KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City native Ochai Agbaji, who played basketball at the University of Kansas after graduating from Oak Park High School, is set to become a professional basketball player in the NBA Draft.
Agbaji was one of 20 prospects invited to sit in the green room at Barclays Center on Thursday night. Many of ESPN's most popular current mock drafts predict he will be selected in or just outside the 14-pick lottery in the first round.
From winning the Big 12 Tournament to leading his team to become national champions in New Orleans this year, Agbaji is ready to take his career to the next level: NBA.
His parents said they would be happy to see him go to the Milwaukee Bucks as both played hoops at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, but no matter where he ends up, they say they will be happy.
"Yet it's very, very deserving of the effort and the work you put into it, and it still feels kind of unreal. But we have taken in the moment. We are in New York. We went to the NBC office today (Tuesday) — just walked by it and his jersey, it will be hanging in there, for sale and display. It's sinking in," said Olofu Agbaji, Ochai's dad.
Agbaji's parents note he has worked since he was a little kid for this moment.
"Even as a child, he wanted to be an NBA player. I think this is a dream come true for him," said Erica Agbaji, Ochai's mom. "I know for all of us, his family, it's a dream come true for us. We are very excited and can't wait for this next adventure. We are loving every bit."
The NBA Draft starts at 7 p.m. on ESPN. KU head coach Bill Self is in New York and will be sitting with the Agbajis.
Blue Valley Northwest High School graduate and former KU basketball player Christian Braun also made the trip to NYC for the draft. Experts say he could go late in the first or second round.
