Morenike Atunrase Selected To Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame
Jul 23, 2019 | Women's Basketball
COLLEGE STATION — Morenike Atunrase is one of 10 Aggie legends selected to the Texas A&M Lettermen's Association's Hall of Fame Class of 2019. Atunrase, who played basketball from 2004-08, has her induction ceremony scheduled for September 13 at the annual Burgess Banquet.
"It's a huge honor," said Atunrase. "My name will be there, it will be something that lasts and that I can use as a platform going forward. I'm joining a group of elite athletes and a group of people who have done great things after their career as well."
Aturnase scored 1,317 points in her four-year career, which ranked sixth at Texas A&M when her career ended, and still holds career records with 176 blocked shots and a 35.8 3-point field goal percentage. She additionally ranks in Texas A&M's career top-10 for 10+ point games (68), free-throw percentage (72.8) and 3-pointers made (110).
"Nobody that we've had come through our program could play the game as effortlessly as Morenike," said Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair. "She was so graceful. She was like a safety in football, how she made plays happen with her help-side defense."
When she committed out of Southwood High School in Shreveport, Louisiana, Atunrase was taking a chance to build an A&M program that had not posted a winning record or made the NCAA Tournament since 1996. As a part of Blair's first full recruiting class at A&M, her class turned around the program, which has produced seven Sweet 16 appearances, four conference championships and a National Title since Atunrase's matriculation in 2004.
"She helped give us the blueprint of what this program was going to be 16 years later," Blair said. "She would never, never loaf in practice. No one could beat her in a conditioning drill—so her teammates would max out trying just to stay close to her. She was a total team player, and a great recruiter for us."
"The coaching staff knew the type of student, individual and athlete they wanted to bring a team together," Atunrase remarked. "They had to build the program with girls that could create a culture and redirect the program. We got along so great, and that translated into success on the court."
During her four seasons as a letterwinner (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008), the Aggies posted a 93-39 record, marking the most wins in any four-year period to that point. She led Texas A&M to the first three NCAA Tournament appearances in their still-active streak of 14 straight trips to the Big Dance and to Big 12 titles in 2007 and 2008.
"If you look back now, it may not seem like much," Atunrase said. "But back then, we were really something, because A&M hadn't had that kind of success before."
Atunrase made an immediate impact upon arriving in Aggieland, averaging 10.4 points and 5.0 rebounds on the way to 2005 Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors. She was first-team all-conference as a sophomore, scoring 14.0 points per game with 4.1 rebounds.
"I didn't know my full potential," Atunrase said. "I was a post player in high school who transitioned to an in-between 3-4 player. I could out-run people and out-jump people. I used that to my advantage.
"I remember, Coach Kelly Bond-White told me, 'Own your quick first step until someone stops you,' so I did. I was very blessed and very athletic—it took my coaches to make that into an asset on the court."
It was Atunrase's shot-blocking ability that stood out above all else. She set the Texas A&M single-season record with 57 in 2005, then broke her own record with 58 in 2006
"She was 5-10, but still set the career record for blocked shots," Blair said. "I knew she was a special player when I saw she had the ability to make a play and block a shot after getting beat initially."
Atunrase's career was not without its tough moments, as she was troubled by injuries her junior and senior year. She dealt with a foot fracture as a junior, but still averaged an even 10.0 points a game. After missing the first nine games of the 2007-08 season to insert a titanium rod in her right leg, she had lost her spot in the starting lineup.
"It was terrible! Knowing you're hurt—it was different—learning how to come off the bench, how to take a different role," Atunrase said. "It took pressure off of me, but it's a role that most athletes have to learn in their career."
Atunrase responded in the best way possible to coming off the bench—earning 2008 Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 10.3 points on the season. The Aggies won 12 straight games in a stretch after her return, which still stands as the school record, winning the school's first Big 12 Tournament Championship and reaching the Elite Eight for the first time in program history.
"Here's a kid that was a three-year starter, who accepted her role to come off the bench to win Sixth Man of the Year," Blair added. "That's really special, and something you don't see very often."
After her career at A&M, Atunrase went on to play in the WNBA, become a professional bodybuilder and has a successful business career, where she is currently a realtor in the Dallas area.
"The success Morenike has had after college shows what the Texas A&M degree can do for you," Blair said. "Being in athletics at Texas A&M opens so many doors, especially with the communication skills you learn.
"She was a complete player, but she also was a complete person—she always had a smile on her face."
Joining Atunrase in the Class of 2019 are Alia Atkinson '10 from women's swimming and diving, Patrick Bates '92, Ty Warren '03, Hunter Goodwin '96, and Randy Wylie '86 from football, Kyle Hawthorne '79 from baseball, Joseph Jones '08 from men's basketball and Justin Oliver '09 and James E. Wiley '46 from men's track and field.
The organization's 42nd annual Burgess Banquet will be held Friday, September 13 in the Ford Hall of Champions on the west side of Kyle Field, and the event is open to the general public.
A reception begins at 6 p.m. with dinner beginning at 7 p.m. Event sponsorship opportunities and individual tickets are still available by calling the Letterman's Association (979-846-3024).
"It's a huge honor," said Atunrase. "My name will be there, it will be something that lasts and that I can use as a platform going forward. I'm joining a group of elite athletes and a group of people who have done great things after their career as well."
Aturnase scored 1,317 points in her four-year career, which ranked sixth at Texas A&M when her career ended, and still holds career records with 176 blocked shots and a 35.8 3-point field goal percentage. She additionally ranks in Texas A&M's career top-10 for 10+ point games (68), free-throw percentage (72.8) and 3-pointers made (110).
"Nobody that we've had come through our program could play the game as effortlessly as Morenike," said Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair. "She was so graceful. She was like a safety in football, how she made plays happen with her help-side defense."
When she committed out of Southwood High School in Shreveport, Louisiana, Atunrase was taking a chance to build an A&M program that had not posted a winning record or made the NCAA Tournament since 1996. As a part of Blair's first full recruiting class at A&M, her class turned around the program, which has produced seven Sweet 16 appearances, four conference championships and a National Title since Atunrase's matriculation in 2004.
"She helped give us the blueprint of what this program was going to be 16 years later," Blair said. "She would never, never loaf in practice. No one could beat her in a conditioning drill—so her teammates would max out trying just to stay close to her. She was a total team player, and a great recruiter for us."
"The coaching staff knew the type of student, individual and athlete they wanted to bring a team together," Atunrase remarked. "They had to build the program with girls that could create a culture and redirect the program. We got along so great, and that translated into success on the court."
During her four seasons as a letterwinner (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008), the Aggies posted a 93-39 record, marking the most wins in any four-year period to that point. She led Texas A&M to the first three NCAA Tournament appearances in their still-active streak of 14 straight trips to the Big Dance and to Big 12 titles in 2007 and 2008.
"If you look back now, it may not seem like much," Atunrase said. "But back then, we were really something, because A&M hadn't had that kind of success before."
Atunrase made an immediate impact upon arriving in Aggieland, averaging 10.4 points and 5.0 rebounds on the way to 2005 Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors. She was first-team all-conference as a sophomore, scoring 14.0 points per game with 4.1 rebounds.
"I didn't know my full potential," Atunrase said. "I was a post player in high school who transitioned to an in-between 3-4 player. I could out-run people and out-jump people. I used that to my advantage.
"I remember, Coach Kelly Bond-White told me, 'Own your quick first step until someone stops you,' so I did. I was very blessed and very athletic—it took my coaches to make that into an asset on the court."
It was Atunrase's shot-blocking ability that stood out above all else. She set the Texas A&M single-season record with 57 in 2005, then broke her own record with 58 in 2006
"She was 5-10, but still set the career record for blocked shots," Blair said. "I knew she was a special player when I saw she had the ability to make a play and block a shot after getting beat initially."
Atunrase's career was not without its tough moments, as she was troubled by injuries her junior and senior year. She dealt with a foot fracture as a junior, but still averaged an even 10.0 points a game. After missing the first nine games of the 2007-08 season to insert a titanium rod in her right leg, she had lost her spot in the starting lineup.
"It was terrible! Knowing you're hurt—it was different—learning how to come off the bench, how to take a different role," Atunrase said. "It took pressure off of me, but it's a role that most athletes have to learn in their career."
Atunrase responded in the best way possible to coming off the bench—earning 2008 Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 10.3 points on the season. The Aggies won 12 straight games in a stretch after her return, which still stands as the school record, winning the school's first Big 12 Tournament Championship and reaching the Elite Eight for the first time in program history.
"Here's a kid that was a three-year starter, who accepted her role to come off the bench to win Sixth Man of the Year," Blair added. "That's really special, and something you don't see very often."
After her career at A&M, Atunrase went on to play in the WNBA, become a professional bodybuilder and has a successful business career, where she is currently a realtor in the Dallas area.
"The success Morenike has had after college shows what the Texas A&M degree can do for you," Blair said. "Being in athletics at Texas A&M opens so many doors, especially with the communication skills you learn.
"She was a complete player, but she also was a complete person—she always had a smile on her face."
Joining Atunrase in the Class of 2019 are Alia Atkinson '10 from women's swimming and diving, Patrick Bates '92, Ty Warren '03, Hunter Goodwin '96, and Randy Wylie '86 from football, Kyle Hawthorne '79 from baseball, Joseph Jones '08 from men's basketball and Justin Oliver '09 and James E. Wiley '46 from men's track and field.
The organization's 42nd annual Burgess Banquet will be held Friday, September 13 in the Ford Hall of Champions on the west side of Kyle Field, and the event is open to the general public.
A reception begins at 6 p.m. with dinner beginning at 7 p.m. Event sponsorship opportunities and individual tickets are still available by calling the Letterman's Association (979-846-3024).
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