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UNC Basketball: Ademola Okulaja dies at the age of 46

By Nick Delahanty

CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 21: A detail view of the shorts of R.J. Davis #4 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during a game against the Louisville Cardinals on February 21, 2022 at Dean E. Smith Center on February 21, 2022 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 21: A detail view of the shorts of R.J. Davis #4 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during a game against the Louisville Cardinals on February 21, 2022 at Dean E. Smith Center on February 21, 2022 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images) /
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The UNC basketball and North Carolina family mourns the loss of former standout Ademola Okulaja, who passed away at the age of 46. 

On Tuesday, the UNC basketball program received some devastating news, as former standout Ademola Okulaja passed away at the age of 46.

Okulaja was a member of the UNC basketball program from 1995 to1999. Over his four years on campus, Okulaja, who was born in Nigeria but grew up in Germany, quickly became a favorite among his teammates as well as for the fans.

In 139 games as a Tar Heel, Okulaja was a starter for 112 of them. He was part of Bill Guthridge’s “six starters” rotation during the 1997-1998 season and played a major role in helping North Carolina make two Final Four runs during his tenure.

As a Tar Heel, Okulaja became known for his defensive ability as well as his versatility, as he could lockdown players of multiple positions while shooting the basketball at a very high level.

He averaged 9 points and 6.4 rebounds for his career as a Tar Heel, and shot a staggering 43.8 percent from the field, including an impressive 37.4 percent from three-point land. If Okulaja were to play in today’s game, he would’ve been considered a “stretch four,” a role in which he certainly would’ve thrived.

After he left North Carolina, Okulaja went on to have an exceptional 10-year international career. Over that span, he played a major role on the Germany National team.

The cause of Okulaja’s death is unknown, but it is important to note that the former UNC basketball standout did battle cancer in the past.

On social media, multiple former Tar Heels spoke about this tragic news, including Vince Carter, who was part of the “Three Musketeers” with Okulaja, and fellow former Tar Heel Antawn Jamison.

The Keeping It Heel team sends out our condolences to the family of Ademola Okulaja.

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