Lions Welcome Five Newcomers
6/30/2020 12:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Columbia's class is comprised of two guards and three forwards and features four first-years and a transfer.
NEW YORK – Columbia men's basketball head coach has announced the addition of five incoming student-athletes for the 2020-21 season. The Lions' class is comprised of guards Kobe Antwi and Zavian McLean along with forwards Patrick Harding, a transfer from Bryant University, Liam Murphy and Josh Odunowo.
"It's always a great day when you can officially welcome the newest additions to your program," Engles stated. "First and foremost, they are all outstanding individuals and will be great representatives of Columbia both on and off the court. We think this group will enhance our depth and are versatile players that can bring some extra dimensions that will blend well with our returning players. Obviously, this has been a very different summer for everyone. But, I'm really proud of the work all of our guys and staff are doing to be able to incorporate the newcomers so we'll be able to hit the ground running when we can get back together."
HIGH SCHOOL: A 2020 graduate of Crestwood Preparatory College in Toronto … Earned MVP award at North Pole Hoops Showcase … Picked up MVP award in the Humber Classic … Named an all-star at John Lucas Elite Invitational … Two-time Biosteel All-Star in 2016 and 2017 for Hoop Group camp … Helped Lions to CISAA Championship three years in a row … Also helped Lions to NPA title in 2018-19 and OFSAA crown in 2019-20 … Received 2018-2019 Academic Athlete of the Year award by the National Preparatory Association … Team captain junior and senior year.
PERSONAL: Born June 4, 2001 … Son of Debra and Fred Antwi … Has two siblings, Zaveh and Sabra … Uncle attended Princeton for Masters and PhD degrees … Received Academic Platinum Award for grade average above 90% from 2015-2017 and Academic Distinction Award from 2017-2019 … Regional level chess player … Writes and records music in free time … Enrolled in Columbia College.
2019-20 at Bryant: Made 32 appearances, making 11 starts … Averaged 4.7 points, on 61.3 percent shooting from the floor, and 8.8 rebounds per game … Set Bryant's Division I single-season rebound record with 280 … Pulled down double-figure rebounds in 11 contests … Ranked second in the nation in rebounds per 40 minutes (18.5) … Went 7-for-7 from the field, netting 14 points in a win over St. Francis Brooklyn … Notched 10 points and 15 rebounds at Drexel … Grabbed career-high 19 rebounds in 27 minutes against Cornell.
2018-19 at Bryant: Played in all 30 games, starting eight … Averaged 2.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game … Tied Bryant D1 program mark for rebounds in his collegiate debut with 10 at Rhode Island … Grabbed at least five rebounds in 18 games … Set season-highs with two blocks and two steals in win over Dartmouth … Pulled down 12 rebounds at Sacred Heart … Matched that total at LIU Brooklyn.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played a prep year at Suffield Academy in 2017-18 after four years at Fairfield Prep in Connecticut … Fairfield Prep team went 92-11 in Harding's four seasons, advanced to at least the state semifinals in all four years and won a state title in his sophomore year in 2014-15 … 1,000-point scorer … Two-time all-state and all-conference selection.
PERSONAL: Son of Karen McCarntey and David Harding ... Mother played tennis at UConn ... Has two brothers, Seamus and Aidan … Enrolled at Columbia College.
HIGH SCHOOL: A 2020 graduate of Village Christian Academy in Fayetteville, North Carolina … Four-time letter winner with the Knights … Made 910 Preps All-Region 1st Team in 2019 and 2020 … Unanimous NCISAA 3A All-State Selection in 2020 and re-classed in 2019 … Pac-9 Conference Player of the Year in 2019 … Made Sandhills' All-Conference Team in 2020 ... First Team Mid-South 4A All-Conference Selection in 2018 … NCBCA District 8 Player of the Year 2019 … N&O All-Metro Team 2019 … N&O Southern Counties' Player of the Year 2019 … Overhills' all-time leading scorer with 1,076 points in two years … VCA Male Athlete of the Year 2020 … Team Captain for Overhills in 2018 and 2019 … Team Captain for Village in 2019 and 2020 … Helped Overhills team to become regional season conference champions in 2018 and Co-Champions in 2019 … Guided Village become state championship game in 2019 and won conference tournament and become state runner-up in 2020 ...
PERSONAL: Born August 21, 2001 … Son of Jerome and Kimberly McLean … Has three siblings, Myzhia, Jarieka, and Zykimius … Club team, Team Wall, were Adidas Gauntlet Affiliates from 2017-2019 … Received 2020 VCA Journalism and IV English Honors Awards … Graduated with Honor Cord for 4.2 GPA … A part of the National Beta Club and National Honor Society … Has a Podcast called Truey Talks on Anchor and Spotify … Enrolled in Columbia College.
HIGH SCHOOL: A 2020 graduate of St. Peter's Boys High School … Two-time letter winner with the Eagles … Named all-state twice … Jacques Award winner for top player on Staten Island … Received CHSAA Staten Island Division Player of the Year 2020 … Two-time All-Division Team Staten Island CHSAA 2019 and 2020 … Helped Eagles to Staten Island Basketball Championships three years in a row (2017-2020) … Only player in Eagles history to score 1,000 points in two years (46 games) … Team Captain 2017-18 and 2019-20.
PERSONAL: Born June 6, 2002 … Son of Eileen and Joseph Murphy … Has three siblings, Shea, Tynan and Tara … Mother, Eileen, competed in basketball and swimming at Stony Brook … Cousin, Kristin Dealy, played volleyball at Notre Dame … Cousin, Tara Franklin, played soccer at St. Bonaventure … Cousin, Reily Walsh, is a member of the basketball program at NJIT … Helped club team, NJ JayHawks, to top-10 national ranking and final four appearance in the Adidas Gauntlet … Also lettered in baseball for the Eagles … Enrolled in Columbia College.
HIGH SCHOOL: A 2020 graduate of Perkiomen School … Three-time letter winner with the Panthers … First team all-county in 2019 and 2020 … Helped Panthers become Regional Champions in 2020 … Perkiomen School basketball MVP during his post-grad year … Team captain 2019-2020 … Helped club AAU team, Team BBC, to Adidas Gauntlet in 2019.
PERSONAL: Born September 15, 2001… Son of Adeyinka and Mohammed Odunowo … Has a sister, Naomi … Father, Mohammed, played basketball at University of the District of Columbia … Two-time regional champion in track and field … Received Mike Williams Integrity Award in 2019 … Member of Cum Laude Society as of 2020 … Used to play the trombone and guitar … Performed in a school play senior year … Enrolled in Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
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