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Obinna Ekezie Jr. picks Louisville basketball, reclassifies to 2026
TL;DR
Obinna Ekezie Jr., a top-10 talent in the Class of 2027, has committed to Louisville basketball and will reclassify to join the team in 2026. He previously played at Southeastern Preparatory Academy and is the son of NBA veteran Obinna Ekezie Sr.
Key points
- Obinna Ekezie Jr. is a 7-foot center.
- He is a consensus top-10 talent in the Class of 2027.
- He will reclassify to the 2026 cycle to join Louisville basketball.
- Other finalists included Arkansas, BYU, Kentucky, and Maryland.
- He previously played at Southeastern Preparatory Academy.
Mentioned in this story
Louisville basketballArkansasBYUKentuckyMarylandObinna Ekezie Sr.
Southeastern Preparatory AcademyObinna Ekezie Jr.
A coveted 7-foot center will enroll in college a year early to join Louisville basketball's loaded 2026-27 roster.
Obinna Ekezie Jr., a consensus top-10 talent in the Class of 2027, announced his commitment to Pat Kelsey and the Cardinals on Sunday and will reclassify to the 2026 cycle so he can suit up for the team this season with a post to Instagram, in collaboration with On3's Joe Tipton.
Arkansas, BYU, Kentucky and Maryland were the other four finalists for his pledge.
Ekezie, the son of NBA veteran Obinna Ekezie Sr., spent his junior season at Southeastern Preparatory Academy in Maitland, Florida. He's no stranger to the 502, having attended St. Raphael School as an eighth-grader.
According to MaxPreps, Ekezie averaged 12.4 points on 60% shooting (29%, 12 for 42, from 3-point range) with 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks across 17.1 minutes per game in 2025-26.
Ekezie, who is of Nigerian descent, earned an invite to a Basketball Without Borders camp coinciding with the NBA All-Star Game in February. His performance there earned him the camp's Defensive Most Valuable Player honor.
Ekezie is the seventh new addition to UofL's 2026-27 roster. He joins former Kansas forward , former USC forward , former forward , former Arkansas wing , former Dayton guard and former guard .
Q&A
Why did Obinna Ekezie Jr. choose Louisville basketball?
Obinna Ekezie Jr. chose Louisville basketball for its strong program and to join a loaded roster for the 2026-27 season.
What other schools were in the running for Obinna Ekezie Jr.?
The other finalists for Obinna Ekezie Jr.'s commitment included Arkansas, BYU, Kentucky, and Maryland.
What does reclassifying to 2026 mean for Obinna Ekezie Jr.'s college career?
Reclassifying to 2026 allows Obinna Ekezie Jr. to enroll in college a year early and compete for Louisville basketball this upcoming season.
