SAN ANTONIO – Another big man is set to come aboard for the UTSA men’s basketball team, as third-year head coach Austin Claunch announced on Thursday that junior college transfer Chinedum Okpukpara will join the Roadrunners’ frontcourt in 2026-27. Okpukpara is the 10th offseason signing announced by the Roadrunners and the third frontcourt player to join UTSA this summer.
“We are happy to welcome Chin Okpukpara to the Roadrunners family,” Claunch said. “Chin is a high-character young man who will fit in perfectly with our current group of student-athletes. He is a forward that competes at a high level and makes an impact on both ends of the floor. We are excited to continue to help him develop and see the impact that he makes on the court this year.”
Okpukpara touches down in San Antonio as a 6-foot-10, 225-pound forward from Chicago, playing last season at Highland Community College in Freeport, Illinois. Okpukpara garnered NJCAA All-Region 4 First Team honors in 2025-26, starting 30 games for the Cougars and averaging a double-double of 14.3 points and 10.5 rebounds, shooting 46.5 percent from floor and 73.5 percent at the free throw line. Okpukpara ranked second among all NJCAA players with 2.9 blocks per game (86 overall), while also listing at second nationally in rebounds per game (316 total). He was ranked 39th in the JucoRecruiting Top 100 this offseason. He joined HCC before last season after making an impression at the P32 JUCO Showcase and earning a spot in the JA48 (JUCO Advocate 48) 2025 class following a season at State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Missouri – also the Roadrunners. At SFCC, he averaged 8.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, starting all 31 games while helping his team to the NJCAA Region 16 Semifinal. He began his collegiate career at Roosevelt University in Chicago, playing just five games with a 2.4-point, 2.8-rebound average before an injury ended his time with the Lakers’ program. Originally from Chicago Heights, Okpukpara wrapped up his high school career at Chi Prep Academy.
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