WICHITA, Kan. – Seven-foot center Ehimen Orukpe, a native of Delta, Nigeria, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play men's basketball at Wichita State and will have three years of eligibility, Head Coach Gregg Marshall announced today.

Ehimen (A-hee-may) Orukpe (O- Roo- Pay) (7-0, 250, C, Delta, Nigeria) redshirted one season at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and is playing his first season for the Raiders in 2009-10.

“We are pleased to announce that we have received the NLI for Ehimen Orukpe who is a redshirt freshman at Three Rivers this year,” Marshall said. “It has been a couple of years in the process, and we are excited about having him again officially a part of our program.

“He is a tremendous person and student, and with his size and athletic ability, as well as his desire to be a good player, he is a great addition to our program. He needs to still work on his offensive skills, but already in two games this year he has 14 blocks to average seven a game early on.”

“Ehimen will be a great representative for our University and our community.”

Prior to coming to the United States, Orukpe played for the Ebun Comet, one of the elite amateur club teams in Nigeria.

Orukpe is WSU's first signee of the Fall, 2009, signing period.