ONWENU CHOOSES COLLEGE, COULD BE A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME

Southfield basketball star Patrick Onwenu capped an outstanding two-year run as one of the best prep big men in the state on Friday afternoon by finding his home at the next level and committing to play his college ball at Texas Southern.

Averaging 18 points, 9.5 rebounds and four blocks per game this past winter as a senior, Onwenu had numerous other Division I hoop programs in hot pursuit of his varied talents on the hardwood. He chose Texas Southern over offers from Ball State, Duquesne and Creighton.

Agile, athletic and aggressive, the 6-foot-7 Onwenu helped spearhead Southfield to back-to-back appearances in the Class A final four in 2010 and 2011. Although only the size of a college forward, his wingspan and vertical jump give him the ability to compete in the post at the next level as well. Throughout the last two prep basketball campaigns, Owenu's rim-rocking slam dunks have become highly anticipated and much ballyhooed parts of watching the Bluejays throw down on the court.

As a result of relentless hard work in the gym the past year honing his skills, his game now extends beyond the paint. Back in February, he sank a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat arch rival Southfield-Lathrup in front of a raucous Bluejays home crowd.

Texas Southern competes in the Southwest Athletic Conference. Last season, the Tigers were 19-13 overall, 16-2 in league play. Their post season run ended in a loss to Colorado in the NIT. The Tigers currently have two other players on their roster that prepped in the state of Michigan.

Don't be surprised if TSU head coach Tony Harvey, a native Michigander and former assistant coach at Eastern Michigan back in the 1990s, continues to beat a recruiting path through the local prep ranks. Rumors abound Harvey and his staff are also after Auburn Hills Avondale star guard Ray Tillman, one of Oakland County's leading scorers in 2011, pumping in an average of 25 points per night while leading the Yellowjackets to a share of the OAA White title .

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