Class of 2027 Blair Academy big man Kamsi Awaka is heading to Storrs this weekend for an official visit to UConn, according to League Ready’s Sam Kayser.
Awaka, a 6-foot-10, 250-pound center, put together a strong summer as one of the country’s top traditional bigs. He made his mark for New Heights on the 3SSB circuit by scoring inside and protecting the rim with consistency.
His recruitment has already narrowed to five schools: Arizona, UConn, Florida, Michigan and Michigan State. Arizona also stopped by to see him on Thursday.
There’s a family connection with the Wildcats. Awaka is the younger brother of Tobe Awaka, who was a major rebounding force during Arizona’s run to last season’s Final Four. Tobe Awaka, a former New York Gatorade Player of the Year at Cardinal Hayes HS, is now on a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls.
At Blair, Awaka helped power a team that won its third straight Mid Atlantic Prep League title in 2026. He is expected to anchor Joe Mantegna’s defense next season.
Awaka’s length and instincts were on full display this summer, especially when it came to erasing driving lanes and protecting the paint. He averaged four blocks per game and earned Defensive MVP honors in the 17U All Circuit Honors.
Blair has also reloaded after June graduation took away two of its biggest names: Brooklyn guard Deron Rippey, now a freshman at Duke, and shot-making guard Jaen Chatman, who is headed to Rhode Island.
The program responded by landing Georgia Tech commit Kamari Whyte, a four-star, 6-foot-3 guard whose transfer from Vermont Academy proved vital for New Heights during its Adidas 3SSB championship run with Awaka this summer.
In Other News...
Arizona Suddenly Has A Defensive Strength BYU Can't Ignore
Arizonas linebacker room has become one of the more interesting parts of the defense, and the progress has not gone unnoticed inside the building. Defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales singled out the groups growth while pointing to the work of linebackers coach Josh Bringuel, whose ability to connect with players has helped accelerate the rooms development despite his young age. Gonzales also mentioned the continued rise of Cooper Blomstrom and Chase Kennedy, two linebackers who have given the Wildcats more depth and stability at a spot that can shape a defenses identity.
Taye Brown has been at the center of that surge, and Arizona is starting to see just how much of an impact he can make from the middle of the field. The challenge now is whether that strength holds up when the schedule turns tougher, especially against a BYU team that will be looking for answers in a hurry. If the Wildcats keep winning at linebacker, it could become one of the clearest reasons this defense keeps drawing attention. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Opens Big 12 Play With A Test Fans Have Been Eyeing
Arizonas first Big 12 road test brings an immediate measuring stick, and Brent Brennan knows exactly why so many fans have had BYU circled. The Wildcats head into a matchup with the No. 15 Cougars after opening the season with a win, and Brennan spent the lead-up talking about the kind of environment Arizona is walking into, as well as the physical brand of football BYU brings to the field.
Brennan also took time to reflect on the familiarity he has with Kalani Sitake, a relationship that adds a layer of respect to a game already loaded with early conference weight. After last years double-overtime meeting between the teams, Arizona arrives with the memory of how hard it was to finish that one, and now the challenge is making sure the Wildcats are sharper when the margin gets tight again. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Suddenly Has A Frontcourt Problem Tommy Lloyd Didn't Expect
Arizonas frontcourt picture changed quickly this week when RJ Godfrey was ruled ineligible to practice or compete in college athletics after the Georgia Court of Appeals granted a stay in the NCAAs fight over fifth-year eligibility. The decision lands in the middle of a still-unfolding legal battle involving plaintiffs from the class of 2022, with appeals still pending, and it leaves Arizona sorting through roster plans it had already been building around for the coming season.
Godfreys status matters because the Wildcats were counting on his size and versatility to help anchor the four spot in a lineup that also includes Mo Krivas, Ivan Kharchenkov, Caleb Holt and Derek Dixon. Now Arizona has to consider several ways to adjust before the situation settles, a reminder that even in the middle of offseason planning, the legal calendar can move faster than the basketball one. [Read more 🡒]