Atlantic 10 Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)
By Joey Loose
14. Osun Osunniyi
Osunniyi is a 6’10 forward originally from Pleasantville, New Jersey. Somewhat under the radar at the start of his college days, he blossomed into a major weapon at St. Bonaventure, starring for the Bonnies between 2018 and 2022 before spending his bonus season at Iowa State. He’d get plenty more attention for his time with the Cyclones, but there’s plenty to like about his time in the A-10.
A talented big man, Osunniyi was a major frontcourt presence for the Bonnies, starting 93 of the 111 games he played at St. Bonaventure. He averaged at least 7.5 rebounds per game in each of his four seasons and was already a double-digit scorer by his sophomore season. His contributions on the defensive end were just as important, averaging no less than 2.4 blocks per game in each season. He had 15 points and 9 rebounds in a 2021 loss to LSU in the NCAA Tournament and was a major contributor in the Bonnies’ deep NIT run the following year.
Osunniyi was named A-10 Defensive Player of the Year twice in his career and was also the A-10 Tournament MVP as a junior. He was a major weapon on the defensive side of the ball, leading the league in blocks in three of his four seasons in the A-10. Any offense he added was a major bonus to the Bonnies because he was paramount to their success with his defensive prowess. His success would continue in the Big 12 and St. Bonaventure sorely missed him.