If you think you’re hearing a shower of boos running through the Reilly Center, fear not. The rowdy Bona faithful is not booing. They are chanting “Shooooon!” Osun Osunniyi, the Bonnies’ man in the middle, enters his sophomore season with breakout potential that can certainly eclipse his freshman year statline of eight points, eight rebounds and three blocks per game.
Last season, Osunniyi was a key starter in the group that led the Bonnies from a 4-9 non-conference record all the way to the Atlantic 10 championship game in Brooklyn.
Statistically, Osunniyi ranked first among all freshmen in the country in blocks at 2.7 per game. That number was also good enough for fifth in the entire country, making the sophomore a force to be reckoned with on the defensive end. He boasts a seven-foot-eight wingspan, which is comparable to the longest of wingspans in the NBA. This defensive prowess has been well-documented among Bona fans and even those who have followed Osunniyi in high school. This high-energy play has earned him a bit of a cult following with his fans, being dubbed as the “Shoon Squad.”
Leading up to the season, Osunniyi has been working to evolve his game on the offensive end. As a center, most of the offensive opportunities Osunniyi got were around the rim, and his shot-making ability has been a point of emphasis this offseason.
Osunniyi said, “I want to be able to have a consistent jumper. If I’m able to to hit fifteen footers on a consistent basis, things will really open up for the entire offense.”
Osunniyi will get the chance to put this new adjustment into his repertoire with the pick-and-pop offensive sets run with sophomore guard Kyle Lofton, who has been a teammate of Osunniyi for three years going back to their prep school days at Putnam Science Academy.Looking to the Bonnies’ early schedule, Osunniyi is targeting the Nov. 8 game against the Vermont Catamounts at home. A rematch from last season, where Bona fell in a heartbreaker, 83-76, on the road.
“They’re a real good team, and especially after the tough loss to those guys last year, I’m definitely excited to go out and play that one,’’ he said.
Bonnies fans should be an excited bunch, as they will get to witness a plethora of blocks, dunks, and high-energy plays from Osunniyi once the season gets rolling on Nov. 5 against Ohio at the Reilly Center.
Tyler Smith, Contributing Writer
smithtj19@bonaventure.edu
