Duke signee sets state scoring record

There's no telling how many players have played high school basketball in the state of Kansas. However, figuring out how many players have scored more points than Semi Ojeleye is easy because there aren't any.

Tuesday night, the 6-foot-6 Duke signee from Ottawa (Kan.) High set the all-time boys scoring record in the state on a free throw during the third quarter of a game against Eudora (Kan.) High.

A four-star prospect who ranks No. 33 nationally, Ojeleye finished the evening with 26 points and now has 2,563 points eclipsing the record of 2,554 previously held by former Kansas State player Josh Reid of Brewster (Kan.) High.

"It's great, I think it's been a long process," said Ojeleye of setting the record. "It's been a long four years and my teammates have been there every step of the way.

"It's just a blessing. A lot of guys don't have this opportunity to be in this position."

Averaging an impressive 40.3 points per contest through 18 games entering the night, Ojeleye looked a bit off until he broke the record. After spending the year mixing physical dominance with timely jump shooting, Ojeleye was settling for deep jumpers and not quite himself.

While he had tried not to think about the record, Ojeleye -- who is 120 points away from setting Kansas' single season scoring mark -- couldn't help but think about it with constant questions about it at school and online. Now that he's got it out of the way, he already feels more free even if it hasn't fully sunk in.

"I felt really tight," said Ojeleye who played his summer ball with MoKan Elite. "The rim had never been so small so it was a great thing to get the pressure off of me.

"I don't think it has really sunk in yet. We just got done with the game. I'll think about the game later and then it will really hit me."

Now 19-0 on the season, Ojeleye is hoping to finish out his senior year with a class 4A state title. He's also looking forward to making his way to Duke and joining forces with Jabari Parker and Matt Jones.

"We have a solid recruiting class obviously with Jabari and Matt coming in," said Ojeleye. "I'll just try to find my role wherever Coach K thinks that is."

Well known for his humble nature and hard working attitude, Ojeleye is also looking forward to Duke for another reason. After all the attention during his senior season, he is ready to be looked at as just one of the guys.

"It will be nice to be nobody on campus now because here I get all of this attention," said Ojeleye. "Not being somebody will help me slide into position some."

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