Former Kansas Jayhawks standout Agbaji honored by mayor, city council on Thursday

Kansas City native Ochai Agbaji was recognized for his accomplishments during his four years as a student-athlete at the University of Kansas during the Kansas City (Missouri) City Council legislative session Thursday at City Hall.

Mayor Quinton Lucas and the City Council passed a resolution proclamation to recognize the 22-year-old Agbaji for his feats at KU, which included being team leader of the Jayhawks’ 2022 national championship team.

Agbaji also was Big 12 player of the year, consensus first-team All-American and most outstanding player of the Final Four. He graduated in four years and recently was a lottery pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Agbaji, a graduate of Oak Park High School, who was honored by the school with an “Oak Park Day” in April (he also had his jersey retired at the school last season), was the No. 14 overall pick of the NBA Draft, by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“We celebrated former ‘Kansas City Jayhawks’ star and Northland-bred Ochai Agbaji. His dad (Olofu) has worked for years at City Hall and we were delighted to celebrate an outstanding family committed to public service. We wish @youngoch continued success. We will work on the NBA team,” Lucas wrote on his Twitter account on Thursday night.

Lucas, during brief comments given prior to the unanimous vote to honor Agbaji, joked about NCAA president Mark Emmert referring to the Kansas Jayhawks as the “Kansas City Jayhawks.” Emmert made the slip up while presenting the NCAA title trophy to KU coach Bill Self after the Jayhawks’ 72-69 title win over North Carolina on April 4 in New Orleans.

“I think the reason you see this excitement today for this family,” Lucas said of several Agbaji family members who attended the ceremony, “is because you are a key and important part of the Kansas City, Missouri family. I was actually very excited when the NCAA president congratulated the ‘Kansas City Jayhawks’ on winning the championship. We all loved that. We figured it would be a great thing. But more than anything we have been excited to see your success. Your commitment to public service from all of you is something that has been an inspiration,” Lucas added of Ochai and his family.

Lucas said, “I’d say there is almost no one in any program who has I think exhibited (more than Ochai) the spirit of what it means to be a student-athlete. You’ve been an outstanding representative to Kansas City. We are proud to have Kansas City follow you wherever it is you may go,” he added, noting city employees would be supportive of his future endeavors.

Agbaji, who averaged a league leading 18.8 ppg last season, finished his career ranked 15th on KU’s all-time scoring list (1,652 points), fourth in 3FGs made (250), fourth in 3FGs attempted (670), seventh in consecutive starts (98) and ninth in minutes played (3,978).