Simply Darlington
Hudson Catholic hoop star enjoys scoring explosion
When Darlington Okerulu was a toddler growing up in his native Yugoslavia, the first sport he was introduced to was soccer.
"It was what every kid was playing," Okerulu said. "So I was a soccer player, too."
Okerulu moved with his family to the United States, settling in Jersey City, when he was 7 years old. Soon after arriving in Jersey City, Okerulu became fascinated with basketball.
"I’d watch the NBA games on television," Okerulu said. "And I wished I could play like they could."
So on his own, Okerulu took a basketball and went to the neighborhood courtyard, intent on becoming a basketball player.
"I would just go and shoot," Okerulu said. "And shoot and shoot and shoot. I kept shooting and shooting. Some of it came naturally, but I was also kind of geeky as well."
Okerulu started playing competitively in Jersey City Recreation leagues when he was 12. It’s safe to say that some five years later, Okerulu is far removed from those geek days.
These days, the 6-foot-3 Okerulu is a senior at Hudson Catholic High School. He has been a basketball player at the school for three years now. However, recently, Okerulu has enjoyed success that had not been seen in Hudson County for more than 20 years.
After seven games this season, Okerulu is the leading scorer in the state, averaging better than 36 points per game. He tied the Hudson Catholic single-game scoring record, owned by former New Jersey Nets player and current assistant coach Mike O’Koren, when he scored 49 points in a win over LaSalle Academy and added 44 points in a loss to state-ranked Paterson Kennedy.
With that, Okerulu became the first Hudson County boys’ hoopster to score 40 points in consecutive games since North Bergen’s Dan Callandrillo accomplished the feat in 1978.
"It means a lot to me to be a part of history," Okerulu said. "I know of Mike O’Koren and what he’s meant to Hudson Catholic and I’m proud to have that record. And to be the first player to do that since 1978 is a great feeling. It shows what hard work can do for you."
For his efforts, Okerulu has been named as The Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week for the past week.
Although the scoring explosion has raised some eyebrows throughout the entire state, it didn’t come as a complete surprise to Okerulu and his head coach Steve Ricciardi.
"Everything I’ve done, I’ve earned," said Okerulu, whose father is Nigerian and whose mother is Yugoslavian. "I expected to have a great year because I worked so hard over the summer. So it doesn’t come as a shock to me."
"He put a lot of time in during the summer," said Ricciardi, who is in his second year coaching the Hawks. "When he scored 30 points against Sean Banks of Bergen Catholic in the Metro Classic and then scored 45 against Paterson Kennedy in the Jersey City summer league, I figured he was ready and I figured he might be able to average 30 per game this year. Even Jimmy Ring (the Paterson Kennedy coach) called Darlington a one-man wrecking crew, because he works so hard. Jimmy said he never saw a player work that hard."
Okerulu’s intense work ethic began with personal workout sessions with another all-time Hudson County great, former St. Anthony and Marquette standout Mandy Johnson at the Jersey City YMCA.
"I spent almost every day with Mandy, working on my shot, my shooting stroke," Okerulu said. "I knew I had to work on my shooting range, be able to pull it out more. I had to become more versatile as a player. It also helped playing against older guys. Mandy helped me a lot."
Another aspect to Okerulu’s game that has become vastly improved has been his free throw shooting. In one game, Okerulu connected on 18 of 20 free throws. Another, Okerulu made 15 of 17.
"Coach Steve emphasizes free throws," Okerulu said. "We shoot 25 during each practice and then after practice, I shoot about 50 more. I knew how important it would be, so I had to get the stroke down."
Ricciardi told Okerulu that he had to work on the different aspects of his game, if he wanted to gain a college scholarship, which has always been Okerulu’s goal.
"He’s busting his tail because he wants a college education," Ricciardi said. "Any college coach who watches him sees that right away that he has a goal in mind. The Division III schools all want him now, but that won’t get him a scholarship. I told him that he needed to get a jump shot to become a Division II scholarship player, and to the kid’s credit, he went out and did it."
Added Ricciardi, "The kid is a pleasure to coach. I’m glad he’s playing for me, because I’m glad I don’t have to try to defend him. He’s getting two and three players thrown at him and he keeps coming. No one can guard him one-on-one. No one can stop him."
Okerulu definitely has a college education in mind, hopefully majoring in either physical therapy or sports medicine.
"My family can’t afford to send me to college, because I have a sister already in college," Okerulu said. "I need to get a scholarship. It’s a good feeling to know that it’s now possible."
Okerulu said that he feels a change in attitude has also benefited his game.
"Last year, I was bit of a head case," said Okerulu, who averaged 22 points and 12 rebounds per game in a breakout season, earning Second Team All-Area honors. "I was too intense and I angered my teammates. This year, I’m more mild-mannered and modest. And I encourage my teammates. It has helped."
Whatever it is, Ricciardi will take it.
"He brings it with him every day and he’s a winner," Ricciardi said. "I’m happy for him, because he deserves it. He’s not a me-guy. He’s a team guy. I wish everyone worked as hard as he does. He’s earned everything through hard work."
He is also blessed with a very unique name, which means that everyone will certainly remember Darlington Okerulu.
"My father came up with the name Darlington," he said. "It’s not for anyone. It’s just a name that he came up with."
And hopefully, it’s a name that some college will come up with come time to hand out scholarships. – Jim Hague