While everybody will be traveling to Charlotte this weekend for the the NBA All-Star Game. Indiana Pacers power forward/center Kyle O’Quinn will be heading back to his old stomping grounds, Norfolk State University, to have his jersey retired. The 6’10” 250 pound seven year veteran will be immortalized as the Spartans hang his jersey on Saturday during their game against North Carolina Central.
There are only 450 jobs in the NBA and you’ve got to be one of the best in the world to be able to occupy one of them. In 2012 coming out of a small HBCU (historically black college and university) the big homie emerged. He was drafted in the second round by the Orlando Magic with the 49th pick and he’s been putting in work in the league ever since. O’Quinn played three years with the Magic, three with his hometown New York Knicks and he’s in his first season with the Indiana Pacers.
Kyle only had one scholarship offer coming out of high school and he’s made the best of it. Not playing as a junior in high school O’Quinn was ready to quit basketball but decided to trust the process. As a senior he averaged 20 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks per game enough to get the attention of Norfolk State.
By the time he was a senior he led the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament as a No.15 seed where they knocked off the Missouri Tigers before getting hit by the Florida Gators. He finished his career at Norfolk State winning the Lou Henson Award, the MEAC Player of the Year and being named the 2-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year as well.
O’Quinn has been an inspiration to players from small colleges and universities all over the country and especially those playing at HBCU’s. When asked what that means to him and what he’d say to cats playing at small schools and most importantly those playing at HBCU’s his response was, “If you can play they’ll find you.”
His thoughts on what it means to have his jersey retired, “It’s gonna mean a lot, you know, not only to me but to my family, you know, the people that helped me while I was there. It’s really gone be nice to kids and my nephew. Twenty years later they can look up and say their uncle was one of the best to come through the university.”
Having lived in a house where both of my parents attended Texas Southern an HBCU. My wife is a graduate of Jackson State (HBCU) and my son is set to graduate from JSU in May. I’m familiar with the slogan “I love My HBCU.” It’s not just something people say it’s from the heart. O’Quinn had this to say when asked about why he loved his HBCU, “Mine was a small community, you know, you see, it was like a oversized high school. You see everybody every day so I got adjusted pretty quick. Went through some bumps and bruises with some people I came in with as a freshman. Met some life long friends and I think with the small community and seeing people that you’re familiar with you know, same background. It makes that transition a little easier and you gotta pull for each other at the end of the day.”
Big shout to the big homie Kyle O’Quinn for being another example of what great looks like coming out of an HBCU! Stop me when I start lyin’!