5-Star Big Man Obinna Ekezie Sets BYU Visit

TORRANCE, CA - FEBRUARY 13: Southeastern Prep forward Obinna Ekezie Jr. (5) shoots a free throw during the Grind Session Los Angeles high school basketball tournament on February 13, 2026 at El Camino College in Torrance, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Arguably the best high school big man in the country is visiting BYU. 7-foot Center Obinna Ekezie Jr is set to visit BYU today (Saturday), sources tell me. 247 Sports’ Dushawn London was first to publicly report.

Ekezie is rated a 5-Star player by all the major recruiting services and the #2 player in the 2027 class by On3 and #4 by 247 Sports Composite rankings. Obinna is a high school junior, but sources have told me that he is seriously considering a reclass to the 2026 class, which is why BYU got a visit this weekend. He visited Arkansas last weekend and just wrapped up a visit to Louisville.

BYU is searching for its starting center for next season, and Ekezie would fill that void. Widely regarded as a future top 10 pick in the NBA Draft, Ekezie brings tremendous physical tools and upside. At 7-foot with a 7-foot-3 wingspan and 9-foot-4 standing reach, Ekezie is a two-way player who protects the rim and is versatile on offense. During NBA All-Star weekend with some of the best high school age prospects in the world, he was named the Defensive NBA of the Basketball Without Borders camp.

Ekezie is still developing physically and with his game and will have some learning curves with high major bigs if he reclassfies to the 2026 class. But he is a tremendous talent and would give BYU two potential top 10 picks in the 2027 NBA Draft along with Bruce Branch. He would give BYU an elite rim protector and a fluid big man who can guard on switches, finish lobs, and a developing offensive game where he’s shown that he can put the ball on the floor and hit outside shots. Ekezie is old for current grade and turns 18 in May.

Obinna has offers from virtually every school, but BYU, Arkansas, and Louisville appear to be the most likely destinations if he does indeed reclass to 2026. Obinna’s father attended Maryland and they’ve been recruiting him for awhile as well. Louisville has lots of money, but he would likely come off the bench there. BYU and Arkansas seem like the two most likely contenders. BYU can offer him path to lots of playing time, playing alongside one of the best point guards in the country in Rob Wright, and being surrounded by four shooters on the court that will allow him space to operate on offense.

Center is the last missing big piece for BYU, and landing Ekezie would be a huge boon for next season’s team on the floor. Beyond that, it would continue the narrative that Kevin Young is building a place in Provo where top high school players want to come to develop for the NBA.

He is the son of Obinna Sr, who played college ball at Maryland and in the NBA for 5 seasons.

You can watch highlights below.