Uni High's David Nwaba Named Boys Basketball League MVP

University High boys basketball player David Nwaba enjoyed a remarkable senior season and his accomplishments have been recognized by the people who saw his brilliance up close: coaches in the Western League.

Nwaba was selected the league's co-Most Valuable Player along with senior forward Trevone Williams of first-place Westchester. 

Nwaba, who made Second-Team All-City as a sophomore and First-Team All-City as a junior, averaged 22.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.9 blocks, 2.2 assists and 2.2 steals for the Wildcats, who won a school-record 25 games and advanced to the Division II championship game for the fourth consecutive year.  

“I’ll tell anybody who wants to talk to me about it that David Nwaba is the best player in the City,” University Coach Steve Ackerman told Patch after his star player scored 26 points in a 69-68 victory over Palisades back in January. “He may not be the most polished player, but he’s the best player in the City.”

Nwaba was a scoring machine for University, pumping in 20 or more points 23 times and 30 or more points five times. His season high was 39 points in a 64-22 victory over Blair on December 1 at the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. 

In addition to points, the Wildcats' senior guard/forward also led the team in blocks, rebounds and steals. He had a season-best 20 rebounds against Blair and had six or more blocks six times--including a season-high nine against Bell in the quarterfinals of the City playoffs. The game before, he had a season-best seven steals in the first round against L.A. Marshall.

Nwaba also proved he is an unselfish player, dishing out 77 assists. It wasn't just the numbers Nwaba put up, however, it was the excitement he generated. Every time he stepped on the court fans were treated to a highlight reel dunk, behind-the-back pass or in-your-face rejection that charged up the crowd.