LeVelle Moton has done it again! The NC Central head coach has poached a high-major talent and brought him down to the HBCU level, giving a home to Pitt transfer Dan Oladapo. Oladapo started four games at Pitt last season, following two strong seasons at Oakland.
“Just the love from Coach Moton. I felt like they (NCCU) were the ones who recruited me the most,” Oladapo told The Portal Report, “Obviously it’s an HBCU. Like a party environment, but basketball-wise they’re one of the best in their division.”
The Eagles are constantly contending for the MEAC title, and they do it through the portal. Last season, six of their top seven scorers all came via other schools. Before that, NCCU won three of the last five MEAC Tournaments with two of the most outstanding players in the league, both transfers.
Oladapo could very well be another as he showed high skill at the D1 level. When at Oakland, he made All-Horizon League while averaging 12.9 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Last season at Pitt, he made 80% of the shots he attempted while starting four games for the Panthers.
The averages weren’t all too high, but the skill was still there. He gained a lot of attention again in the portal, but Moton’s large recruiting network and persona appealed to Oladapo.
“He knows everybody,” Oladapo said, “One of the ways he was recruiting me was just by the way everyone he connects with.”
If you follow Moton on social media, you will see these celebrities pop up from time to time. He grew up in the same projects in Boston as New Edition and later in the same area of North Carolina as PJ Williams. Two seasons ago, ESPN and Chris Paul did a documentary series on his program. Not one episode, multiple. He chose Paul to do it over the likes of Serena Williams, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Kevin Durant. The list can go on and on, I mean Coach K said he admires him.
HBCU schools might not have the most money, but their coaches are well connected. From Juan Dixon to Mo Williams to LeVelle Moton, they all have a different story. Oladapo looks to help to add to Moton’s.
