Wake Forest Athletics
Photo by: Helen McGinnis / Wake Forest Athletics
Deacs Ink Okoh to 2026 Signing Class
4/17/2026 3:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Awele Okoh, a center from Lagos, Nigeria, becomes the third member of the 2026 signing class along with guards Oshauna Holland and Adora Nwude.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest women's basketball head coach Megan Gebbia announced the signing of center Awele Okoh from Lagos, Nigeria on Friday.
Okoh becomes the third player in the 2026 signing class after Gebbia and the Demon Deacons inked guard Oshauna Holland in November and the recently signed guard Adora Nwude on Wednesday.
Additionally, it is the fourth scholarship addition to the 2025-26 roster overall as the Deacs also added Cincinnati guard/forward Ramiyah Byrd Friday.
In the signing of Okoh, Wake Forest is getting a physical center who earned MVP honors while helping her team to a NBBF Final 8 Championship in Nigeria. It marked the first time Dolphins Basketball Club has won the NBBF Championship since 2015 as the 61-55 overtime win in the championship capped an unbeaten season.
In the championship game, Okoh scored 10 points, 18 rebounds, seven blocks and shot 50 percent from the field in a game-high 36 minutes.
Additionally, she has represented Nigeria in multiple international competitions in both the 3x3 and 5x5 team formats.
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Awele Okoh | C | 6-3 | Lagos, Nigeria/Dolphins Basketball Club
"I chose Wake Forest because it feels like a place where I can grow both academically and personally. I like the strong sense of community, the focus on meaningful learning, and the opportunities to challenge myself while still feeling supported." - Awele Okoh
From Coach Gebbia
"We are really excited to bring in someone of Awele's experience and athleticism to our frontcourt. She is really strong around the basket and fills the rebounding presence that we are looking for at her position. She can also be an anchor to the backline of our defense and has shot blocking capability that will help us protect the rim. She has played at the highest level of international basketball as well as playing in the highest domestic league in Nigeria. Awele won MVP honors with a double-double in the championship of her domestic league which shows she is ready for this level. We can't wait to start working with her this summer and integrate her into the rest of the team."
Okoh becomes the third player in the 2026 signing class after Gebbia and the Demon Deacons inked guard Oshauna Holland in November and the recently signed guard Adora Nwude on Wednesday.
Additionally, it is the fourth scholarship addition to the 2025-26 roster overall as the Deacs also added Cincinnati guard/forward Ramiyah Byrd Friday.
In the signing of Okoh, Wake Forest is getting a physical center who earned MVP honors while helping her team to a NBBF Final 8 Championship in Nigeria. It marked the first time Dolphins Basketball Club has won the NBBF Championship since 2015 as the 61-55 overtime win in the championship capped an unbeaten season.
In the championship game, Okoh scored 10 points, 18 rebounds, seven blocks and shot 50 percent from the field in a game-high 36 minutes.
Additionally, she has represented Nigeria in multiple international competitions in both the 3x3 and 5x5 team formats.
–
Awele Okoh | C | 6-3 | Lagos, Nigeria/Dolphins Basketball Club
- Named MVP of the 2025 Premier League Finals in the Zenith Bank Women's League.
- Scored 10 points, 18 rebounds, seven blocks and shot 50 percent from the field in a game-high 36 minutes.
- Represented Nigeria at the U20 and U23 levels for both the 3x3 and 5x5 national teams.
"I chose Wake Forest because it feels like a place where I can grow both academically and personally. I like the strong sense of community, the focus on meaningful learning, and the opportunities to challenge myself while still feeling supported." - Awele Okoh
From Coach Gebbia
"We are really excited to bring in someone of Awele's experience and athleticism to our frontcourt. She is really strong around the basket and fills the rebounding presence that we are looking for at her position. She can also be an anchor to the backline of our defense and has shot blocking capability that will help us protect the rim. She has played at the highest level of international basketball as well as playing in the highest domestic league in Nigeria. Awele won MVP honors with a double-double in the championship of her domestic league which shows she is ready for this level. We can't wait to start working with her this summer and integrate her into the rest of the team."
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