The tallest player in women’s college basketball, 7-footer Stephanie Okechukwu, won’t suit up for Texas Tech this season.
‘It’s kind of long and complicated. I would say that [Stephanie Okechukwu’s] not going to play this year because of just transcript issues, as far as making her a four-year transfer,’ Texas Tech head coach Krista Gerlich told the media this week.
‘So, if she’s a four-year transfer, she can’t be eligible that semester. So we’re doing some things to manage that and to maybe get a waiver here or there, but at this point, to me, it’s not really fair to her to try to get five games out of her or something like that, especially because of the minutes that she probably would play.’
The Red Raiders signed Okechukwu, a center from Nigeria, earlier this season. However, the signing ultimately depended on approval from the NCAA.
‘She is 7-foot-1- of pure joy and has such a great heart,’ Gerlich told USA TODAY earlier this year. ‘… I would say the thing about her is that she loves basketball, and she understands it’s an avenue for her to be able to get an education, for her to be able to pursue her dreams of being a professional player.
‘The amount of gratitude that that kid has, and her story itself ― I hope the world will learn about her story in due time because it’s truly incredible.’
Gerlich shared on Tuesday that Texas Tech expects Okechukwu to play several years with the program. The Red Raiders staff will work to get her acclimated and stronger until she can make her college basketball debut.
‘We’re still working on things, but I don’t look to play her this year,’ Gerlich said. ‘I think that needs to be said so people can quit asking or whatever, but I can say that she will play in the fall as a Lady Raider.’