Goodbye Baraka Okojie and Welcome Back Baraka Okojie

99 Patriot

99 Patriot

Starter
GIVING DAY 2023
This is such great news. BO's last game for us (A-10 tourney loss vs. St. Joe's) he was easily the best player on the court. Such a luxury to have someone that when things go south can always breakdown his man and get to the paint. It helps that he's such a genuinely nice kid too.

Two all-conference caliber BO's in the backcourt, a defensive stopper at the 3 and a sniper off the bench... If our bigs even just hold their own down low we might be pretty good...
 
L

Leesburg Chankenstank III

Hall of Famer
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
AI’s take on the commit:

“It's official—the homecoming is complete! Baraka Okojie committed to George Mason today, April 17, 2026, marking one of the most unique transfer stories in recent A-10 history.


After starting his career at Mason, moving to Memphis, and then having a breakout season at Mercer, he is returning to Fairfax for his senior year.


Other Schools That Showed Interest


While the draw of returning to Tony Skinn's system was the deciding factor, Baraka was one of the most statistically productive guards in the portal this cycle, leading to interest from several high-level programs:


• Maryland: The Terps were reportedly looking for an experienced, defensive-minded guard to stabilize their backcourt. Given his ability to draw fouls and navigate pressure, he was high on their board for a DMV-area addition.


• Penn State: Coming off a strong year in the Big Ten, the Nittany Lions were in the market for a veteran "true" point guard who could disrupt opposing offenses.


• vcu: Interestingly, Mason’s biggest rival was reportedly monitoring him. They are always in the hunt for elite on-ball defenders that fit their "Havoc" style, but a move to a direct rival likely would have been a tough sell.


• High-Major Interest: Because of his elite Free Throw Rate (he was top-10 in the nation in drawing fouls during his first stint at Mason and repeated that efficiency at Mercer), several Big 12 and SEC schools reportedly inquired about his availability as a secondary playmaker.


The "New Look" Patriots


With Baraka back at the point, George Mason has arguably the most athletic "core three" in the conference heading into the 2026–27 season:


1. Baraka Okojie (PG): The floor general and defensive pest.


2. Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor (Wing): The high-flying 4-star scorer.


3. Michael Marcus Jr. (Forward): The physical 6'9" interior anchor.”
 
J

jruby

Starter
It's interesting on Michael Marcus Jr., still feels like a rotational piece off the bench. I like Kanaga, Adair, Elabor, Okojie and BOC as a starting 5 though!
 
G

gmujim92

Hall of Famer
GIVING DAY 2023
Leesburg Chankenstank III said:
AI’s take on the commit:

“It's official—the homecoming is complete! Baraka Okojie committed to George Mason today, April 17, 2026, marking one of the most unique transfer stories in recent A-10 history.


After starting his career at Mason, moving to Memphis, and then having a breakout season at Mercer, he is returning to Fairfax for his senior year.


Other Schools That Showed Interest


While the draw of returning to Tony Skinn's system was the deciding factor, Baraka was one of the most statistically productive guards in the portal this cycle, leading to interest from several high-level programs:


• Maryland: The Terps were reportedly looking for an experienced, defensive-minded guard to stabilize their backcourt. Given his ability to draw fouls and navigate pressure, he was high on their board for a DMV-area addition.


• Penn State: Coming off a strong year in the Big Ten, the Nittany Lions were in the market for a veteran "true" point guard who could disrupt opposing offenses.


• vcu: Interestingly, Mason’s biggest rival was reportedly monitoring him. They are always in the hunt for elite on-ball defenders that fit their "Havoc" style, but a move to a direct rival likely would have been a tough sell.


• High-Major Interest: Because of his elite Free Throw Rate (he was top-10 in the nation in drawing fouls during his first stint at Mason and repeated that efficiency at Mercer), several Big 12 and SEC schools reportedly inquired about his availability as a secondary playmaker.


The "New Look" Patriots


With Baraka back at the point, George Mason has arguably the most athletic "core three" in the conference heading into the 2026–27 season:


1. Baraka Okojie (PG): The floor general and defensive pest.


2. Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor (Wing): The high-flying 4-star scorer.


3. Michael Marcus Jr. (Forward): The physical 6'9" interior anchor.”
Click to expand...
If Okojie had gone to vcu and Haynes to Dayton in the same offseason, I might have combusted.

jruby said:
It's interesting on Michael Marcus Jr., still feels like a rotational piece off the bench. I like Kanaga, Adair, Elabor, Okojie and BOC as a starting 5 though!
Click to expand...
The bigs’ rotation will likely be matchup dependent. I don’t think anyone wants Adair chasing smaller 4s around on the perimeter, while Marcus Jr. will probably be called on to guard bigger 5s.
 
P

Patriot Blue

Preferred Walk-On
Leesburg Chankenstank III said:
AI’s take on the commit:

“It's official—the homecoming is complete! Baraka Okojie committed to George Mason today, April 17, 2026, marking one of the most unique transfer stories in recent A-10 history.


After starting his career at Mason, moving to Memphis, and then having a breakout season at Mercer, he is returning to Fairfax for his senior year.


Other Schools That Showed Interest


While the draw of returning to Tony Skinn's system was the deciding factor, Baraka was one of the most statistically productive guards in the portal this cycle, leading to interest from several high-level programs:


• Maryland: The Terps were reportedly looking for an experienced, defensive-minded guard to stabilize their backcourt. Given his ability to draw fouls and navigate pressure, he was high on their board for a DMV-area addition.


• Penn State: Coming off a strong year in the Big Ten, the Nittany Lions were in the market for a veteran "true" point guard who could disrupt opposing offenses.


• vcu: Interestingly, Mason’s biggest rival was reportedly monitoring him. They are always in the hunt for elite on-ball defenders that fit their "Havoc" style, but a move to a direct rival likely would have been a tough sell.


• High-Major Interest: Because of his elite Free Throw Rate (he was top-10 in the nation in drawing fouls during his first stint at Mason and repeated that efficiency at Mercer), several Big 12 and SEC schools reportedly inquired about his availability as a secondary playmaker.


The "New Look" Patriots


With Baraka back at the point, George Mason has arguably the most athletic "core three" in the conference heading into the 2026–27 season:


1. Baraka Okojie (PG): The floor general and defensive pest.


2. Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor (Wing): The high-flying 4-star scorer.


3. Michael Marcus Jr. (Forward): The physical 6'9" interior anchor.”
Click to expand...
Penn State coming off a strong year in the Big Ten?

AI sucks
 
KAOriginal

KAOriginal

All-American
Well...did not have that on my 2026 bingo card...

Makes the loss of Mincy more palatable with a known commodity and someone that has been in Skinn's system before.

Feels like a move that has changed us from "maybe good things happen"...to "we're going to have good things happen."
 
Jack Strop

Jack Strop

All-Conference
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
mkaufman1 said:
I’m so excited to welcome Baraka back to Fairfax. Now that it’s official…

I had been hearing rumblings as far back as last year that Tony had maintained a relationship with him and that there was mutual interest. At the time, I kind of laughed it off—I never really thought we’d get him back considering his talent level and how his situation seemed to be set up. But late last weekend, word started circulating that it might actually happen. When I saw it pop up on my phone, I literally said “holy shit” out loud. Even then, it didn’t feel real.

Baraka was one of Tony’s first big finds after arriving at Mason, convincing him to reclassify, and we all saw how talented he was in that first season. I expect him to be everything he was in year one—and more—now as a senior.Putting him in the backcourt with Brayden, along with Marville, gives us exactly what we need from an experienced guard group to compete in the A-10.

I still love Kory Mincy—but yeah, I also love Baraka (even if Kory had me saying “Baraka who?”). Now that he’s back, I’m all in with Baraka as PG1.

And as for spending—don’t worry. It’s being handled. There’s strong financial commitment behind the scenes, and we’re clearly investing to win. Bringing Baraka back is proof of that.
Click to expand...

Okojie returning to Mason, to me, is a pretty logical step. Baraka left Mason for more $$$ a la Memphis. There, he sat on the bench with very limited playing time. That probably stung him pretty good. After Memphis, no one at a level above the SoCon was interested in a player that rode the bench, leaving Okojie to settle for Mercer. And in short order, Baraka became the best player in the conference.

There was reported recent interest for Okojie to join P5 teams, but I think the sting of him not playing at Memphis took him off that table. The only other place that Okojie could thrive and shine and join as a starter is in the next conference tier, A10 included. The strong relationship to Mason and coach Skinn, that is, bridges not burned, sealed the deal.

Now, Mason has a proven, highly-skilled PG1 with a GIANT chip on his shoulder. I like the way that sounds...

WELCOME BACK BARAKA!!!
 
Last edited:
L

Leesburg Chankenstank III

Hall of Famer
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
Jack Strop said:
Okojie returning to Mason, to me, is a pretty logical step. Baraka left Mason for more $$$ a la Memphis. There he sat on the bench with very limited playing time. That probably stung him pretty good. After Memphis, no one at a level above the SoCon was interested in a player that rode the bench, leaving Okojie to settle for Mercer. And in short order, Baraka became the best player in the conference.

There was reported recent interest for Okojie to join P5 teams, but I think the sting of him not playing at Memphis took him off that table. The only other place that Okojie could thrive and shine and join as a starter is in the next conference tier, A10 included. The strong relationship to Mason and coach Skinn, that is, bridges not burned, sealed the deal.

Now, Mason has a proven, highly-skilled PG1 with a GIANT chip on his shoulder. I like the way that sounds...

WELCOME BACK BARAKA!!!
Click to expand...
Exactly. Money is nice. But a player wants to play.
 
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