Jahlil Okafor takes a lot of pride in his Chicago upbringing, but during his time with the 76ers this past season, it was notable that he used the word “home” to describe somewhere else.The place to which the big man was referring was Durham, North Carolina, and in particular, Duke University, where Okafor delivered a dominant freshman season.For the better part of the past three weeks, Okafor has been back on campus, with his mission being to resume the academic course load he began two years ago. Earlier this week, he sat down with Jon Scheyer for the debut episode of Duke assistant coach’s podcast. Loved recording the first podcast with these two guys! First episode comes out tomorrow. Jah’s the best guest yet! pic.twitter.com/7nwzopb6jc— Jon Scheyer (@JonScheyer) June 9, 2016 At the outset of their near 45-minute conversation, Okafor told Scheyer, who also played for Duke, that he promised his family he would eventually return to school after turning pro. He just didn’t expect to do so within a year of the Sixers selecting him third overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. “My aunt, who plays the role of my mother now, she got her PhD,” said Okafor, whose mother passed away when he was nine. “My father has his master’s degree. My uncle does as well.”They told me I have to get some form of a degree before I could consider myself an ‘Okafor,'” he joked. Okafor also travelled to Duke during the February All-Star Game break, saying at the time that he was eager to “see my teammates, my brothers, see the coaches,” and be in a “good environment.” Before the end of the month, Okafor would find himself dealing with shin and knee issues that ultimately kept him on the shelf for the final 23 games of the Sixers’ season.”I think [this week] makes it 12 weeks since I had my surgery,” said Okafor in his interview with Scheyer and Nolan Smith, a guard on Duke’s 2010 national title team. “I’m going down this weekend to be completely cleared and hopefully get on the court and start basketball workouts.” Last season, Okafor put up 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, becoming the first rookie in Sixers history to ever reach those averages. On the court, he at times made his jump from college to the pros appear effortless. He acknowledged, however, that adjusting to the NBA schedule took some getting used to.”You’re always on the road,” Okafor said. “I was trying to get into a routine, to get some level of comfort.”In terms of the uniform he was wearing, Okafor felt at ease.”Going to a storied organization, that was a smooth transition,” he said. “Overall, it was a great experience. We have a great coaching staff, a young team, and I had fun.” Talking with Scheyer about the relationships he fostered with fellow members of the Duke basketball program, Okafor sounded happy, and relaxed. His visit to Tobacco Road coincided with this year’s ‘K Academy,’ the annual star-studded fantasy camp featuring over four dozen current and former Mike Krzyzewski players.SQUADpic.twitter.com/C2H4jHV3uV— Duke Basketball (@dukeblueplanet) June 1, 2016 This Tuesday, Okafor found out he was one of the 25 players (and one of seven Duke products) named to the USA Men’s Select Team. The group will practice with this summer’s Olympic squad in Las Vegas from July 18th through July 21st.”I’m so excited,” Okafor said on the podcast “It makes me just want to go and run and shoot right now. It’s always been my dream. I’ve played with the junior Olympic team since I was a freshman in high school. Even through the recruitment process, this was always my vision to be on this team at one point, and hopefully make it to the big stage and be able to perform and represent Team USA in the Olympics. Just to have a part in that, and help the other team get ready, it’s exciting.”Okafor won’t be the only Sixer on the Select Team. Jerami Grant earned a spot, too.”I am getting anxious,” Okafor said about soon getting back on the floor. “My knee feels really good.”
Loved recording the first podcast with these two guys! First episode comes out tomorrow. Jah’s the best guest yet! pic.twitter.com/7nwzopb6jc
SQUADpic.twitter.com/C2H4jHV3uV
