Can a blossoming JUCO find a giant gem in Germany?

I always find it interesting to look at international bigs, and there is a particularly unconventional one arriving in the US very soon who I will be tracking.

Rotimi Ogunniyi, a 7-foot-3 center from Germany, will soon be joining Weatherford College in Texas. He was born on August 17, 2005, meaning that he turned 21 today, and most recently played for Baskets Bonn in his home country.

Weatherford is an NJCAA school, but it looks like their program is on the brink of blossoming. The Coyotes hired a new head coach with international experience in April after a larger athletics-related reshuffle, inked a partnership with Nike, and look set to operate with a much bigger men’s basketball budget.

The other catch is that Ogunniyi’s budding career has primarily been in 3x3 basketball, where he has been a standout for his age group, playing at the 2025 U23 World Cup and the 2026 U21 Nations League with Germany, as well as various high-level events with Bonn.

This means that he will effectively need to adapt to an entirely different version of the sport in 5x5 - plus the American playstyle and whatever lifestyle changes come with his stateside adventure.

Still, there is good reason to be intrigued. I’m not arguing that Ogunniyi is a future NBA player or anything like that, but he could develop into a valuable D-I transfer down the line if everything goes well and perhaps eventually pivot into a 5x5 career in Europe.

If Ogunniyi does not work out, then I still think it was probably worth the attempt to find a little-known gem with a lot of potential, even if he’s of the boom-or-bust sort. I believe two big parts of basketball are finding outliers and winning on even the smallest possible margins, so Ogunniyi fits that bill for me.

In order to evaluate the German prospect, I watched four of his games with Baskets Bonn in May 2026 (vs. Fuengirola, Hangzhou, Liman, Toronto) and one game from May 2025 (vs. Hangzhou).

Ogunniyi is strictly a play finisher right now, even in 3x3. He adds value as a roller, where he has a fairly big catch radius, and sometimes as an offensive rebounder.

In terms of rolling, I’m curious to see whether Ogunniyi’s 3x3 experience helps him become a dangerous (D)HO weapon in 5x5 play. Currently, he basically only screens and hands the ball off whenever he isn’t scoring at the basket, plus 3x3 is fully half-court, so I feel like some principles should carry over - even though the spacing will be far different.

On the glass, Ogunniyi is not currently an impactful rebounder because he still gets knocked off his spots too easily despite always having the height advantage.

That said, I can commend him for his effort on the boards. At the very least, Ogunniyi has a baseline of activity as a rebounder, and he can use his size+length to tip balls to himself. But he should be far more impactful and will need to get coached up on the glass.

Ogunniyi is not a 3P shooter and might never be. He took a few threes in the games that I watched and missed all of them. Most notably, the German big’s form did not look smooth at all, and some of his misses were way off.

Ogunniyi moves fluidly enough, but his strength and conditioning look like they really need to improve. 3x3 is really fast-paced, but he often ends up looking very tired.

Thinking about the next level, I’m most concerned about how Ogunniyi gets held off his spots and does not protect the rim that much. He has a tough time leveraging his size.

Ogunniyi is also still too jumpy and undisciplined, as he leaves his feet too often and needs to improve his pick-and-roll positioning. He also struggles in space against players with a lower center of gravity because he cannot get low to the ground and then spring back up quickly.

However, there is definitely enough to be interested in. Ogunniyi moves his feet better than most 7+ footers, and he’s not rail thin either. He’s shown some glimpses of being impactful in drop coverage, though 5x5 needs and reads are different from 3x3.

Some brief background notes include that Ogunniyi started playing basketball when he was 14, which would have been right around COVID. He’s played 3x3 since at least July 2021, wants to participate in the 2028 Olympics, and his role model is Kristaps Porzingis.

An “easy” comp for Ogunniyi in terms of trajectory, not playstyle, is his 3x3 teammate Fabian Giessmann (2005).

Giessmann is a smaller but more physical, explosive big who is a massive standout in the modality. For comparison, he is the No. 1 3x3 player in Germany, the No. 1 U-23 Men’s player, and the No. 8 player in the world. Meanwhile, Ogunniyi is the No. 9 player in Germany, the No. 14 U-23 Men’s player, and the No. 139 player in the world.

Giessmann’s first-ever 5x5 game came in the EuroCup for Hamburg Towers in January 2025. He ended up averaging 2.4 PTS, 1.9 REB, 0 AST, 0.3 STL, 0.1 BLK in 8 Bundesliga games. As a whole, he played in 20 total games and seemingly planned to leave when 3x3 season kicked off again. That was a higher level than NJCAA…

Other names that come to mind for me are Anton Bonke and Naheem McLeod. Bonke is someone I’ve profiled recently, and he’s a different type of player, so it’s more about the late start, JUCO experience, and eventual D-I move.

McLeod also played JUCO basketball, put up fairly modest stats at Chipola College, and then became a rotation big at Florida State and Syracuse (averaged 3.7 PTS, 2.6 REB, 1.0 BLK in 11.4 MINS over his four D-I seasons).

The thing that gives me the most pause about Ogunniyi is that I’m still not really sure what he’s good at. He moves around well but not excellently, and he’s an interesting athlete but not an overly functional one at this stage. Then, the German prospect lacks a clear go-to skill on both ends of the floor. Finally, and maybe most importantly, Ogunniyi has to “learn” 5x5 in a way.

A worst-case scenario here, and perhaps a very realistic one, is simply that Ogunniyi does not work out. He cannot improve his warts quickly enough and he cannot transition from 3x3 to 5x5. I could be wrong, but it seems like this is Ogunniyi’s first ever 5x5 experience (or, if not, his first at a significant level).

In this outcome, he’d probably leave Weatherford and continue his 3x3 career in Germany. That is probably the “worst case” for the Texas school, but it may be what Ogunniyi was set to do before this opportunity came up anyway.

If so, it looks like Ogunniyi was on his way to fairly decent success. He was in Germany’s thoughts for this year’s 3x3 World Cup and has long been a part of their 3x3 structure. The new Weatherford prospect has a goal of playing in the 2028 Olympics.

Ogunniyi’s decision to leave Germany and join Weatherford comes as the school seemingly goes through some significant changes that will affect its basketball program.

John Putyrski was hired as Weatherford’s new coach on April 29 after most recently serving as the head coach of BKM Lučenec in Slovakia. Before that, he coached Florida State College at the NJCAA level and had D-I experience as an assistant coach at UT Arlington and various roles at Illinois State.

Putyrski’s hiring was preceded by broader athletics-related changes at Weatherford. Jeff Lightfoot, Weatherford’s former baseball coach, became the school’s athletic director last May.

Starting this year, it seems like Weatherford will also be allocating a lot more money towards basketball. The school’s proposed 2026-27 budget sets the men’s basketball budget at $447,840, which is way up (+$298,370) from $149,470 in the 2025-26 fiscal year’s amended budget.

It’s important to note that most of this uptick comes from two areas. The “Admin/Professional Salaries” budget would rise from $12,000 to $94,950 (+82,950). Another $190,000 would go towards capital equipment.

.(Women’s basketball would also see a +$143,143 boost compared to last year, including a $190,000 equipment budget. However, its non-capital equipment, group insurance, retirement matching, stipends, and admin/professional salaries would go down.)

In June, Lightfoot announced a new partnership with Nike and BSN Sports, calling the deal “one that you would typically see at the NCAA D1 level.” He said that “being a Nike school gives us a distinct recruiting advantage.”

It’s hard to be sure from the outside, but to me, it looks like this is starting to pay off - not just with Ogunniyi, but with some of Weatherford’s other recent signings:

• 🇶🇦 Mohamed Ndao (Qatar/2007)

Truth be told, I became aware of Ogunniyi through Ndao, who I’ve had my eye on since last February.

I may have overestimated Ndao as a high-major recruit then (though he received interest from Arizona State and Houston), which has helped me recalibrate my scouting process, but I have no doubt that he can be a valuable D-I player still.

Since last year, the Qatari prospect moved to Bella Vista Prep (Arizona) from Legacy the School of Sport Sciences (Spring, TX, USA) and played EYBL Scholastic. In 18 EYBL Scholastic games (10.4 MINS), he averaged 4.0 PTS, 2.1 REB (0.7o), 0.9 AST to 0.9 TOV, 0.6 STL, 0.4 BLK and 1.3 PF on 54.8 FG% / 79.2 2P% / 22.2 3P% / 88.0 FT% shooting splits.

Said recently that he has gone through injuries and was at the end of the bench at Bella Vista. Still, Bella Vista won the EYBL Scholastic and the Chipotle Nationals.

He was announced by UIC in May, which would’ve landed Ndao at a nice spot in the Missouri Valley Conference, but he decommitted in July and reopened his recruitment. Weatherford announced his signing on August 14. This is a chance for him to break back out and get a D-I move.

In 4 games (36.7 MINS) at the 2024 FIBA U18 Asia Cup, Ndao averaged 22.0 PTS, 11.5 REB, 2.5 AST to 4.5 TOV, 1.8 STL, 3.5 BLK and 3.0 PF on 40.3 FG% / 56.8 2P% / 14.3 3P% / 61.9 FT% shooting splits. In 7 games (35.6 MINS) at the 2023 FIBA U16 Asian Championship, he averaged 26.0 PTS, 13.0 REB, 3.3 AST to 4.0 TOV, 1.6 STL, 2.7 BLK and 2.9 PF on 54.6 FG% / 67.9 2P% / 29.3 3P% / 58.8 FT% shooting splits.

Played basketball in Qatar for Al Ahli. In 8 games (34.5 MINS) in the 2023-24 season, he averaged 15.6 PTS, 7.3 REB (1.9o), 4.3 AST to 3.4 TOV, 1.5 STL, 0.8 BLK, 2.0 PF on 49.4 FG% / 57.8 2P% / 40.5 3P% / 75.9 FT% shooting splits.

Ndao made his senior national team debut with Qatar in 2023 at 15 y/o and played again with them in 2024. He participated in the 2024 Basketball Without Borders Asia camp, where he was named a Camp All-Star.

• 🇸🇮 Leon Zdravkovic (Slovenia/2006)

Announced on June 24. Developed with Cedevita Olimpija in Slovenia. Appeared to move to Slovan in 2024. In 2025-26 season, moved to the US and played for Lee Academy in Maine. Winning record so far in his career. Won bronze in 2024 at the U-18 level, bronze in 2025 at the U-19 World Cup, and gold in 2026 at the U-20 EuroBasket.

In 7 games (19.0 MINS) at the 2024 FIBA U18 EuroBasket, averaged 3.4 PTS, 1.1 REB (0.6o), 1.1 AST to 0.3 TOV, 0.4 STL, 0.0 BLK, 1.9 PF on 29.6 FG% / 28.6 2P% / 30.0 3P% / 100.0 FT% shooting splits.

In 7 games (12.4 MINS) at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup, averaged 3.1 PTS, 1.1 REB (0.4o), 0.4 AST to 0.6 TOV, 0.3 STL, 0.1 BLK and 2.3 PF on 26.1 FG% / 66.7 2P% / 20.0 3P% / 100.0 FT% shooting splits.

In 7 games (20.2 MINS) at the 2026 FIBA U20 EuroBasket, averaged 6.1 PTS, 1.4 REB (0.6o), 1.9 AST to 1.0 TOV, 0.7 STL, 0.0 BLK and 2.3 PF on 40.0 FG% / 62.5 2P% / 33.3 3P% / 75.0 FT% shooting splits.

Also has some 3x3 experience, including when he represented Slovenia at the 2024 3x3 U-18 World Cup.

I think he’ll be asked to act as a tablesetter and POA defender for Weatherford.

• 🇲🇱 Arouna Coulibaly (Mali/2007)

Announced on June 19. Listed at 6-foot-10. Date of birth is March 2, 2007. Was part of the Canterbury School development system in Gran Canaria as of the 2020-21 season, according to Spanish basketball federation records.

In 4 games (20.4 MINS) at the 2021 Spanish Under-14 Club Championship, averaged 15.5 PTS, 12.3 REB (5.8o), 1.0 AST to 3.5 TOV, 1.5 STL, 1.3 BLK, 0.5 PF on 58.0 FG% / 59.2 2P% / 0.0 3P% / 40.0 FT% shooting splits. Also played up two age groups with Canterbury’s U-16 team that season. In 6 games (9.9 MINS), averaged 2.8 PTS, 4.3 REB (1.8o), 0.3 AST to 0.3 TOV, 0.0 STL, 0.3 BLK and 0.7 PF on 38.9 FG% / 38.9 2P% / 0.0 3P% / 42.9 FT% shooting splits. Was still with Canterbury in the 2021-22 season.

In the 2022-23 season, over 4 games (37.9 MINS) at the U-16 Club Championship, averaged 15.3 PTS, 15.8 REB (5.3o), 1.3 AST to 3.3 TOV, 1.5 STL, 0.5 BLK, 2.3 PF on 60.0 FG% / 57.9 2P% / 100.0 3P% (2/2) / 78.6 FT% (11/14) shooting splits.

In the 2023-24 season, moved up to Canterbury’s U-18 team. In 3 games (31.1 MINS) at the 2024 Spanish U-18 Club Championship, averaged 6.3 PTS, 9.3 REB (4.7o), 0.7 AST to 2.3 TOV, 1.3 STL, 0.0 BLK and 1.7 PF on 29.6 FG% / 32.0 2P% / 0.0 3P% / 60.0 FT% shooting splits.

Moved to the US for the 2025-26 season and played for St. Benedict’s Prep (New Jersey). Appeared to be the team’s starting center by February and received an all-conference honorable mention.

I expect him to be asked to dominate the glass and improve as a shotblocker.

• 🇺🇸 TJ Cusciotta (Minnesota, USA/2005)

Announced June 22. Two-sport athlete in high school as he also played wide receiver for the football team. Committed to UW-Milwaukee for his freshman year of college but never appeared in a game.

Transferred to North Iowa CC for the 2025-26 season, his real freshman year. In 27 games (12.9 MINS), averaged 13.4 PTS, 4.1 REB (0.3), 2.4 AST to 2.0 TOV, 0.7 STL, 0.1 BLK, 1.9 PF on 44.1 FG% / 48.0 2P% / 36.9 3P% (3.1 3PA) / 84.8 FT% shooting splits. Had 145 FTA vs. 236 FGas (on a low 348 minutes), which gave him a 61.4 FTr.

Given his numbers, he profiles as a low-friction player who can produce on low minutes while being a reliable outside shooter and getting to the line, where he’ll drill his free throws.

Update (August 27, 2026): Weatherford’s board of trustees approved a proposal to buy a $235,367 scoreboard from Daktronics. The purchase was recommended by Lightfoot.

Weatherford’s board also authorized the purchase of a $131,576 bus for 14 passengers for the Athletics Department to use.