Daniel Oturu, current high school senior and four-star basketball player at Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, will take his hoops talents to the University of Minnesota. “I wanted to make people in Minnesota proud,” Oturu says. “I really wanted to be a Gopher.”
The Woodbury resident decided to attend the U due to its atmosphere and his desire to play basketball for his home state. A sports aficionado, he is looking to major in sports management.
Oturu’s mom placed him in basketball when he was young because of his active nature. Basketball became a passion, one that he pursued by playing with the Stillwater Athletic Association, leading up to his joining a traveling team.
Self-described highlights of Oturu’s basketball career at Cretin include going to the state tournament, as well as scoring 1,000 points. “Last year was a great year for my high school basketball life,” Oturu says. “I’m looking to build on it.”
Growing up in Woodbury has been a pleasure for Oturu, who has lived in the city for the past 16 years. While the close proximity of his friends is a positive feature of the area, the development of the city is also great for him to see. “It just continues to grow every day,” Oturu says.
Off the court, Oturu enjoys playing video games, reading or taking photographs of the city’s nature and architecture—the latter a recent hobby. Additionally, he works almost daily with a basketball trainer and a body trainer.
While he’ll miss his high school, Oturu says he is ready to start the next part of his life’s journey, attending and playing for the University of Minnesota. “I know there are a lot of expectations,” he says. “I’m ready to meet them.”
Catch Daniel Oturu in action when the Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders basketball team takes on the Woodbury Royals, 7 p.m. February 23 at Woodbury High School.
