University of North Texas Athletics
Tope Arikawe Signs Pro Contract
9/16/2019 12:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DENTON – North Texas men's basketball 2019 graduate Tope Arikawe has signed a professional contract with the Trelleborg Pirates in Sweden's Superettan league.
Arikawe, who was part of third-year head coach Grant McCasland's first UNT signing class in 2017, is the second 2019 Mean Green basketball alum to sign a professional contract this summer. Michael Miller signed with the Den Helder Suns of the Dutch Basketball League last month. Arikawe is McCasland's third UNT player to go pro in his two years in Denton.
"Tope was critical to our program's quick and early improvement," said McCasland. "We could not have had back-to-back 20-win seasons nor could have won the 2018 CBI championship without his leadership and hard work."
Arikawe joined the Mean Green on the first day of the 2017 signing period after transferring from Panola College where he led the Ponies to a school-record 26 wins in 2016-17.
Since his arrival to North Texas, Arikawe has been part of a group that has led the program to two of its most successful seasons in its over 100-year history.
In his first season in Denton, the Mean Green made a 12-win improvement from the previous season, the fifth-best improvement in the nation that year. North Texas went on to compete in the College Basketball Invitational where they won five of six games to claim the program's first national postseason championship.
Last season as a senior, Arikawe was a member of a UNT team that started the year 16-1, the best start in the program's history and eventually the fastest team in program history to 20 wins. They earned national recognition by receiving top 25 votes.
In total in his two seasons at UNT, Arikawe, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, played in 63 games and led the Mean Green to 41 wins. In the 2018 CBI championship round against San Francisco, he had 10 points and six rebounds.
Earlier that season, Arikawe had a career night at Southern Miss when he dropped 13 points and had 12 rebounds for his first double-double with UNT.
The Mean Green's 2019-20 begins Nov. 5 at home versus Oklahoma Christian. To purchase tickets, call (940) 565-2527 or visit MeanGreenTickets.com
Arikawe, who was part of third-year head coach Grant McCasland's first UNT signing class in 2017, is the second 2019 Mean Green basketball alum to sign a professional contract this summer. Michael Miller signed with the Den Helder Suns of the Dutch Basketball League last month. Arikawe is McCasland's third UNT player to go pro in his two years in Denton.
"Tope was critical to our program's quick and early improvement," said McCasland. "We could not have had back-to-back 20-win seasons nor could have won the 2018 CBI championship without his leadership and hard work."
Arikawe joined the Mean Green on the first day of the 2017 signing period after transferring from Panola College where he led the Ponies to a school-record 26 wins in 2016-17.
Since his arrival to North Texas, Arikawe has been part of a group that has led the program to two of its most successful seasons in its over 100-year history.
In his first season in Denton, the Mean Green made a 12-win improvement from the previous season, the fifth-best improvement in the nation that year. North Texas went on to compete in the College Basketball Invitational where they won five of six games to claim the program's first national postseason championship.
Last season as a senior, Arikawe was a member of a UNT team that started the year 16-1, the best start in the program's history and eventually the fastest team in program history to 20 wins. They earned national recognition by receiving top 25 votes.
In total in his two seasons at UNT, Arikawe, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, played in 63 games and led the Mean Green to 41 wins. In the 2018 CBI championship round against San Francisco, he had 10 points and six rebounds.
Earlier that season, Arikawe had a career night at Southern Miss when he dropped 13 points and had 12 rebounds for his first double-double with UNT.
The Mean Green's 2019-20 begins Nov. 5 at home versus Oklahoma Christian. To purchase tickets, call (940) 565-2527 or visit MeanGreenTickets.com
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's BasketballThursday, March 05
Thursday, March 05
Monday, February 23
Monday, February 23