Tobe Awaka of the University of Arizona has made a name for himself as a tenacious member of the Wildcat community. Known for his strong work ethic, Awaka has impressed both students and professors.
He is also a capable basketball player.
Key Contributor to Final Four Run
Awaka played a significant role in the men’s basketball team’s 2025-2026 season. The Wildcats earned a Final Four berth for the first time in a quarter century. Awaka was named the Big 12 Conference’s Sixth Man of the Year.
He averaged 9.1 rebounds, the second-highest in the conference. He also led all college basketball players in offensive rebounding percentage, securing 20.2% of available offensive rebounds while on the court.
Awaka recorded eight double-doubles. His dunks and hustle made him a fan favourite.
Balancing Academics and Athletics
Awaka studies business administration at the Eller College of Management. The Collegiate Sports Communicators recognised Awaka’s efforts, naming him to the Academic All-American team.
Patricia Prelock, U of A provost and chief academic officer, interviewed Awaka about balancing academics and basketball. They also discussed his interest in Fyodor Dostoevsky and his post-graduation plans.
Interest in Business and Investing
Awaka said he gravitated towards business administration and finance. He interned on Wall Street with AlphaDyne Asset Management. “You learn stuff from the textbook, from the lectures in class, but to see it happen in real life, to see it operate functionally, it was a great experience,” said Awaka.
Awaka is interested in philosophical books, theology, and especially investing. He mentioned reading “One Up on Wall Street” by John Rothchild and Peter Lynch, and “The Big Short,” about the ’08 market crash. He is currently reading “Market”.
Advice for Graduates
Awaka offered advice to his fellow graduates. “The key here moving forward is just establishing an identity of yourself and just understanding who you are and kind of what you’re here for in terms of your purpose,” said Awaka. “I think that’s the biggest question that anybody’s going to have to ask within their lives.”