KNOXVILLE — An all-state power forward has finally announced where he plans to attend college.
Knoxville Catholic High School’s Akeem Odusipe made it official when he verbal committed to play for head coach Jerry Stackhouse and Vanderbilt.
Odusipe, a 6-foot-9 forward, is a versatile defender and had two great years playing varsity basketball for the Irish to a Division II-AA State championship.
Tennessee and head coach Rick Barnes did not make an offer to Odusipe, who was on the state’s all-tournament team and was selected to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Division II-AA All-State Team.
He was a dominant post presence for KCHS, both offensively and defensively. The future Commodore averaged 16.3 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game for the Irish last season.
Odusipe made an official visit to Rhode Island in February and held offers from Texas A&M, South Carolina, Georgia, West Virginia, Auburn, Virginia, Maryland, Texas-Arlington and Seton Hall among others.
Barnes was in attendance when the Irish ousted defending state champion Briarcrest Christian on March 6 in Nashville and still did not offer Odusipe, who scored nine points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the title game against the Saints.
Barnes has offered Knoxville Catholic point guard B.J. Edwards who will be a junior for the Irish when school resumes in the fall.
Edwards was the state tournament MVP as a sophomore. He scored 14 points and pulled down eight rebounds against the Saints in the state title game.