Men’s Hoops announces the arrival of Jalai O’Keith

FAIRBANKS – Head coach Frank Ostanik and the Alaska Nanooks men’s basketball program announced the signing of 6’2″ point guard Jalai O’Keith. O’Keith is a native of Chula Vista, Calif., and joins the Nanooks after playing for the East Los Angeles Huskies and Central Washington Wildcats.

“We are very excited to have Jalai join Nanook Nation,” said Ostanik. “Jalai is a very good shooter with excellent range. His ability to space the floor will make everyone better. He is also a very good defender and at 6’6”, he will help on the board. Most importantly, Jalai is a great human being. He excels in the classroom and will be instrumental in helping build a foundation from which we can develop a culture of accountability, toughness and selflessness. Jalai’s impact will be felt on the court and in the locker room.”

Most recently, O’Keith played for the ELAC Huskies during the 2023-24 season. In 29 starts and games played, O’Keith averaged 15.8 minutes per game. In addition to the guard presence on the court, he scored 7.3 points per game while shooting 42.9% from the field, 34.8% from three-point range and 66.7% from the free throw line. His playmaking ability was felt all over the court, as he added 2.8 rebounds per game, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals per game. In a Jan. 5 win at Long Beach (91-83), O’Keith scored a season-high 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting. He added a pair of three-pointers, four rebounds, three assists and a steal. He scored double-digits in nine games last season and helped the Huskies go 21-9, 7-3 3C2A. The Huskies qualified for the playoffs after finishing second in the South Coast-North Division. They eliminated San Diego Miramar in the first round, 77-63, before losing to West LA in the second round, ending the ELAC season.

Prior to ELAC, O’Keith spent two seasons with GNAC regular opponent Central Washington University. O’Keith played 11 games with CWU, averaging 3.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.5 assists.

“I chose the University of Alaska because I was surprised by how welcoming the staff, students and locals were during my visit,” O’Keith said of his recent commitment. “I also chose the university because it felt like home the moment I stepped foot on campus. I’m very excited to compete against my former friends and teammates from GNAC and compete for a championship next year. I’m aiming for first place and won’t settle for anything less.”

Additional signatories and newcomers will be announced throughout the summer.

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