Do you know who Arike Ogunbowale is? You should. Over the last one week, the name has cropped up so many times that it is impossible to ignore, especially when major superstars like Kobe Bryant, Wale gave her ‘accalades’.
WOW! @Arike_O #lifecomplete #MambaMentality
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) April 2, 2018
“That’s her name don’t forget it” https://t.co/UFwuwXgtcp
— Wale (@Wale) April 2, 2018
Chills… Cold Blooded!! Wowowow https://t.co/FXQrhDkN4u
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) April 2, 2018
For the second time in a couple of days, the 21-year-old made the winning shot to give her team the semi-final victory and then two days later, the coveted national basketball championship. The flair with which she delivered to two winning shots with less than a second to go made her the most famous name in college sports this season. Almost immediately she became a household name and as Wall Street Journal described it, her shots were heard all around the world. Born to a Gregory, a Nigerian who emigrated to the United States as a young man and Yolanda, an African-American; Arike and her brother Dare were childhood sports proteges. While he took to American Football, Arike played everything from basketball to soccer. But it wasn’t long before basketball took her completely. As a teenager, she dominated the high school division; becoming the sixth all-time highest scorer in her state. ‘I think she will be remembered as the greatest female player in the state of Wisconsin,’ her high school coach, Jeff Worzella said to a local newspaper.
She has also represented the United States Women’s Under 17 Basketball Team. A third-year student at Notre Dame, sports analysists have suggested that she skips her final year and go straight to the WNBA. But the 5.8ft guard has no such immediate plans. ‘I have classes tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday. Tomorrow I think I have managerial economics, ‘ she told Time Magazine after her triumph at the finals.
