Semilore Ojeleye, the younger brother of Kansas State’s Victor Ojeleye, has really turned heads with his basketball skills. But most importantly, he maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA, just like the rest of his siblings.

“Mom and dad tell him that academics are first and basketball is second, and he truly believes it,” Ottawa head coach Jon McKowen said. “His character is just amazing, he’s one of those kids you want your kids to grow up like. He does the right things and makes the right choices.”

Ojeleye, a 6’6” 2013 prospect, has a lot going for him. He has the right mindset, both on and off the court. Off the court, Ojeleye is a great student and despite spending a lot of time on basketball, is still able to keep up with his school work. “He’s a great kid with great character,” said coach McKowen. “I definitely want my children to grow up with his values and act like him.”

On the court, Ojeleye is considered one of the best forwards in his class. He’s on pace of becoming Ottawa’s all-time leading scorer as a junior and has already broken the single-season scoring record, previously held by his brother, with 605 points this season.

He has terrific size and strength for his age and is still growing as he inches closer to his senior year in high school. He’s a very good spot-up shooter and if he can improve upon his dribbling, Ojeleye can become a dynamic threat on offense. “He’s progressed a lot as a basketball player,” coach McKowan said. “His biggest strength has been the off-the-floor leadership. He’s a very good verbal leader and he’s grown and matured [since his freshman season].”

Ojeleye led Ottawa to back-to-back 20-win seasons. Ottawa was a state runner-up in both seasons. He is a two-time all-state and all-league player as well as an all-class all-state selection this past season.

Ojeleye hasn’t drawn many offers from big-time programs but there are plenty that have shown interest after a sophomore season where he averaged 23.3 points per game to go along with 6.5 rebounds.

“He grew a bunch from his freshman to [his] sophomore year,” coach McKowan said. “His outside skills outside of 15-feet were not great, he could put the ball on the floor, get to the hole and score or post up and score as a freshman.” But now as a sophomore, Ojeleye continues to add different sets of skills to his game to keep the defense guessing.

“This year, he shot it really well, his percentage went up over eight percent from the three-point line but that’s still not where he wants it to be,” said McKowan. “He’s just an incredible kid with the basketball and he will keep going at it until he fixes it.”

Right now, headed into the 2011 summer off-season, Semi is working on a few major parts of his game that could lure more offers from high-major programs. Ojeleye is working on his ball-handling and his shot off the dribble while continuing to work on his speed, agility, and generally on getting stronger.

Kansas State head coach Frank Martin is just one of the many coaches that have shown extensive interest in the talented wing and despite not having an offer yet, Ojeleye is still optimistic about the thought of playing for Kansas State.

“He’s a very big Kansas State fan and the fact that his brother goes to school there,” coach McKowan said on the ‘Cats chances of recruiting Ojeleye. “But he really tries to separate that in his recruiting. He wants to find the best for him.”

“[His family] is trying to push him hard to find what’s best for Semi and that might be K-State and it might not,” he said. “There are no strong feelings that if K-State comes to offer he would take it right away. It will depend on if K-State is interested enough in him.”

As it stands right now, Kansas State will have five scholarships to exercise for the class of 2013 as they lose Rodney McGruder, Martavious Irving, Jeremy Jones, James Watson and Jordan Henriquez-Roberts, all scholarship players.

So far, Martin has yet to offer any 2013 recruits but has shown interest in many. When the time comes to start luring in recruits, Martin will more than likely make a huge push towards acquiring Ojeleye. He’s a very strong wing that would strive in Martin’s system.