SNY.tv.
The 6-foot-9 Obekpa is also considering N.C. State, Arizona State and Alabama, sources told SNY.tv. He will have to sit out the 2015-16 season, per NCAA transfer rules.
The Minnesota visit was previously reported by Scout.com.
Obekpa played in 95 games during his career with the Red Storm, averaging 4.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. The center from Makurdi, Nigeria, led the Big East in blocked shots three straight years and holds the program’s career (321), single-season (133) and single-game (11) blocks records.
Obekpa made 30 appearances last season posting 5.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.2 rejections per game.
“It was a great three years of growing here at St. John’s,” Obekpa said in a statement. “I am forever grateful for the friends and family I have met during my time here. Much gratitude goes out to my coaches, teammates, professors and administrators for all of their love and support over the past three years.”
As it turns out, Obekpa’s St. John’s career came to an end in the 2015 Big East Tournament. On Selection Sunday, just hours before the Red Storm were chosen for their first Big East Tournament since 2011, Obekpa was suspended by Lavin for a violation of team rules. Sources at the time told SNY.tv that the suspension was related to a failed drug test. St. John’s wound up losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to San Diego State.
This is the second time Obekpa is leaving St. John’s. On April 3, 2014, the school announced Obekpa had been granted his release following his sophomore season, but it was announced 15 days later he would return as a junior.
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