Skip to main content

Arizona to host 4-star center Kamsi Awaka for official visit

Awaka is the younger brother of former Wildcats big man Tobe Awaka
Feb 3, 2022; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd gestures during the first half against the UCLA Bruins at McKale Center. The Wildcats beat the Bruins 76-66.
Feb 3, 2022; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd gestures during the first half against the UCLA Bruins at McKale Center. The Wildcats beat the Bruins 76-66. | USA TODAY Sports

In this story:

The Arizona Wildcats enjoyed the Tobe Awaka experience so much, they figured why not run it back with another member of the family?

Tommy Lloyd and the Wildcats have been all over Kamsi Awaka, Tobe's younger brother and a 4-star center in the 2027 recruiting class. That attention appears to be paying off, as Awaka is now set to take an official visit to Tucson Sep. 25-26, where he will attend Arizona's Red-Blue showcase alongside 5-star guard Adan Diggs and 5-star center Darius Wabbington.

Awaka told Joe Tipton of On3 he has scheduled visits to Michigan State, Michigan, and Arizona, three of the schools he listed in his top five - with UConn and Florida being the others.

Who is Kamsi Awaka?

Awaka is rugged big man standing 6'10 who currently plays at Blair Academy in New Jersey. A 4-star in the 2027 class, Awaka is ranked No. 41 overall at 247Sports and No. 59 at ESPN, but did come in at No. 31 in the Rivals rankings updated last week.

The 6'10 big man boasts a 7'4 wingspan and, like his brother, has a high motor with extreme physicality and upper body strength - which makes him a menace down on the block.

Adam Finkelstein of 247Sports projects Awaka as a day one contributor on the glass and as a screener, and praises his timing as a shot blocker and ability to move in space defensively.

Awaka averaged 15 points on 57% shooting on the Adidas 3SSB summer circuit, along with a whopping 3.9 offensive rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game. He's not much of a scorer and doesn't need paint touches, but could stand to improve his free throw percentage (57% on six attempts) at the next level.

Arizona's future trio?

Millennium Tigers guard Adan Diggs (1)
Millennium Tigers guard Adan Diggs (1) celebrates his dunk against the Sunnyslope Vikings during their game at Sunnyslope High School on Jan. 21, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Arizona intended on having three elite high school recruits in Tucson for the Red-Blue scrimmage later this month - but it's not quite the trio Lloyd and his staff had in mind.

The original plan was to have Diggs, Wabbington, and 5-star guard NaVorro Bowman Jr on campus, but Bowman committed to Dan Hurley and UConn after taking an official visit last weekend - clearing the way for Awaka to take his place.

Diggs is the big prize, a 5-star combo guard who ranks No. 6 in the 2027 class, while Wabbington is a mobile big man from Phoenix who has been on Arizona's radar for well over a year now.

Awaka is not quite as heralded as either of them, but Lloyd clearly knows how to maximize a physical, low touch big man - and the familial connection will absolutely help in this recruitment for the Wildcats.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations