3. He wants to honor his father’s memory.
Okonkwo was raised in Georgia, but that’s not where his family is originally from. His father, who passed away when he was 15 years old, was from Nigeria, and he wants to honor them in any way possible, both on and off the field.
“I want to honor his life by continuing to work extremely hard,” Okonkwo said of his father. “The first sport my sisters and I played was tennis. My dad used to really push my sisters and I and remind us that we could do whatever we set our mind to.”
Okonkwo’s father, Charlton, taught him the value of having a good work ethic. Charlton used to walk five miles to school carrying his desk and chair. Okonkwo also considers his dad as his first coach and credits him for fostering his discipline in sports.
And although his father isn’t there to watch his games, Okonkwo makes sure to make him a part of his routine and prays that he watches over him.
“I always pay [my father] respect in everything that I do,” Okonkwo said. “I always think about him in everything that I do, and I know the things he would want me to do and the things he wouldn’t want me to do. That’s how I live my life.”