Oswin Erhunmwunse began playing basketball as a teenager with the support of his grandmother. Now, he’s dedicating his first season with the Creighton men’s basketball team to her.
The junior big man’s grandmother passed away in early October.
“Now it gives me more of a purpose to want to keep pushing to achieve my goal, because I know she would want that, and she supported me so much,” Erhunmwunse told Hurrdat Sports.
Erhunmwunse’s grandmother’s support began when he was young. She’d ensure he went to practice, then cook for him and his brother afterward. He said he wants to do his best for her this season.
“One of my goals to honor her is to just be my best every day,” Erhunmwunse said. “I want to keep pushing and being able to help my team the best way I can.”
The Benin City, Nigeria, native wants to help the Bluejays win this year.
Oswin Erhunmwunse elevates for a dunk during Creighton practice. Photo by Brandon Tiedemann.
His basketball journey didn’t begin until he was a teenager, however. Erhunmwunse grew up playing soccer, but after some encouragement from his uncle, he decided to try basketball.
“At first I didn’t even like it, because it was something different from what I’m used to,” Erhunmwunse said.
That distaste turned to joy after Erhunmwunse began watching NBA games and highlights, though. The junior said he started taking basketball seriously when he moved to the United States. He said that his basketball aspirations were difficult for his parents at first, with education being their priority.
“Nigerian parents, they want you to be doctors, lawyers,” Erhunmwunse said. “Also, basketball in Nigeria isn’t as good as it is over here, so nobody ever saw a future in basketball. People just did it for recreation and other stuff, so I’m just thankful and grateful to my parents for supporting me and keep pushing me.”
That support has carried over to Erhunmwunse’s time in America. He moved when he was around 16 years old and attended Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut. Erhunmwunse came to the States only knowing the basics of basketball. He didn’t know the rules but did know how to dunk and pass. He said his first game came in an AAU game where he played for around two minutes.
“I had no level of basketball; I just understood the basics, to be honest,” Erhunmwunse said. “I learned just through the course of my years being in America how to become a good player and be better.”
Erhunmwunse played well in his two seasons at Providence. As a sophomore, the 6-foot-10, 240-pound forward averaged 6.9 points and 8.3 rebounds. He was second in the Big East in blocked shots with 70, fourth in offensive rebounds with 99 and fifth in defensive rebounds with 176.
He transferred to Creighton following his sophomore season with the Friars. Erhunmwunse said he thought about leaving Providence after the dismissal of coach Kim English near the end of the year.
“I wanted to be in a stable program, because the coaching and these changes were a lot over there,” Erhunmwunse said. “Obviously (Alan) Huss is a new coach, but he’s been under Coach Greg McDermott, so I just felt that I needed something new. I needed a new place to call home, and that made me want to leave.”
A new home is exactly what Creighton provided. Erhunmwunse was already familiar with the Bluejays’ program. They recruited him out of high school, then he played against them at Providence.
Oswin Erhunmwunse (55) elevates to challenge Iowa State guard Jamarion Batemon in an exhibition win in Ames, Iowa, for Creighton men’s basketball. Photo by Mike Sautter.
“I saw their vision and saw how they played,” Erhunmwunse said. “It was consistent for the two years I played against them, so I felt like it’s a place I wanted to be.”
Erhunmwunse has settled in and started in Creighton’s 83-80 exhibition win against Iowa State Sunday. He scored six points and grabbed five rebounds in 22 minutes against the Cyclones, throwing down a pair of dunks in the process. The Big East’s coaches voted him preseason third-team all-conference.
Erhunmwunse said he never would have believed he’d be where he’s at now.
“I was on the phone with my dad and my parents yesterday, and my brother, and I was telling them five years ago if you told me I was going to play Division I basketball, I would think you were just making fun of me or something,” Erhunmwunse said. “I give all glory, all credit to God, for putting me in positions to be able to be successful.”
Erhunmwunse will continue to walk down that path as he seeks to take his game to the next level with the Bluejays. He’s had to overcome numerous obstacles to make it where he is today, and he has no plans of slowing down any time soon.
“I had every excuse to give up, blame other people, blame my situation, blame home or blame leaving my parents, but I feel like I just kept my head straight,” Erhunmwunse said. “I kept believing in God, and God’s words.”
