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Center Ochefu playing leadership role for 'Nova

Villanova center Daniel Ochefu considered it a "great honor" to accompany Darrun Hilliard, JayVaughn Pinkston, and Ryan Arcidiacono - three of his higher-scoring teammates and fellow captains - to Madison Square Garden last week for the Big East's media day.

Villanova center Daniel Ochefu. (Clem Murray/Staff Photographer)
Villanova center Daniel Ochefu. (Clem Murray/Staff Photographer)Read more

Villanova center Daniel Ochefu considered it a "great honor" to accompany Darrun Hilliard, JayVaughn Pinkston, and Ryan Arcidiacono - three of his higher-scoring teammates and fellow captains - to Madison Square Garden last week for the Big East's media day.

Wildcats coach Jay Wright said Ochefu, a 6-foot-11 junior, deserved to be named a captain - meaning a train ride to New York - for all he does for his team.

"He's a really respected guy on this team and he naturally is a leader, especially on the floor," Wright said Monday during the Wildcats' media day at the Pavilion. "We wanted to make him a captain. It was just natural. You know he's leading them out there, especially defensively. He's the one talking to them and telling them what to do."

It has been a satisfying road to maturity for Ochefu, who played in the Friends Schools League for Westtown School in Chester County. He was named co-winner with teammate Hilliard of the Big East's most-improved-player award last season when he averaged 5.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.5 blocked shots while shooting almost 60 percent from the floor.

"Personally, I've grown a lot as a player and as a person off the court just because I'm getting older and seeing more things through life," he said. "Now Coach has put me in a position now where I'm one of the leaders, one of the captains on this team. So there's no option. I have to keep growing up."

Ochefu said he likes to lead by example, "not being kind of like the boss and telling people what to do, but getting out there and doing the work."

Ochefu gradually has exhibited more skills than when he first came in, when his thunderous dunks and spectacular blocked shots wowed the crowd. He has shown an uncanny ability to find open teammates; he fashioned a line of 10 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists against Seton Hall last season.

"I love his development," Wright said. "So many times, big guys aren't given the patience to develop. I think he just gets better every year. I think this year you're going to see a really impressive player, and I think he's still got a long way to go. He can get a lot better."

Ochefu said he's also been working on an outside shot, although he admitted "it's just not needed" on Villanova.

"Pretty much everyone on our team is a great shooter, so we don't need the 6-11 guy shooting jump shots, too," he said. "I'm there to rebound those missed three-pointers."

For Ochefu, it's all part of the realization of his added responsibilities as one of the Wildcats' captains.

"It's very humbling," he said. "It ensures the fact that I have to still keep my head down and work hard. Nothing changes."