Upcoming Event: Baseball at East Carolina on April 7, 2026 at 6 p.m.
Baseball
at East Carolina
Layups with Onome Akinbode-James
DURHAM, N.C.— It is hard to believe there is only 24 more days until Duke women’s basketball hits the hardwood for the first official start of the 2018-19 campaign. As we continue to countdown to the season opener, we check in with freshman Onome Akinbode-James.
Our No. 24, Akinbode-James hails from Blairstown, N.J., and averaged 13.0 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks a contest as a senior at Blair Academy. She was a two-time All-MAPL First Team selection.
What kind of stuff did you do over the summer? I know you went to Nigeria. What other kind of things did you do?
Over the summer I was hurt for a little bit, but then I got back in June. I was in Nigeria for a while, so I did a lot of recovery stuff. Went in the weight room. Ashleigh (sport performance coach) was really good about getting me a lot of lifts and stuff to do to try to get my conditioning up so I’ll be ready to come in.
How has it been so far during your transition from high school to college?
It’s been great! The game is definitely a lot faster. You’re expected to mentally take instruction and implement it as fast as possible, which I think is the biggest thing.
What have you like so much about Duke so far?
I mean…I don’t know. I’ve met really amazing people, both on and off the court, which is like really cool. Seeing some of the students and what they have been doing. There’s so many international students because I was here for international orientation and how they got here, their journeys...the [entrepreneurship] is still pretty popular among those kids. It’s pretty amazing.
Quick Hitters:
Most used emoji? 😏
One thing that always put you in a good mood? Music
Song playing on your phone right now? Coachella by Lovelytheband
Last show you binge-watched? Grace and Frankie
Best thing you did over the summer? I went to Nigeria
Best advice you have ever received? Take Responsibility for your actions
One place you would like to travel to? Singapore
Beach or mountains? Beach
Do you have any relatives involved in athletics? No
Instagram story or snapchat? Neither
Favorite type of ice cream? Coconut
Food you miss the most from home? Starch and Banga soup
Goals upon graduation? Excellence and influence
Do you play a musical instrument and if so what? Learning the guitar
#GoDuke
#Built4This
