Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Basketball Signs Two Players
April 28, 2008 | Men's Basketball
April 28, 2008
The Texas Tech men's basketball program has signed two players to National Letters of Intent. The new Red Raiders hail from Belgrade, Serbia and Houston, Texas.
Nick Okorie, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound guard from Houston will enter Texas Tech next season as a junior. Nick averaged 17.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists as a sophomore at South Plains College. He played 29 minutes per game and started all 35 games in the 2007-2008 season for the Texans.
The South Plains College Texans under the direction of Steve Green won their first men's basketball National Championship with a 67-56 win over Salt Lake CC in Hutchinson, Kansas. The Texans (30-5) claimed their championship title by winning four games in four days at the NJCAA National Tournament. Okorie led his team with 29 points in the title game
After being named Honorable Mention All-Conference for the 2006-2007 season, Nick was selected to the All-Region and All-Conference squads for the 2007-2008 season and to the 2008 NJCAA National Tournament team.
Nick graduated from Kempner High School in 2006. He was named All-District and played in the Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star game.
Okorie's Texans topped soon-to-be teammate Cohadarevic's Saints to give South Plains their spot in the national championship game against the Bruins of Salt Lake Community College. Darko led his team to a third place finish in the national tournament over the Raiders of Three Rivers Community College.
Darko Cohadarevic, a 6-9, 245-pound forward from Belgrade, Serbia will enter the 2008-2009 season as a junior. Darko averaged 15.4 points and 8.0 rebounds while playing 29 minutes per game for the Seward County Community College Saints during the 2007-2008 season.
Seward County completed the 2007-2008 season by winning the third place game at the NJCAA Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas. The Saints were 32-6 under first year head coach Bryan Zollinger and won the Jayhawk West Tournament and Region VI Tournament.
Darko was named the Region VI Tournament MVP, was a member of the NJCAA All-Tournament Team, and was an Honorable Mention NJCAA All-American. He follows in the footsteps of former Saints All-American Devonne Giles, who helped the Red Raiders to their appearance in the 2004-2005 "Sweet Sixteen."
In the 2007-2008 season, Darko led the Saints to their first NJCAA Tournament appearance in a decade and was selected to play in the NJCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Association's Third Annual National All-Star Game in Scottsdale, Arizona.
To become a season ticket holder for Men's Basketball games at the United Spirit Arena, please call (888) GO-BIG-12 or (806) 742-TECH or stop by the Texas Tech Athletic Ticket Office in the north end of Jones SBC Stadium.
