Kyle O'Quinn

His parents are Tommie (who moved to New York from Mississippi in 1963, worked for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and died in a car accident in September 2015) and Regina O’Quinn.

Kyle Brandon O'Quinn (born March 26, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Sichuan Blue Whales of the Chinese Basketball Association.

He has an older sister, Rasheena Moss, who earned a degree in broadcast journalism from Hampton University in 2008.

While playing for the Knicks, O'Quinn moonlighted by booking gigs in New York as a bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah entertainer; dancing with the teenagers, signing autographs, joining in selfies with the kids, and chatting with the parents.

O'Quinn first attended Holy Cross High School for his first two years of high school, playing only a limited amount on the school's junior varsity team.

He then attended Math, Science Research & Technology High School at the Campus Magnet Complex in Queens, originally to play football, and almost quit basketball when he didn't play as a junior.

In his senior year, he averaged 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game, but his only scholarship offer was to Norfolk State University.

He was a first-team All-Queens and third-team All-Public School Athletic League (PSAL) selection in his senior year.

O'Quinn originally planned on pursuing a career in football even after receiving a scholarship from Norfolk State mainly because of his basketball ability.

O'Quinn could have given up basketball the way he had with football, but this time chose the other choice and focused on pursuing a career in the NBA.

He graduated with a degree in interdisciplinary studies.

In his Norfolk State career, he played in 129 games, averaging 12.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.19 blocks, and shot .553 (610-1,104) from the field.

In O'Quinn's freshman season at Norfolk State (2008–09), he appeared in all 31 games including two starts.

He averaged 5.3 points per game and 3.4 rebounds per game.

He was also twice named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rookie of the week.

In his sophomore season (2009–10), O'Quinn appeared in 30 games, starting in 29 of them.

He was third on Norfolk State in scoring at 11.5 points per game, led the team in rebounds at 8.7 rebounds per game, and had 1.70 blocks per game.

He also led the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in field goal percentage at 54.9%.

O'Quinn was also named to the All-MEAC Second Team and was twice named the MEAC Defensive Player of the Week.

In O'Quinn's junior season in 2010-11, he averaged 16.4 points per game, 11.1 rebounds per game, and 3.44 blocks per game.

He was fourth in the country in blocked shots, fifth in rebounds, and eighth in double-doubles (19).

O'Quinn led the MEAC in blocks and rebounds, was second in field goal percentage (.556), and finished fifth in points per game.

He established single-season school records (NCAA Division I era) with 110 blocked shots and 355 rebounds.

He also became the first-ever player from Norfolk State to be named MEAC Defensive Player of the Year.

O'Quinn was named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week four times and was named MEAC Player of the Week four times as well, and was voted to the MEAC All-Tournament Team.

In O'Quinn's senior season, he averaged 15.9 points per game, 10.3 rebounds per game, and 2.69 blocks per game.

He led the conference and tied for fifth in the country with 20 double-doubles.

He played for the Norfolk State Spartans, and led them to a victory over the #2 seed Missouri Tigers in the second round of the 2012 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.

He was drafted in the second round of the 2012 NBA draft with the 49th overall pick, by the Orlando Magic.

O'Quinn was born in Queens, New York, and grew up in South Jamaica, Queens.

He was the 2012 Lou Henson recipient as the nation's top mid-major player.

Norfolk State made the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament as a 15 seed, the Spartans (making their first-ever postseason appearance) upset the second-seeded Missouri Tigers in the Round of 64.

In the game, O'Quinn recorded 26 points and 14 rebounds.

After the game, an ecstatic O'Quinn began sprinting through the school's hallways, yelling, "We messed up some brackets! We messed up some brackets!"

In the next round, Norfolk State lost to the Florida Gators, and O'Quinn only recorded four points and three rebounds.

Following the season, O'Quinn participated in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, averaging 11.7 PPG, 11.7 RPG, and 3.7 BPG.

O'Quinn was named the Tournament MVP, and was also named to the All-Tournament Team.

He ranked 14th in the nation in field goal percentage (.573; 205-358), 15th in blocked shots, and 16th in rebounding.

He was named the MEAC Player of the Year and the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year.

Norfolk State Retired his number 10 jersey on February 16, 2019.