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Alief Hastings' Ike Okafor
LASER-FOCUSED: Three-star Okafor has a one-track mind in 2024
As the 6-foot-3, three-star edge-rusher laces up his cleats for one final campaign, it’s given him the opportunity to reflect on his journey.
“I’ve been playing since I was 12,” he said. “At first, I didn’t even like the sport because I didn’t know what to do. But then, my coach at the time pulled me to the side and told me, ‘you can really go somewhere far with this one’.
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
“Since then, the coaches have put me through hell to get me where I am today, but the results show why. They’ve been great motivators throughout my journey. There’s no other way to put it.”
By the same logic, his decision to continue his playing career at the University of California followed a parallel reasoning.
“Right back to the coaching,” said Okafor. “Coach (Andrew) Browning (defensive line coach at Cal), that’s my dog. I really love the coaching staff and the culture they have over there.They truly care about their players. I’ll have to get used to their beaches though since the water’s cold, but I think I’ll fit right into that program.”
The Hastings senior chose to become a Golden Bear over numerous other DI programs who sent an offer his way, such as Pittsburgh, Tulsa, Houston, Texas Tech and UNT.
Some of the stars of 2024-25 Alief Hastings FootballBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
While his physical stature and capabilities as a defender make it easy for him to stand out on the turf, the way Okafor chooses to spend his time off of it has become increasingly more mainstream.
“I actually love watching anime,” he said. “Demon Slayer has been my go-to mostly. That new season they just released was great, but I’m really looking forward to the final trilogy they’re working on."
As he makes his final appearance donning the black-and-gold this Fall, the Bears’ star defensive lineman will have one goal in mind.
“I want to make it to the playoffs, man,” Okafor said. “I want to be a dog on the field before moving on to Cal. I’m going to be graduating early and leaving in January, so I’ve got to make the most of the time I have left here.”
Sounds like a pretty straightforward objective.
Given his track record, Okafor is unlikely to leave any questions unanswered as he and the Bears seek to fulfill it
Alief Taylor's Kearstyn Spears
MASTER CHEF: Spears the key ingredient to Taylor revival
However, her skill-set began production long before stepping onto varsity as a sophomore.
“I’ve played volleyball since I was about four years old, and joined AAU when I was nine,” she said. “So, I’ve been in the volleyball industry for almost all of my life. One of the things that I’ll take from this high school experience is probably the chemistry I’ve built with my teammates, and the ones I’ll have in the future.
“The actual skills I’ve learned throughout from my coaches is something else I appreciate, especially with the amount of time they’ve dedicated to my development.”
2024-25 Alief Taylor VolleyballJamey Wright (VYPE)
Said development could lead to this senior Lion finding herself on a collegiate court someday.
“I just visited Dillard University (New Orleans), and I did like it,” said Spears. “So, I’m going take that route, and hopefully make my way towards a scholarship to play there. In terms of a career, I want to enter nursing school.
“At Taylor, I’m in the Health Science program and we do clinicals at the local hospital, so I’m very interested in that pathway. I know that’s a tough field to get into, especially if I’m going to be playing volleyball, which means time-management is going to be big for me.”
If that wasn’t enough to prove how multi-talented she is, Spears undertakes an additional hobby on the side.
“During my free time, I like to bake,” Spears said. “I can make a few dishes, but I usually tend to stick with desserts. My best is my ‘monkey-bread’ – a type of banana bread – that I make when I can.”
But, back to volleyball.
While Taylor has gone through somewhat of rough patch in recent years, a change in scenery with a new district, paired with the mentality that Spears shares with her teammates could prove to be the definitive factor in their return to the postseason.
“It’s definitely going to take some hard work and determination,” she said. “As a team, I don’t think we were confident enough and I feel like we just gave up too soon. But, this is my senior year. I don’t want to go winless in the district again. Therefore, we need to work hard for it.”
The first serve will be here in an instant, so expect this group to make their case to re-enter the district conversation with the leader it needs.