Athlete of the Issue: Justin Odibo

As Boys Varsity Basketball’s leading scorer and versatile defender, Justin Odibo ’24 has already made a significant impact on the team.

Head Coach Connor Merrill said, “[Justin] can score the ball many different ways from many different places on the court.” Mr. Merrill further praised his scoring efficiency given his lower shot attempts, saying, “He’s a well-rounded player with a high IQ of the game.”

Even with his stellar on-court performances, Odibo continues to invest effort into improving his game. Mr. Merrill described his tireless work ethic, saying, “He would work to enhance the things he is already good at and improve things he isn’t as good at to bring them up to speed.”

Odibo said that Mr. Merrill has helped him reach for an even higher level of play. He said, “I’ve only been here for a few months, but Coach Merrill has done a great job pushing me as a player and telling me what I can do to get better and succeed here and at the next level.”

Odibo thrives within the Boys Varsity Basketball Team’s competitive atmosphere, crediting his symbiotic relationship with his teammates. “We have guys that are really skilled and practicing with them every day is only going to get you better,” he said. “Like we say, ‘iron sharpens iron.’”

Mr. Merrill noted that he has also seen Odibo’s growth in confidence off-court. When he first arrived at Deerfield, he was a “more timid and humble kid,” said Mr. Merrill. “He has continued to come out of his shell, which is cool to see.”

Odibo refined his skill set during his career at Polytechnic High School in Pasadena, CA. “I played many other sports like soccer and baseball, but gravitated towards basketball the summer of my sophomore year,” he said.

Odibo said that his decision to take a postgraduate year at Deerfield was influenced not only by on-court considerations but also by the school’s academic offerings. “Even if I wasn’t playing basketball, I would still love to come to Deerfield,” he said.

He added that a similar approach informed his decision to commit to the University of Rochester for college. “I really wanted to find a good balance between athletics and academics,” he said.

Mr. Merrill said, “I think the University of Rochester is getting a steal.”

Mr. Merrill looks forward to the next steps in Odibo’s journey as he seeks to reach his potential. “The player and person he is now versus the person he could be two years from now is still different,” he said.