photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Ochai Agbaji and a group of campers smile for a picture after Agbaji's inaugural youth basketball skills camp in Overland Park on Friday, July 25, 2025.

Overland Park — As a kid, Ochai Agbaji loved going to basketball camps held by professional athletes. He remembers seeing those who accomplished his ultimate goal and were giving back to the community.

Now, as a guard for the Toronto Raptors, Agbaji wants to give back in the same way, so he started The Young Agbaji Foundation. On Friday at the MOKAN Training Facility in Overland Park, he and his foundation put on his first basketball skills camp.

“I was in their shoes, showing up excited and loving hoops,” Agbaji said. “Whether they came away with something big or small, basketball is what brought them here. It’s so surreal to be in this position and have this platform. It just shows how blessed I am.”

Agbaji went to Oak Park High School in Kansas City, Missouri, before spending four years at Kansas. He started every game for the Jayhawks his final two years and averaged almost 19 points per game his senior year en route to winning Big 12 Player of the Year. Agbaji finished his career as a part of the 2022 national championship team and was awarded the Final Four Most Outstanding Player award.

He was initially drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers and subsequently traded to the Utah Jazz a few months later. During his second season in the NBA, Agbaji was traded to the Toronto Raptors, where he has spent the last three years. In the 2024-25 season, Agbaji had a career year with 10.4 points per game.

Having achieved the success he dreamed of, Agbaji wanted to give back to the community where he grew up. With Kansas City not having an NBA team, Agbaji wanted to set up his camp there to keep local kids invested in the sport.

“You have the Royals and the Chiefs, and it’s easy to go to those games, but kids don’t have a chance to go to watch any NBA games besides Oklahoma City,” Agbaji said. “This is a way to build on NBA basketball here.”

Serving the community goes beyond giving local kids skills on the court. It extends to life lessons and showing them how to be a good person, which was a focus for Agbaji during the camp.

Kids from 8 to 18 years old showed up for the three-hour camp which had multiple coaches and helpers, including Agbaji’s former teammate and current Denver Nugget Christian Braun. As Braun is another KU star that grew up in Kansas City, it was easy for Agbaji to get his help for the camp.

“We literally have the same motivations for the people of Kansas City,” Agbaji said. “For him to show up here was great. I asked him the other day if he could stop by. He didn’t need to sign (autographs) or anything. But that was super huge for the campers and our foundation.”

Agbaji said the camp went smoothly. A pair of siblings wore Missouri basketball gear, and when one of them won MVP for his group, Agbaji had to make sure one of them left with some KU gear.

Coming off a career high in the NBA, Agbaji is ready to get back to work with the Raptors. Between his foundation, his recent marriage and NBA success, Agbaji is excited for what’s ahead in all facets of his life.

“I’ve just been working hard and trying to continue that (NBA success) and stay around what was working for me last year,” Agbaji said. “I’ve had a lot of blessings and a lot of success, and this (basketball camp) is one of them.”

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Two young basketball campers face off during Ochai Agbaji’s inaugural youth basketball skills camp in Overland Park on Friday, July 25, 2025.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Ochai Agbaji addresses the campers after his inaugural youth basketball skills camp in Overland Park on Friday, July 25, 2025.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Ochai Agbaji watches over campers at his inaugural youth basketball skills camp in Overland Park on Friday, July 25, 2025.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Campers celebrate and come together after Ochai Agbaji’s inaugural youth basketball skills camp in Overland Park on Friday, July 25, 2025.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Christian Braun signs an Ochai Agbaji jersey following Agbaji’s inaugural youth basketball skills camp in Overland Park on Friday, July 25, 2025.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Ochai Agbaji signs shirts following his inaugural youth basketball skills camp in Overland Park on Friday, July 25, 2025.