UTSA adds NJCAA All-Region forward Chinedum Okpukpara to 2026-27 roster

UTSA kept stacking size on July 9, adding junior college forward Chinedum Okpukpara to its 2026-27 roster as the Roadrunners continued to reshape the front line around rim protection and rebounding. The 6-foot-10, 225-pound big man became the 10th offseason signing for Austin Claunch’s program and the third frontcourt addition to join the team this summer.

Austin Claunch became the seventh head coach in UTSA men’s basketball history on March 17, 2024, and he is entering his third season leading the program in 2026-27. In the span of a week, the Roadrunners added Mike Broxton Jr. on July 3, Ashton Smith on July 7 and then Okpukpara.

At Highland Community College in Freeport, Illinois, he earned NJCAA All-Region 4 First Team honors in 2025-26 after starting 30 games and putting up a double-double line of 14.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. He shot 46.5 percent from the field and 73.5 percent at the foul line, blocked 2.9 shots per game and finished with 86 total blocks. He also ranked second nationally in rebounds with 316 boards and was 39th in JucoRecruiting’s offseason Top 100.

Before Highland, Okpukpara played at State Fair Community College, where he started all 31 games, averaged 8.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, and helped SFCC reach the NJCAA Region 16 semifinals. He began his college career at Roosevelt University in Chicago and was limited to five games because of injury.

Okpukpara is a redshirt sophomore from Chicago, Illinois, and Chi Prep is his high school.