From unknown to indispensable: Tobe Awaka’s selfless rise in Arizona
INDIANAPOLIS— When Tommy Lloyd first laid his eyes on Tobe Awaka, he knew he had seen one thing completely different.
An unheralded 18-year-old at Tennessee, Awaka went toe-to-toe with Arizona’s frontcourt simply 9 video games into his faculty profession.
I’ve left an enduring impression.
“I never had heard of him,” Lloyd mentioned of enjoying towards Awaka in 2022. “Here’s this man, perhaps a bit bit undersized, he is enjoying with guys like Oumar Ballo and Azuolas Tubelis, and Tennessee had a bunch of massive guys, that Serbian man that was in wrestling matches on a regular basis.
“I just remember there was kind of a loose ball rebound situation, and like two of our big guys went for it and two of Tennessee’s big guys went for it. Everyone fell to the floor and there’s Tobe standing with the ball. I’m like, ‘Oh, my God, who’s that guy?'”
Awaka performed sparingly as a freshman however maximized his minutes, notably on the glass. He averaged 1.83 offensive rebounds per sport in convention play regardless of rating tenth on the workforce in minutes performed (10.3 per sport).
Lloyd obtained one other take a look at the large man initially from Hyde Park, New York, the next summer time when Awaka suited up for USA Basketball on the FIBA U19 World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary. Awaka began six of seven video games and averaged a double-double, additional reinforcing the impression he had made months earlier.
“The whole experience was great,” Awaka advised Arizona Sports. “It was fun. Whenever you get to represent your country it’s amazing. Getting to travel and play outside the country was always super cool.”
Still, after coming again stateside, his function at Tennessee remained restricted. Awaka averaged simply 13.1 minutes per sport as a sophomore and by no means cracked the beginning lineup.
He entered the switch portal after his second season, and Lloyd didn’t hesitate to signal him, saying his teaching employees rapidly purchased in after listening to constant reward about Awaka’s character.
“My time in Tennessee was super fun,” Awaka mentioned. “I nonetheless love that college, and I do not suppose that with out coach (Rick) Barnes and that complete employees, the teammates I had over there, I do not suppose I’d be the individual that I’m right now for positive.
“I think Arizona was just the next step in my basketball journey. It’s been great and it’s been a wonderful two years.”
As a junior, regardless of having by no means began earlier than, Awaka opened 36 of the Wildcats’ 37 video games and burst onto the nationwide stage as soon as Big 12 play started final season.
He averaged 8.8 factors and eight.0 rebounds in convention motion, ending fifth in the league in rebounding and fourth with 9 double-doubles.
Then got here an sudden twist coming into this 12 months.
With Motiejus Krivas coming back from foot surgical procedure and five-star freshman Koa Peat Arriving because the No. 9 recruit in the nation, Awaka approached Lloyd with an thought.
Tobe Awaka defined his resolution to method Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd about coming off the bench and the way he centered round constructing the most effective workforce potential. pic.twitter.com/Lq1NudXfWA
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) April 3, 2026
“I think it was just looking at the structure of the team, looking at the pieces that we had,” Awaka advised Arizona Sports. “I know that obviously as a coach you’re looking at constructing a team to the best of your ability, so I just kinda wanted to reassure them that whatever decision they decided to make I was gonna be happy with. There was no sort of emotional investment for me in terms of whether I was starting or coming off the bench.”
The participant who lastly cracked the beginning lineup after two years of selflessly ready for his flip went to Lloyd and proposed coming off the bench.
“I think he came in and he said, ‘Big Mo had an injury last year, and he’s a developing player, and he’s really worked hard to come back at full strength; I think it would be a boost for his confidence if he started,'” Lloyd mentioned.
“And Tobe said, ‘I have experience not starting, so I think it would be better for Koa to keep him in a role that he’s comfortable with.’ That was his idea.”
Awaka embraced the function. And thrived in it.
Coming off the bench in 35 of Arizona’s 38 video games this season, he has improved almost throughout the board — extra factors (+1.3), rebounds (+1.3), assists, and blocks — whereas committing fewer fouls and even enjoying 1.4 extra minutes per sport than the 12 months prior.
The consequence: Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year and Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors.
Lloyd mentioned Arizona wouldn’t be the place it’s with out Awaka and Anthony Dell’Orso anchoring the bench. Awaka, unsurprisingly, sees it in another way.
“I wouldn’t say (my sacrifices) have led to the team’s success,” Awaka advised Arizona Sports. “I think I’m just a witness to the team to the best of my ability. We have a bunch of talented guys, old and young. I feel like a mesh of that talent has been really paramount for us just winning games.”
His teammates see it clearly.
“Honestly just trying to be like Tobe, man. I look up to him,” Peat mentioned after a 10-rebound efficiency in the second spherical of the NCAA Tournament. “He’s a beast on the glass.”
“They definitely put the team before themselves,” Brayden Burries advised Arizona Sports of Awaka and Dell’Orso. “I’m very grateful for them. Because they might go wherever to a distinct workforce and be a starter.
“They play a key role on our team and even if you play off the bench or start, it doesn’t really matter if you play good minutes or you’re impacting the team all game, and that’s what they do.”
That affect extends past the stat sheet.
Lloyd mentioned increasingly individuals inform him Awaka is their favourite participant — a mirrored image of his blue-collar model and team-first mindset.
“He’s about the right things. Honestly, he’s been a real asset to our culture, and honestly, I felt we’ve always had a pretty good culture,” Lloyd mentioned.
“I think he’s a key component for taking it to another level, on and off the court. So love Tobe. I wish I could coach him forever. And hopefully we can find other ones like him in the future, because they make my job awesome and they make coming to work every day special.”
