TAHLEQUAH -- Northeastern State men's basketball will add University of Arkansas transfer Emeka Obukwelu to its 2021-22 roster, head coach Ja Havens announced Monday.

Obukwelu is the third NCAA Division I addition to the roster this off-season for the RiverHawks and will come to the team with one year of eligibility remaining.  

He spent the last three seasons with the Razorbacks in a reserve role, playing in 11 games during his junior and senior years.   Obukwelu arrived at Fayetteville in 2018 after hitting the Small College Basketball Watch List for the Bevo Francis Award as a sophomore at the University of Texas-Tyler.   The award goes to the top player who competes in the affiliations of NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA Division I, NAIA Division II, USCAA, and NCCAA. Obukwelu averaged 19.6 points per game and 7.8 rebounds while setting an American Southwest Conference (ASC) single-season record for shooting percentage (.678).

"Emeka will enhance our roster both on and off the court," said Havens.  "He is a quality young man, a great student, and a highly talented basketball player. Emeka will impact our program with his physical gifts as well as his ability to score efficiently and rebound at a high level. He has a bright future and we are excited that he will be a RiverHawk."

Obukwelu was a member of the ASC East Division All-Freshman Team at Texas-Tyler averaging 6.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.  He was signed out of Plano West High School in Texas.