St. Bonaventure got a huge addition to its 2016-17 roster when it found out that Syracuse center Chinonso Obokoh would be transferring to Olean. With Dion Wright graduating and Jordan Tyson leaving the program, the Bonnies were in great need of interior players and Obokoh fits the mold perfectly. He’s a 6’9″ center who weighs 215 lbs and plays the block well. His main intention in transferring was to earn more playing time. Obokoh scored just 1.1 points and pulled down 1.6 rebounds per game last season while averaging just 6.1 minutes per game. He played in just 11 games for Syracuse last season.
Syracuse transfer Chinonso Obokoh has committed to St. Bonaventure, source told @CBSSports. Immediately eligible.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 7, 2016
Obokoh’s interior play will be key to helping the Bonnies make the NCAA Tournament next season. St. Bonaventure just missed the field last season and fell in the first round of the NIT to Wagner. Chinonso Obokoh will likely be the Bonnies’ starting center this November, as they don’t have many other big men who will be able to fill the role. Though seniors Marcus Posley and Dion Wright will be lost to graduation, St. Bonaventure returns a very talented guard in Jaylen Adams as well as rising talent in Idris Taqqee, Denzel Gregg, and Nelson Kaputo. With this addition, they’ll look to make a run in the A-10 next season.
The Bonnies will certainly hope to utilize their new big man on the glass next year. They ranked 313th in defensive rebounding percentage last season and could certainly use the help on the boards.