Toby Okani Leads the Flames

A Better Year Ahead for UIC

(St. Louis, MO) – Illinois Chicago is a dangerous Missouri Valley Conference team. While coach Luke Yaklich has added some very important players to his 2023-24 roster, Toby Okani leads the Flames and is emerging as an MVC star.

During UIC’s first Valley season, the Flames struggled offensively and employing a youthful roster, struggled mightily to win road games in the brutal MVC twenty-game conference schedule. While Okani shined and his younger teammates learned Division 1 basketball lessons, the losses piled up.

The Flames won four conference games, going 4-and-2 against the three teams that finished in the bottom third of the league standings. Yaklich’s squad lost all 14 of its games against teams that finished in the league’s top eight spots. UIC won just one of its ten Valley road contests.

The 6’8 Okani has guard skills in a forward’s body and scores (11.0 points per game) and rebounds with abandon. His 7.1 caroms per contest were the league’s fifth best average. The New Jersey native started all 32 UIC games and averaged 32 minutes per contest.

New Look Flames

Yaklich has used this offseason to add nine new players, take his team on an overseas basketball trip and has been building a freshly cohesive unit. The trip to Spain and summer practices are important in the development and blending of the new talent in with the old. Okani leads the Flames (new and old) into their second MVC season.

He doesn’t see last season’s 12-20 record as a ‘lost season’, but as important in the laying of a solid UIC foundation. Okani speaks confidently about the cohesion, unity and talent on this year’s team. With just over a week of regular season practice under their belt, Okani feels like his team is ahead of the game.

 

 

Okani says last year’s Flames grew together last season and proved they ‘belong’ in the Valley. Seven of their league games were won or lost by five or fewer points. Two of their conference defeats were in overtime. Okani says he and his young teammates are learning how to win and that coach Yaklich’s emphasis on defense keeps games close.

 

 

Blending the Newcomers

Four proven Division 1 transfers will add stability and leadership to this year’s team. Loyola Chicago transfer Marquise Kennedy has taken on a leadership role and three others are establishing themselves as important pieces to this year’s squad.

While Okani leads the Flames, Houston Christian transfer Drew King, Colorado State newcomer Isaiah Rivera and Idaho transfer Yusef Salih are injecting firepower and experience. All four transfers averaged 6.5 points per game or better at their previous stops.

Kennedy knows the Valley and knows winning. Okani says the newcomers and returners fit together perfectly. He’s excited about the team chemistry and unity.

 

 

Four returning sophomores were part of those on-court lessons and Christian Jones, Jaden Brownell, Steven Clay and Cameron Fens are eager to make their Missouri Valley mark. Each of the ‘tenth graders’ played at least 24 games and displayed D1 talent.

The Yaklich Building Program

Yaklich has been a part of very successful programs. However, he’s still looking for sustained success as a Division 1 head coach. While noting that won-loss records are important, there is more to success than what people see on the scoreboard. He enjoys playing for Yaklich because he knows the Flames head coach cares about the people he coaches.

 

 

During this offseason Yaklich promoted some of his staff members to positions of greater responsibility and also hired former Illinois State defensive standout Tony Wills. ‘Coach Yak’ and Wills overlapped during their successful Redbird days and have a strong bond. Wills moves over from Southern Illinois where he helped guide a nasty Southern Illinois defense which led the Valley in scoring defense.

Okani says Wills has elevated the Flames’ defensive mindset and that he is paying special attention to the senior guard. He’s glad Wills is pushing him to be a great player.

 

 

Despite losing last year’s leading scorer Jace Carter to the transfer portal, this year’s Flames should be deeper and more talented. More scorers are available to Yaklich’s offense, sophomores will be more prepared and the incoming veterans will provide some calm in the Missouri Valley storms.

Listen to our entire conversation with Toby Okani at Valley Hoops Insider Podcasts. While you’re there, feel free to subscribe.

UIC opens at Cincinnati and entertains Little Rock in its home opener (November 10). As Okani leads the Flames, this should be a team that makes more noise during Valley competition.

Do Good

 

Editor: Cover photo courtesy of uicflames.com.