EDWARDSVILLE, IL – SIUE Men’s Basketball Head Coach Brian Barone has begun adding to its roster for the 2024-25 season, acquiring rookie guard/forward Cham Oakey. Oakey signed his National Letter of Intent to join the Cougars in the fall.
“I am excited to join the SIUE Basketball family,” Oakey said. They have a great culture that Coach Barone has established and I can't wait to be a part of it. I feel that my skill set can have a positive impact on winning. Every year, I have watched Coach Barone's team grow. I'm excited to be a part of that growth. ”
The 6-foot, 6-inch, 200-pound Oakey, a native of Minneapolis, Minn., comes to SIUE from Phoenix Prep where he averaged 18 points and five rebounds per game. He had three assists and three steals per game, making 50 percent of his shots overall and 37 percent of his 3-pointers.
“Cham Oakey is a valuable addition to our team because of his versatile skill set,” Barone said. “His shooting ability combined with good size makes him an exciting player.”
Oakey helped lead Austin High School to the Minnesota Class A state championship before transferring to Phoenix Prep.
“Cham is the definition of a true leader and his perseverance is unparalleled,” Phoenix Prep head coach Mike Contreras said. “He refused to lose and won everything he got. I have a relationship with the staff at SIUE, so when I called him about Cham, he came to see me right away. It was a match made in heaven. SIUE was in his third year in Arizona.'' Every time I met Cham, he shined, and I expected great things from him in the OVC, and I thought SIUE got a good result. Masu. ”
“His versatility will complement our team's style of play and add depth to various aspects of the game,” Barone added. “It's always beneficial to have a player who can contribute in a variety of ways. He's someone who will be a welcome addition to our team's 'Find-A-Way' culture. Cham is someone I'm excited to coach.” I'm a player.”
SIUE finished the 2023-24 season with an overall record of 17 wins and 16 losses, marking the first consecutive victory since moving to Division I.