Who is Ami Lakoju?
In a day and age where there are widely considered to be no more secrets when it comes to evaluating and recruiting, Fairfield University and head coach Sydney Johnson might have proven to be the exception to the rule.
Unbeknownst to most in the region, the Stags came out of the early signing period with a NLI from a local big man. Six-foot-nine center Ami Lakoju, who is entering his second season at nearby St. Luke’s School, signed with Fairfield two weeks ago.
It’s almost unheard of for a division I prospect to be flying so far under the radar, especially a six-foot-nine division I prospect, but that’s exactly where Lakoju was.
A few division I coaches had been in to see him but because he was new to the region after moving from his family’s home in Harlem, and hadn’t played on a high profile travel team during the summer, most had no idea about the talented big man.
While he’s far from a finished product, and still largely unproven against high levels of competition, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about his future.
First and foremost, he has the size and naturally strong frame to be an immediate asset on the defensive end of the floor, where he can block shots and clean the glass alike. He’s farther away offensively, but not without natural tools, and has the willingness to work and learning curve necessary to continue developing.
"(Fairfield University) is getting an incredible person, and I know they know they're getting an incredible person. The basketball will take care of itself for sure," St. Luke’s head coach Brian Kriftcher told the New Canaan News last month. "He rebounds tenaciously and is a very good passer for a man of his size. He defends the basket well, and he's gotten much better running the floor. I thought it was the perfect school for him."
Below are some of Lakoju’s junior year highlights:
Ami Lakoju