Tobe Awaka's path to Tennessee basketball started with 4-hour round trip train rides to Bronx

Toyloy Brown III, Knoxville News Sentinel
·4 min read
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NEW YORK − The alarm would go off for Tobe Awaka around 4:15 a.m.

Awaka had to catch the train leaving from his hometown of Poughkeepsie, New York, at 5:10 a.m. He switched trains at the Croton–Harmon station and got off at the 161st Street/Yankee Stadium stop where he would walk 10 minutes to Cardinal Hayes, an all-boys Catholic high school in the Bronx, completing his two-hour travel.

And that was the start of his day.

Awaka traveled back home via train after night games as well as road games, making the same commute he did in the morning. If he had basketball practice that day, he would get home at 8:30 p.m., and if there was a night game he would be back at midnight. The strain of the commute didn't get much easier as he grew up.

"It was tough definitely during season, getting back late, having to wake up early, but it was definitely worth it in the end," Awaka told Knox News.

Cardinal Hayes coaches Joe Lods and Tim Philp said the quiet Awaka never once complained or let it detract from his basketball abilities.

“The beauty of Tobe was he was the same guy eight o'clock in the morning, as he was at eight o'clock at night,” Lods told Knox News.

The 6-foot-8, 250-pound Awaka is now a freshman forward at Tennessee. The fifth-seeded Vols (25-10) play No. 9 seed FAU (33-3) in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday (9 p.m., TBS) in Awaka's home state at Madison Square Garden.

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Tireless motor from the start

The Cardinal Hayes coaching staff first laid eyes on Awaka as an eighth grader in 2018. The then 14-year-old attended the school’s summer basketball camp.

“He came in, he had his glasses, we’re like ‘What was this guy all about’ and then he proceeded to dominate the basketball camp,” Lods said.

Philp explained that Awaka showcased an “unbelievable” motor, sprinting up the court, gobbling rebounds and diving for loose balls.

Tarique Foster, who is a VCU signee and a former teammate, was at the camp and remembers how Awaka towered players at about 6-4 and outhustled them.

“He played with like a motor, that's what you really see,” Foster said. “Once I've seen that I already knew he's gonna be good.”

Influence from family

Tennessee forward Tobe Awaka (11) attempts a shot during a basketball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Alabama Crimson Tide held at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023.
Tennessee forward Tobe Awaka (11) attempts a shot during a basketball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Alabama Crimson Tide held at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023.

The decision to attend high school in New York City took some persuasion.

Awaka’s parents, who are from Nigeria, were pitched the idea by the father of former Cardinal Hayes standout Tyrese Williams, who graduated in 2018. Similar to Awaka, Williams lived in Beacon, New York, also a two-hour commute. His success at the school proved that it was doable.

"I think it was definitely comforting knowing that I can be able to do the same thing as well," Awaka said.

He also believed that playing in New York City would lead to greater exposure and help him the most as a player.

Awaka's work ethic in basketball also applied to his academics. Philp said that his parents wouldn't allow him to play if he had a grade under 85. Awaka graduated with a 4.0 GPA after four years while taking advanced placement classes.

“His father was all business, no-nonsense kind of guy,” Lods said. “Very commanding of him and very disciplined with him … really made him into kind of the man that he is.”

Tennessee forward Tobe Awaka (11) takes a shot during a practice preceding the East Regional semifinal round of the NCAA Tournament in Madison Square Garden, Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
Tennessee forward Tobe Awaka (11) takes a shot during a practice preceding the East Regional semifinal round of the NCAA Tournament in Madison Square Garden, Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

Ultimate winner

Awaka’s name is synonymous with winning at Cardinal Hayes.

On the freshman team, he led them to an undefeated season and a city championship. While his sophomore season playing for the varsity was spoiled by COVID-19, he helped Cardinal Hayes win the spring championship as a junior. In his senior season, the Cardinals won a state title.

“The winningest player in Cardinal Hayes history,” Lods said. “Never ended a season with a loss.”

It was his senior season when he combined his strong rebounding and defense with a refined offensive game. He won the New York Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 19.2 points, 13.9 rebounds and three blocks per game.

Lods said that Awaka didn’t call for a “big hoopla around it.” That's why his championship ring and his player of the year trophy are not with him but are in Lods’ office.

"I can't really bring that type of stuff with me to college honestly," Awaka said. "Understanding that, you know, I have to build myself up again. All the accolades and stuff in high school is great, but I can't bring it with me to the college level and I sort of have to start over again."

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tobe Awaka's path to Tennessee basketball was 4-hour train commute