Hansen Announces 2017-18 Men's Basketball Signees
Nov 10, 2016 | Men's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. -- Head coach Derrin Hansen announced Wednesday that Ayo Akinwole, Matt Pile and Zach Thornhill have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Omaha men's basketball program in 2017-18.
"We're very excited about the three young men who have signed NLIs to join our program,” Hansen said. “It brings us versatility, athleticism, skill, size and strength at multiple positions. Ayo, Matt and Zach play for outstanding high school and AAU programs, and they fit the culture of our team. We look forward to following their success through their senior year and getting them on campus next summer.”
AYO AKINWOLE
G, 5-11, 165, Papillion, Neb. (Papillion-LaVista)
Akinwole, a local product from Papillion-LaVista High School, has been a three-year letterwinner and two-year starter for coach Dan Moore. A two-time All-Metro selection, he averaged 14.6 points and 5.5 assists per game as a junior to earn second-team All-Nebraska recognition.
Akinwole was previously an all-state honorable mention pick as a sophomore, having averaged 10.5 points and 4.0 assists per game while shooting a school-record 52 percent from 3-point range. In the classroom, he is a member of the honor roll.
Akinwole also plays AAU ball for coach Thomas Liechti of Omaha Elite.
"Ayo is a true point guard,” Hansen said. “Not only can he set up his teammates, but he can drive and hit pull-up and open shots as well. He is an excellent on-ball defender and has a motor that doesn't quit."
MATT PILE
F, 6-8, 240, Wichita, Kan. (Eisenhower)
Pile, a native of Wichita, Kan., has been a three-year letterwinner and two-year starter for coach Steve Blue at Eisenhower High School. As a junior, he averaged 20.1 points, 15.3 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game while helping his team to a 21-2 record, a league title and a sub-state championship. Pile was named the Kansas Class 5A Player of the Year, first-team all-state, first-team Wichita All-Metro and his league's most valuable player in 2015-16.
In his sophomore season, Pile was all-state honorable mention while averaging 15.7 points, 15.1 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per contest. As a freshman, he was part of another Eisenhower squad that won both league and sub-state championships.
Ranked first in his class, Pile is a Kansas Honors Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society, and he is a recipient of the Wendy's High School Heisman Award.
Pile also plays AAU ball for coach Derrick Jackson of Team KC. Pile selected Omaha over offers from Lehigh, Sam Houston State, UMKC, CSU Bakersfield, Albany, Boston University, Youngstown State and Loyola (Md.).
"Matt is an athletic, physical presence at the forward position,” Hansen said. “He is versatile enough to step out and shoot, yet big and physical enough to help in the paint."
ZACH THORNHILL
G, 6-4, 185, Lenexa, Kan. (St. James Academy)
Thornhill, a native of Lenexa, Kan., has been a three-year letterwinner and three-year starter for coach Stan Dohm at St. James Academy. As a junior, Thornhill averaged 21.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 55 percent from the field and 85 percent at the line. He was selected Class 5A all-state, all-class all-state and All-Metro, and his team advanced to a sub-state final. Also an achiever academically, Thornhill is a member of the National Honor Society.
Thornhill also plays AAU ball for coach LJ Goolsby of KC RunGMC, and his 15U, 16U and 17U squads have won numerous AAU events and qualified for multiple Under Armour Finals. Thornhill selected Omaha over offers from Stetson, Wyoming, Albany, North Dakota, Denver, UMKC, Idaho State, Western Michigan, Lehigh and Boston University.
"Zach is a big, athletic wing who is skilled in the mid-range and improving his 3-point shot,” Hansen said. “His size allows him to guard multiple positions, as he played the point before a growth spurt in high school."
"We're very excited about the three young men who have signed NLIs to join our program,” Hansen said. “It brings us versatility, athleticism, skill, size and strength at multiple positions. Ayo, Matt and Zach play for outstanding high school and AAU programs, and they fit the culture of our team. We look forward to following their success through their senior year and getting them on campus next summer.”
AYO AKINWOLE
G, 5-11, 165, Papillion, Neb. (Papillion-LaVista)
Akinwole, a local product from Papillion-LaVista High School, has been a three-year letterwinner and two-year starter for coach Dan Moore. A two-time All-Metro selection, he averaged 14.6 points and 5.5 assists per game as a junior to earn second-team All-Nebraska recognition.
Akinwole was previously an all-state honorable mention pick as a sophomore, having averaged 10.5 points and 4.0 assists per game while shooting a school-record 52 percent from 3-point range. In the classroom, he is a member of the honor roll.
Akinwole also plays AAU ball for coach Thomas Liechti of Omaha Elite.
"Ayo is a true point guard,” Hansen said. “Not only can he set up his teammates, but he can drive and hit pull-up and open shots as well. He is an excellent on-ball defender and has a motor that doesn't quit."
MATT PILE
F, 6-8, 240, Wichita, Kan. (Eisenhower)
Pile, a native of Wichita, Kan., has been a three-year letterwinner and two-year starter for coach Steve Blue at Eisenhower High School. As a junior, he averaged 20.1 points, 15.3 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game while helping his team to a 21-2 record, a league title and a sub-state championship. Pile was named the Kansas Class 5A Player of the Year, first-team all-state, first-team Wichita All-Metro and his league's most valuable player in 2015-16.
In his sophomore season, Pile was all-state honorable mention while averaging 15.7 points, 15.1 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per contest. As a freshman, he was part of another Eisenhower squad that won both league and sub-state championships.
Ranked first in his class, Pile is a Kansas Honors Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society, and he is a recipient of the Wendy's High School Heisman Award.
Pile also plays AAU ball for coach Derrick Jackson of Team KC. Pile selected Omaha over offers from Lehigh, Sam Houston State, UMKC, CSU Bakersfield, Albany, Boston University, Youngstown State and Loyola (Md.).
"Matt is an athletic, physical presence at the forward position,” Hansen said. “He is versatile enough to step out and shoot, yet big and physical enough to help in the paint."
ZACH THORNHILL
G, 6-4, 185, Lenexa, Kan. (St. James Academy)
Thornhill, a native of Lenexa, Kan., has been a three-year letterwinner and three-year starter for coach Stan Dohm at St. James Academy. As a junior, Thornhill averaged 21.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 55 percent from the field and 85 percent at the line. He was selected Class 5A all-state, all-class all-state and All-Metro, and his team advanced to a sub-state final. Also an achiever academically, Thornhill is a member of the National Honor Society.
Thornhill also plays AAU ball for coach LJ Goolsby of KC RunGMC, and his 15U, 16U and 17U squads have won numerous AAU events and qualified for multiple Under Armour Finals. Thornhill selected Omaha over offers from Stetson, Wyoming, Albany, North Dakota, Denver, UMKC, Idaho State, Western Michigan, Lehigh and Boston University.
"Zach is a big, athletic wing who is skilled in the mid-range and improving his 3-point shot,” Hansen said. “His size allows him to guard multiple positions, as he played the point before a growth spurt in high school."
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