Several years ago Kennedy Okpara made a big decision that would not only change his life, but also the trajectory of the boys’ basketball program at Silverdale Baptist Academy.
Okpara wanted to blaze his own path with the Seahawks.
“My brothers and I moved from Lagos (Nigeria) to the United States back in 2018,” Okpara said. “We were at Hamilton Heights together, but ahead of high school I went on tours of Silverdale and McCallie. Instantly I was drawn to Silverdale. The whole school has been very loving from the start and I just felt at home here.”
For the first time in program history the Seahawks (29-3) have cut down the nets as district and region tournament champions this year. They stand three wins away from being the first Chattanooga boys’ basketball program to win a state title since Tennessee Temple in 2007.
Okpara has enjoyed perhaps the best stretch of his prep career lately. The 6-foot-7 junior has averaged 22.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals with a block and nearly one 3-point make per game over his last six games heading into Saturday’s Division II-A state quarterfinals home battle against Webb Bell Buckle (20-12) at 6 p.m. in the Silverdale Center.