Tobi Akinkunmi:
Surging Forward
Tobi Akinkunmi is a 22-year-old forward and current team captain for the UBC Thunderbirds’ men’s basketball team. Ever since he stepped on the court for his first game during the 2021-2022 campaign, Akinkunmi has been a part of winning basketball. The T-Birds have racked up a whopping 90-30 overall record, and a 58-20 record against teams in their conference, and a large part of that is due to Akinkunmi’s impact as the squad’s emotional and defensive leader.
Born in Houston, Texas, Akinkunmi later moved to England, before eventually landing in Calgary, Alberta, which is where he first picked up a basketball — and the rest is history. Now, Akinkunmi and his T-Birds have just wrapped a season that saw a National Tournament appearance, all while completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology.
“I'm the same person, but a better version of myself...”
Tobi Akinkunmi
A Sit-Down Interview With UBC's Emotional Leader
Tobi Akinkunmi walks in from the shoot-around to join us in the foyer of the War Memorial Gym. As we settle in for a chat about his T-Bird career, it's clear that he has been hard at work. Despite the end-of-season practice being optional, a handful of T-Birds are getting after it with Akinkunmi leading the charge.
As captain of the UBC Thunderbirds, he is a prominent leader on the court, as his voice can be heard booming throughout the near-empty arena.
“I'm very emotional, I have a lot of passion for the game, so I just try and lead by example," reflected Akinkunmi. "My 3rd-4th year at UBC was really where I stepped into my own as a leader."
via Jacob Mallari/UBC Athletics
A New Found Love
Akinkunmi joined the T-Birds going into the 2020-2021 campaign, only for that season to be washed out due to COVID-19 restrictions. As the years have gone on, the team has steadily improved, and so has Akinkunmi.
This push to improve and get better is something that comes naturally to him. Believe it or not, basketball was not the sport he originally took to in his school years.
After moving to and growing up in England, he became a Manchester City fan while regularly playing soccer, suiting up as a striker. However, a four-inch growth spurt just before high school forced him to change course. That is when basketball found Akinkunmi.
“That summer [of grade eight], I shot up from 5’11” to 6' 3". So, my body got a little more awkward, and soccer became a little more challenging...”
Despite a steep learning curve, he put his best foot forward and worked hard to get better. With time and consistent efforts, his performances improved, and he would enjoy the fruits of his labour in the not-so-distant future.
Yet, going into his senior year at high school, he wasn’t actively recruited. “[Playing Collegiate basketball] was always a dream of mine, but I wasn’t even sure if it was going to be possible.” That summer he buckled down under the leadership of mentors and coaches, determined to move onto the next level.
Continuous Improvement Pays Off
That September, he received a call, an invitation to a Team Canada camp — and went on to make the top 10 list. Dan Vanhooren, Head Coach of the Canadian Men’s Junior National Team, took notice of the young Akinkunmi and there was no looking back from that point on.
Akinkunmi's swift rise in the sport eventually garnered attention from Kevin Hanson, Head Coach of the UBC Thunderbirds Men’s team, who organized a meet-up with the budding forward.
"They flew me out. I saw beautiful Vancouver, walked into the [War Memorial] Gym and automatically knew this was going to be my home for the next five years.”
“[Playing collegiate basketball] was always a dream of mine, but I wasn’t even sure if it was going to be possible.”
Akinkunmi
A Bright Future Ahead
Akinkunmi will return to the UBC campus in the fall of 2025 to pursue a master’s program in management, while also suiting up in the blue-and-gold for a fifth straight season.
The Thunderbirds have tasted recent success but have been shy of winning the team's third national title. The 2022-23 season saw them reach the Canada West semi-final. They went a step further this past season by finishing second in the Canada West conference and sixth in the country. Next year, with the National Tournament taking place in Akinkunmi’s old stomping grounds of Calgary, AB, a homecoming in his final year could be on the horizon.
“My biggest goal for next season is to just love every single moment", began Akinkunmi. "It's easy to get lost or distracted...but it's going to be my last year, so I'd really like to make the most of it and have as much fun as possible, live every moment and feel everything that I'm going to feel."
UBC School of Journalism, Writing and Media
For the latest news on the UBC Thunderbirds Men's basketball team, visit: https://gothunderbirds.ca/sports/mens-basketball
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