2011-12 (Junior): Added 30 pounds since his freshman season at WSU up from 221...Played in 31 games off the bench with 30 blocks... Averaged 1.3 points and 2.1 rebounds while averaging 7.8 minutes a game... High scoring outing was seven points at Bradley, while season-high rebounds was nine against SIU in Wichita... Named to the WSU AD's Honor Roll the last four semesters, and voted honorable mention on the 2012 MVC Scholar-Athlete Team.
2010-11 (Sophomore): Scored a career-high four points three times... Led the team in rebounding in the season-opener against Texas Southern with a career-high seven boards... Played 14 minutes off the bench for WSU against Chicago State, which was a season high.
Coming to WSU: Ehimen (Auh-hee-may) Orukpe (O-Roo-Pay) was one of three junior college transfers new to the WSU program… Was originally signed by WSU in 2007, but spent a year working to leave Nigeria, came to Wichita and took classes at Sunrise Christian Academy, before attending Three Rivers [Mo.] Community College and graduating in May, 2010, with his Associate’s degree.
Junior College (2008-10): Redshirted in 2008-09, then averaged 5.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.6 blocks in 14 games for Three Rivers [Mo.] Community College for Head Coach Gene Bess in 2009-10… Missed seven games in Nov. with a stress fracture in his left foot.
High School: Orukpe attended Lifeline Educational Center… He played for the Ebun Comet, one of the elite amateur club teams in Nigeria, and averaged 12.0 points per game, and 9.0 rebounds per game for Ebun... His coach, Ayo Bakare, also coached the 1998 Nigerian National Team.
Personal: Son of Samuel and Dora Orukpe ...Born Feb. 12, 1989, in Edo State...Has a brother, Igho, and a sister, Edemene… Orukpe, who originally signed with Liberty, was also recruited by Auburn, Western Kentucky, Illinois State and Winthrop… Is majoring in Mathematics at WSU with a minor in Business Administration.
