http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/players/alex_oriakhi/121682 Recent articles about Alex Oriakhi en-us ST. LOUIS Did Alex Oriakhi get snubbed? The list of players invited to this year's NBA combine dropped Thursday, and some names of interest to the St. Louis area are included in the crop of ballers who will show off for NBA scouts in Chicago from May 15-19. Missouri natives Ben McLemore (Kansas guard), Otto Porter (Georgetown small forward) and BJ Young (Arkansas guard) made the cut, as did Mizzou guard Phil Pressey and Illinois guard Brandon Paul. But one name that might have made the list Oriakhi was nowhere to be found. @scpop what else is new lol Alex Oriakhi (@aoriakhi42) May 9, 2013 The Mizzou center who transferred from Connecticut before his senior season shot 63.9 percent from the field and averaged 11.2 points and 8.4 rebounds for the Tigers this year. At 6-foot-9, 240-pounds, he is a bit undersized for his position. Still, an argument could be made that his strength, rebounding and offensive efficiency could have qualified him for a combine nod especially since this year's draft c Fri, 10 May 2013 12:01:48 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/mizzous_oriakhi_denied_invite_to_nba_combine/13590479 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/mizzous_oriakhi_denied_invite_to_nba_combine/13590479 Mizzou's Oriakhi denied invite to NBA combine http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/mizzous_oriakhi_denied_invite_to_nba_combine/13590479 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/b/9b1ea488ec5bdf3cf3486afecb1c5f63fe69c54d/mini/6919806.jpg ST. LOUIS Did Alex Oriakhi get snubbed? The list of players invited to this year's NBA combine dropped Thursday, and some names of interest to the St. Louis area are included in the crop of ballers who will show off for NBA scouts in Chicago from May 15-19. Missouri natives Ben McLemore (Kansas guard), Otto Porter (Georgetown small forward) and BJ Young (Arkansas guard) made the cut, as did Mizzou guard Phil Pressey and Illinois guard Brandon Paul. But one name that might have made the list Oriakhi was nowhere to be found. @scpop what else is new lol Alex Oriakhi (@aoriakhi42) May 9, 2013 The Mizzou center who transferred from Connecticut before his senior season shot 63.9 percent from the field and averaged 11.2 points and 8.4 rebounds for the Tigers this year. At 6-foot-9, 240-pounds, he is a bit undersized for his position. Still, an argument could be made that his strength, rebounding and offensive efficiency could have qualified him for a combine nod especially since this year's draft c Fri, 10 May 2013 12:01:48 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/mizzous_oriakhi_denied_invite_to_nba_combine/13590500 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/mizzous_oriakhi_denied_invite_to_nba_combine/13590500 Mizzou's Oriakhi denied invite to NBA combine http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/mizzous_oriakhi_denied_invite_to_nba_combine/13590500 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/b/9b1ea488ec5bdf3cf3486afecb1c5f63fe69c54d/mini/6919806.jpg The Missouri Tigers were able to enjoy the services of center Alex Oriakhi for just one season. During that season, Tigers fans learned a lot about Oriakhi and he probably learned even more about himself. Head coach Frank Haith initally wanted to run the offense through Oriakhi and it was obvious early on that the former UConn center was not comfortable playing with his back to the basket. The Tigers adjusted and the energetic and emotional Oriakhi flourished and ended the season with a string of six games that were extremely efficient and left some wondering about his future in the NBA. Oriakhi is not going to be a lottery pick in the NBA draft and he likely will never be a starter at the next level, but he will play in the league. Here are three reasons why Alex Oriakhi will have a long and solid NBA career. 1. Oriakhi has some major size Oriakhi is a solid 6'9'' tall, which is about average for NBA power forwards and a bit below average for an NBA center. But Oria... Wed, 03 Apr 2013 23:46:05 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/missouri_basketball_3_reasons_alex_oriakhi_will_have_a_solid_nba_career/13310800 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/missouri_basketball_3_reasons_alex_oriakhi_will_have_a_solid_nba_career/13310800 Missouri basketball: 3 reasons Alex Oriakhi will have a solid NBA career http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/missouri_basketball_3_reasons_alex_oriakhi_will_have_a_solid_nba_career/13310800 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/b/9b1ea488ec5bdf3cf3486afecb1c5f63fe69c54d/mini/6919806.jpg The Missouri Tigers were bounced out of the NCAA Tournament by No. 8 seed Colorado State on Thursday night in a 84-72 defeat in Lexington, Kentucky. While it was a disappointing effort by the Tigers, Mizzou certainly did not lose because of the play of senior center Alex Oriakhi. Oriakhi scored 16 points and grabbed nine of the Tigers' 18 rebounds in the loss, continuing a stretch of six very efficient games to end his collegiate career and time in a Missouri Tigers' uniform. In Oriakhi's last six games, dating back to Mizzou's road win over South Carolina, Oriakhi made 40 of his last 46 shots from the field. That is good for a scorching 86.9 percent shooting percentage.  That is a pretty amazing stretch of hot shooting and quality play for the center who helped lead UConn to a National Championship before coming to Columbia as a transfer. Not only has Oriakhi been outstanding from the field during these six games, but he has been stellar from the free throw line ... Fri, 22 Mar 2013 01:24:34 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/missouri_basketball_alex_oriakhi_ends_career_by_making_40_of_46_shots_in_last_6_games/13204657 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/missouri_basketball_alex_oriakhi_ends_career_by_making_40_of_46_shots_in_last_6_games/13204657 Missouri basketball: Alex Oriakhi ends career by making 40 of 46 shots in last 6 games http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/missouri_basketball_alex_oriakhi_ends_career_by_making_40_of_46_shots_in_last_6_games/13204657 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/b/9b1ea488ec5bdf3cf3486afecb1c5f63fe69c54d/mini/6919806.jpg Score: Missouri 62, Texas A&M 50 Stars: Missouri: Alex Oriakhi 13 Pts, 10 Reb, 1 Blk.  Texas A&M: Fabyon Harris 15 Pts, 4 Reb, 4 Stl. Story: Missouri got off to a great start and never looked back in its first game of the SEC Tournament. The Tigers are safely in the NCAAs, but they are looking to make a run in the conference tournament in order to potentially improve their seed. March is the time when a team needs to play its best, and Missouri is starting to play its best basketball of the season right as the NCAA Tournament approaches. From the start, Missouri simply outmanned A&M. The Tigers’ defense has been stepping it up more and more recently and last night it culminated with their best performance of the year. Missouri was in A&M’s faces throughout, holding the Aggies to 24% shooting on the night. On the other end of the court, Mizzou pounded it inside, hitting its high percentage shots while also making enough three pointers to keep the lead safe. In additio... Fri, 15 Mar 2013 10:50:41 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/mizzou_defeats_texas_a_m_in_first_round_in_sec_tourney_gets_ole_miss_next/13150360 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/mizzou_defeats_texas_a_m_in_first_round_in_sec_tourney_gets_ole_miss_next/13150360 Mizzou Defeats Texas A&M In First Round In SEC Tourney, Gets Ole Miss Next http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/mizzou_defeats_texas_a_m_in_first_round_in_sec_tourney_gets_ole_miss_next/13150360 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/b/9b1ea488ec5bdf3cf3486afecb1c5f63fe69c54d/mini/6919806.jpg Alex Oriakhi scored 13 points and pulled down 10 rebounds Thursday night as No. 6 seed Missouri defeated cold-shooting No. 11 seed Texas A&M 62-50 in the second round of the Southeastern Conference tournament. Texas A&M (18-15) shot a season-low 24.1 percent (14 of 58) in the first SEC tournament confrontation between these two former Big 12 rivals. Missouri (23-9) led from start to finish and earned a quarterfinal matchup with No. 3 seed Mississippi (23-8). Missouri is seeking its second straight conference tournament title and third in the last five years. The Tigers won the Big 12 tournament in 2009 and 2012. Missouri's last conference tournament loss came against Texas A&M in the 2011 Big 12 quarterfinals. Laurence Bowers, Jabari Brown and Tony Criswell had 10 points each as Missouri benefited from the balanced scoring that has sparked the Tigers' success all season. Missouri is the only major-conference team that has six players with scoring averages in double figures. Fabyon Harr Fri, 15 Mar 2013 01:07:57 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/missouri_62_texas_a_m_50/13147906 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/missouri_62_texas_a_m_50/13147906 Missouri 62, Texas A&M 50 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/missouri_62_texas_a_m_50/13147906 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Alex Oriakhi, a 6-foot-9 power forward who played the past three seasons at Connecticut, is transferring to Missouri. The Tigers announced the transfer late Friday. He will have one season of eligibility remaining. Oriakhi helped lead the Huskies to the 2011 NCAA championship as a sophomore. He has averaged 7.2 points and 6.8 rebounds in 109 games over the past three seasons at UConn. He also has 166 blocked shots. The Tigers were 30-5 in the first year under Frank Haith, the AP coach of the year. The Huskies are expected to be barred from the NCAA tournament next season because of low APR scores. Jeremy Lamb and Andre Drummond have announced they will enter the NBA draft. Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:19:51 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/uconns_oriakhi_transferring_to_missouri/10554340 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/uconns_oriakhi_transferring_to_missouri/10554340 UConn's Oriakhi transferring to Missouri http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/uconns_oriakhi_transferring_to_missouri/10554340 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Alex Oriakhi, a 6-foot-9 power forward who played the past three seasons at Connecticut, is transferring to Missouri. The Tigers announced the transfer late Friday. He will have one season of eligibility remaining. Oriakhi helped lead the Huskies to the 2011 NCAA championship as a sophomore. He has averaged 7.2 points and 6.8 rebounds in 109 games over the past three seasons at UConn. He also has 166 blocked shots. The Tigers were 30-5 in the first year under Frank Haith, the AP coach of the year. The Huskies are expected to be barred from the NCAA tournament next season because of low APR scores. Jeremy Lamb and Andre Drummond have announced they will enter the NBA draft. Fri, 13 Apr 2012 23:46:27 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/uconn_f_oriakhi_transferring_to_missouri/10554178 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/uconn_f_oriakhi_transferring_to_missouri/10554178 UConn F Oriakhi transferring to Missouri http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/uconn_f_oriakhi_transferring_to_missouri/10554178 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Columbia, Mo. The University of Missouri men's basketball program has added a highly-regarded big man to help the Tigers for the 2012-13 season, as Alex Oriakhi, a 6-foot-9, 245-pound power forward, will attend Mizzou. Oriakhi will have one year of eligibility remaining after transferring from the University of Connecticut, where he helped lead the Huskies to the 2011 NCAA Championship as a sophomore. Oriakhi has signed a financial aid agreement to attend Mizzou, as announced by Mizzou Head Coach Frank Haith. Oriakhi, a native of Lowell, Mass., averaged 7.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in 109 games over the past three seasons at UCONN. He turned in career-best averages of 9.6 points and 8.7 rebounds during his sophomore season as the Huskies won the 2011 NCAA title, with Oriakhi playing a major role in the tournament run. He scored 11 points and added 11 rebounds and four blocked shots in the national title game against Butler. He also contributed eight points, 10 rebounds and a block in the nationa Fri, 13 Apr 2012 20:09:02 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/highly_regarded_forward_transferring_to_mizzou/10553125 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/highly_regarded_forward_transferring_to_mizzou/10553125 Highly-regarded forward transferring to Mizzou http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/highly_regarded_forward_transferring_to_mizzou/10553125 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Earlier this week, University of Connecticut center Alex Oriakhi was granted his release from the UConn basketball program. Missouri has been identified as a school that could be a possible destination for him. ShowMeMizzou.com gets an update on the transfer, and where Mizzou may be in the picture. Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:02:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/oriakhi_discusses_transfer_talks_mizzou/10430092 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/oriakhi_discusses_transfer_talks_mizzou/10430092 Oriakhi Discusses Transfer, Talks Mizzou http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/oriakhi_discusses_transfer_talks_mizzou/10430092 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png According to reports on Twitter from CBS Sports' Jeff Goodman Duke is actively pursuing soon to be former UConn big man Alex Oriakhi.  Oriakhi, a 6-foot-9 center announced he would transfer with the serious possibility that UConn could be facing a post season ban due to the program failing to meet minimum NCAA academic requirements. A senior, Oriakhi may not have to sit out a season as is often required for college transfers, if UConn is not allowed to participate in the NCAA Tournament. However, if a pending appeal is ruled in favor of the Huskies, then Oriakhi would have to sit out. As a sophomore Oriakhi helped the Huskies win the 2011 National Championship, but without star Kemba Walker, the 2012 version was not as good and did not make it out of the first round of the tournament as a No. 9 seed. Oriakhi averaged 6.7 points and 4.8 rebounds, a drop off from his 2011 numbers where he averaged almost 10 points and 9 rebounds. His junior year was marred by controversy as he not once but twice public Wed, 28 Mar 2012 08:23:25 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/duke_pursuing_uconn_big_man_alex_oriakhi/10418128 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/duke_pursuing_uconn_big_man_alex_oriakhi/10418128 Duke pursuing UConn big man Alex Oriakhi http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/duke_pursuing_uconn_big_man_alex_oriakhi/10418128 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Connecticut center Alex Oriakhi has been granted his release from the basketball program. The 6-foot-9 junior, a key piece of UConn's 2011 national championship run, informed coaches last week that he planned to transfer. His father told the Hearst Connecticut Media Group that Oriakhi made the decision because Connecticut is expected to be academically ineligible for next season's NCAA tournament. UConn spokesman Mike Enright said Oriakhi was granted the release on Tuesday. Should UConn being barred from next year's tournament, Oriakhi could play immediately at another school. If UConn is successful in appealing the tournament ban, Oriakhi would have to sit out a year before using his final year of eligibility. Oriakhi averaged 6.7 points and 4.8 rebounds this season after averaging almost 9.6 points and 8.7 as a sophomore. Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:44:23 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/uconn_center_granted_release_from_program/10415113 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/uconn_center_granted_release_from_program/10415113 UConn center granted release from program http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/uconn_center_granted_release_from_program/10415113 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Alex Oriakhi will spend his senior season with a team that has a chance to play in the NCAA tournament. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Oriakhi will transfer from Connecticut, his father, Alex Sr., told the Hearst Connecticut Media Group. “Alex will transfer because of the NCAA tournament next year,” his father told the newspaper group. UConn is appealing an NCAA decision that will prevent it from playing in the 2013 NCAA tournament because of a subpar academic progress rating. Players transferring between Division I schools normally must sit out a season, but if UConn remains banned, Oriakhi will not be forced to sit out a year, the newspaper group reported. The NCAA grants waivers for athletes to transfer if their previous school is ineligible for the postseason for the length of the players’ eligibility. Oriakhi’s father said his son will transfer even if UConn wins its appeal, and he will not enter the NBA draft. Let’s take a look at this shall we – Oriakhi gone, Jeremy Lamb NBA... Fri, 23 Mar 2012 09:00:41 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/trouble_uconn_oriakhi_bails_more_will_follow/10382125 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/trouble_uconn_oriakhi_bails_more_will_follow/10382125 Trouble @ UCONN: Oriakhi Bails, More Will Follow http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/trouble_uconn_oriakhi_bails_more_will_follow/10382125 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Well, I typed up an entire post and accidently deleted the whole thing. So here's the deal quickly. Alex Oriakhi has decided to leave the UConn Huskies men's basketball program. The news was broken earlier on Wednesday by Kevin Duffy of the CT Post. Here are the links: UConn's Alex Oriakhi transferring [CT Post] UConn's Alex Oriakhi requests transfer from Huskies [CBSSports.com] Angela Oriakhi Not Sure if Son is Transferring [David Borges - New Haven Register] Oriakhi Has Asked for Release, is Exploring Options [David Borges - New Haven Register] Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well. Wed, 21 Mar 2012 23:56:29 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/alex_oriakhi_leaving_uconn_mens_basketball_program/10371484 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/alex_oriakhi_leaving_uconn_mens_basketball_program/10371484 Alex Oriakhi Leaving UConn Men's Basketball Program http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/alex_oriakhi_leaving_uconn_mens_basketball_program/10371484 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png According to a report in the Connecticut Post, power forward Alex Oriakhi has decided to transfer from UConn.  With the Huskies banned from being able to compete in the 2013 NCAA Tournament due to poor academic standing and Jim Calhoun‘s coaching future in question, Oriakhi could be the first domino to fall in an exodus of UConn players from the program. I figured Oriakhi might enter the 2012 NBA Draft this off-season but an extremely disappointing and inconsistent junior season really hurt his stock.  Transferring makes sense for Oriakhi because if the tourney ban remains, there is a stipulation by the NCAA that Husky players will be able to leave UConn and become immediately eligible to compete for another school in the 2012-13 season rather than have to sit out a season under regular NCAA transfer rules.  So ultimately, Oriakhi would become a “free agent” of sorts. With that provision in place, it might open the door for other UConn players to bolt from the suddenly troubled pro... Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:35:53 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/alex_oriakhi_the_first_of_several_uconn_players_leaving_program/10368964 http://network.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/article_external/alex_oriakhi_the_first_of_several_uconn_players_leaving_program/10368964 Alex Oriakhi the first of several UConn players leaving program? http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/alex_oriakhi_the_first_of_several_uconn_players_leaving_program/10368964 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png