Champlin Park's TJ Okafor is doing right by his basketball surname.

His third cousin, Emeka Okafor, plays for the NBA's New Orleans Hornets. His older brother, also named Emeka Okafor, averaged a double-double in points and rebounds as a senior at Champlin Park back in 2007-08 and is currently playing basketball at Western Illinois.

TJ, a 6-7 senior forward who leads the Rebels (7-1) in scoring (16.9 points per game), rebounding (9.1) and blocked shots (2.8), showcased his various talents in two Rebels' victories last week.

Okafor finished with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocked shots against Robbinsdale Armstrong and three nights later put up 14 points, 15 rebounds, and four blocks against Centennial.

"He's the type of player that allows us to play pressure defense on the perimeter because he is such a presence under the basket," Rebels coach Mark Tuchscherer wrote in an e-mail. "He blocks and alters many shots and is a tremendous rebounder. He has really improved his outside shot in the offseason and is able to score outside and inside either facing the basket or posting up. That gives other teams match-up problems."