Ochai Agbaji facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ochai Agbaji

Agbaji (right) with the Toronto Raptors in 2024
No. 30 – Toronto Raptors
Shooting guard
Personal information
Born	(2000-04-20) April 20, 2000 (age 25) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
High school	Oak Park (Kansas City, Missouri)
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight	215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
College	Kansas (2018–2022)
NBA Draft	2022 / Round: 1 / Pick: 14th overall
Selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers
Pro career	2022–present
League	NBA
Career history
2022–2024	Utah Jazz
2022	→Salt Lake City Stars
2024–present	Toronto Raptors
Career highlights and awards
NCAA champion (2022) NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (2022) Consensus first-team All-American (2022) Big 12 Player of the Year (2022) First-team All-Big 12 (2022)

Ochai Young Agbaji, born on April 20, 2000, is a professional basketball player from the United States. He plays for the Toronto Raptors in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

When he was a senior at the University of Kansas, Ochai was recognized as one of the best college players. In 2022, he was named the Big 12 Player of the Year. He helped his team, the Kansas Jayhawks, win the national championship. He was also named the Most Outstanding Player (MOP) of the Final Four tournament.

Agbaji was chosen as the 14th player in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, he was traded to the Utah Jazz in September 2022. He joined the Toronto Raptors in 2024.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Ochai Agbaji was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He grew up mostly in Kansas City, Missouri. When he was younger, he played soccer because his dad encouraged him. He also played Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball.

When he was a sophomore at Oak Park High School, he stopped playing soccer. He decided to focus only on basketball. Ochai grew about 9 inches (23 cm) between his freshman and junior years.

Even though he was good, he didn't get offers from big college basketball programs until his senior year. In his senior year, he averaged 27.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. He was named the Kansas City Star All-Metro player of the year. On February 8, 2018, he decided to play college basketball for Kansas.

College Basketball Career

Agbaji started his first year at the University of Kansas as a "redshirt" player. This meant he practiced with the team but didn't play in games. In January 2019, he started playing because the team needed more players.

On January 29, he played his first game as a starter. He scored 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds. In his next game, he achieved his first "double-double." This means he had double-digit numbers in two stats, like points and rebounds. He was named the Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Week for these games. As a freshman, he averaged 8.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

In his second year, on November 5, 2019, he scored 15 points in a game against Duke. He was named Honorable Mention All-Big 12. As a sophomore, he averaged 10 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. He also made the second-most three-pointers on his team.

As a junior, he averaged 14.1 points per game. On April 8, 2021, he said he would enter the 2021 NBA draft. However, he kept the option to return to college.

Agbaji started his senior year on November 9, 2021. He scored 29 points in a win against Michigan State. On January 24, 2022, he scored a career-high 37 points in a double-overtime win against Texas Tech.

At the end of the season, Agbaji was voted the Big 12 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year. He was also named a top college player in the country. Kansas won the 2022 NCAA tournament. He scored 12 points in the championship game. He was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player (MOP). On April 24, he officially entered the 2022 NBA draft.

Professional Basketball Career

Playing for the Utah Jazz (2022–2024)

The Cleveland Cavaliers chose Ochai Agbaji as the 14th pick in the 2022 NBA draft. On July 2, 2022, he signed his first contract with the Cavaliers.

However, on September 1, 2022, Agbaji was traded to the Utah Jazz. He was traded along with other players and draft picks. This trade was in exchange for another player, Donovan Mitchell.

Agbaji played his first NBA game on October 19, 2022. He played one minute in a win against the Denver Nuggets. On April 8, 2023, Agbaji scored his career-high of 28 points. This happened in a win against the Nuggets.

Playing for the Toronto Raptors (2024–Present)

On February 8, 2024, Agbaji was traded again. He went to the Toronto Raptors with Kelly Olynyk. In return, the Jazz received Kira Lewis Jr., Otto Porter Jr., and a draft pick.

On November 27, 2024, Agbaji scored 24 points in a game. He made 9 out of 10 shots and 6 out of 7 three-pointers. This helped the Raptors win against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Career Statistics

NBA Statistics

College Statistics

Family Life

Ochai Agbaji's father, Olofu, moved to the U.S. from Nigeria when he was 17 years old. Both his mother, Erica, and his father played basketball at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Ochai's older sister, Orie, played volleyball for Texas.

See also

In Spanish: Ochai Agbaji para niños