Tobe Awaka recorded a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds on January 27, 2025, in a victory over the Iowa State Cyclones.
Tobe Awaka is a basketball forward for the Arizona Wildcats of the University of Arizona. He played his two seasons of college basketball at the University of Tennessee.
Awaka transferred to Arizona from Tennessee in April 2024. During his time at Tennessee, he averaged 5.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in the 2023-2024 season.
Moreover, Tobe attended Cardinal Hayes High School in Bronx, New York, and was the 2022 New York Gatorade Player of the Year.
Highlights
- Tobe Awaka is a collegiate basketball player who plays forward for Arizona Wildcats.
- Tobe is the oldest child of his parents, Sunny Awaka and Henrietta Awaka.
- Awaka’s parents are Nigerian emigrants; they moved to America before Tobe was born.
Tobe Awaka, the junior forward of Arizona Wildcats, has been making significant contributions to the team’s success this season of NCAA men’s basketball.
On January 27, the Arizona Wildcats secured an 86-75 overtime victory against the No. 3 ranked Iowa State Cyclones in Tucson.
Tobe Awaka finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds as Arizona defeated #3 Iowa State 86-75 in overtime at McKale Memorial Center in Tucson.
— Rockford Maverick (@RockfordMav) January 28, 2025
pic.twitter.com/WsaBplS3lN
In the game, Tobe Awaka played a pivotal role in the Wildcat’s triumph, recording a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Similarly, on January 25, 2025, in the game against the University of Colorado Boulder, Awaka was a dominant presence on the boards, securing 15 rebounds (seven offensive and eight defensive).
With the victory over Iowa State, it marked the 10th win of Arizona in their last 11 games. They will face the Arizona State Sun Devils on February 1, 2025.
Tobe Awaka’s Parents, Sunny, And Henrietta Awaka, Inspire His Excellence In Academics And Basketball, Embracing Nigerian Heritage
Tobe Awaka was born as the oldest child of his parents, Sunny and Henrietta Awaka.
His parents are Nigerian emigrants who moved to the United States a few years before Tobe’s birth on January 30, 2004.
Tobe grew up in a household that values academics, religious principles, and humanity. In his interview with RTI, Tobe’s father, Sunny Awaka, states,
basketball just happens to be one of those because basketball is not even his best attribute. I think his best attribute is humanity, his intelligence in terms of academics and his determination to be the best of whatever he gets into
Sunny Awaka
In the Awaka household, academics are a top priority. Awaka’s father, Sunny, attributes their strong academic values to their Nigerian heritage.
Tobe’s high school coach, Tim Philip, has mentioned that he was not allowed to play basketball if his grade was below 85.
However, the basketball forward graduated with a 4.0 GPA in high school. Another Tobe’s coach, Joe Lods, states,
His father was all business, no-nonsense kind of guy, “Very commanding of him and very disciplined with him … really made him into kind of the man that he is.
Joe Lods
While there is barely any information about Tobe Awaka’s father, Sunny Awaka, he is likely a medical personnel. As Tobe has mentioned, if professional basketball isn’t in his future, he wants to be a doctor.
In his Interview with GoVolts247, Tobe Awaka states,
I mean, if basketball as a profession doesn’t work out, doctor’s a possible avenue.
Tobe Awaka
On the other hand, religion has always captivated The Awaka family. His mother, Henrietta Awaka, led Bible studies for Tobe and had faith in god. She states,
I know that when he would ask me certain questions about God and fate, I would tell him to read it in the Bible. When you read the Bible you can make certain judgments for yourself.
Henrietta Awaka
Additional Information
- Tobe Awaka has three siblings, Nkiru, Somto, and Kamsi Awaka.
- Tobe’s sister, Nkiru Awaka, plays college basketball for Queens Knights, his brother, Kamsi, plays high school basketball for Cheshire Academy, and Somto plays for FDR basketball club.
- Tobe Awaka is majoring in Business Administration and minoring in Psychology.
