It’s pretty hard for a 7-2 guy to fly under the radar.
But — at least around here — Paschal Chukwu has.
The Syracuse University junior — ranked 14th in the nation in blocks per game — is apparently from Westport.
His bio on the Syracuse website lists this as his hometown, and his parents as John and Sheila Featherston.
Chukwu did not — very unfortunately — play for Staples.
He spent 2 years at Trinity Catholic High School. (Where he played soccer — a sport he loved in his native Nigeria — and scored his team’s only goal in a 7-1 loss to the Wreckers.) He then transferred to Fairfield Prep.
Chukwu played one year at Providence College, before transferring to Syracuse.
You can watch him at 9:40 tonight (CBS-TV). The Orange take on Texas Christian.
TALL BASKETBALL PLAYER FUN FACT: I once saw Manute Bol on Main Street in Westport. He and Chukwu are 2 guys I really look up to.
(Click here for Paschal Chukwu’s full bio. Hat tip: Bill Ryan)
Holy cow! Was the game he scored in played at Staples? I think I might have seen him play–soccer–in high school but he couldn’t have been close to 7’2″ at that point. (But a talented, very tall foward on set pieces at Staples would have been one way to improve the team’s scoring chances. Would have loved to have seen him wearing the block S.)
He scored against us at Trinity Catholic (as a freshman) — and it was off a corner kick. The next year they played us at Staples. He was about 6-10.
Uh, Dan, you look up to all of us. Just sayin.
No foolin’.
Paschal and I were basically the same height back then, Dan (see photo 3): http://staplessoccer.com/staples-vs-trinity-catholic-2/
Me too! (Though you can’t quite see me — I’m out of the frame.)