On May 5, 2023, Zuby Ejiofor entered the transfer portal, and it felt like a reset. His freshman season at Kansas was turbulent — flashes of promise mixed with long stretches on the bench. One moment he was the Jayhawks’ first big man off the bench; the next, he was slipping down the rotation behind Ernest Udeh Jr. By season’s end, Ejiofor had played in 25 of KU’s 36 games, averaging just 1.2 points, in 5.1 minutes per game.

Fast forward to March 11, 2025, and it’s a different story. Ejiofor is now averaging 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists on 57.3% shooting in 31.6 minutes per game — earning him the title of the Big East’s Most Improved Player. He’s not just thriving — he’s dominating.

Who are Zuby Ejiofor’s parents?

Born in Dallas to Nigerian parents, Ejiofor’s roots run deep. According to the official Kansas Jayhawks website, His parents are Sandra and Collins Ejiofor and his guardians are Andy and Sheena Philachack. In an interview with Pro Insight, Ejiofor opened up about his family’s journey from Nigeria to Texas.

“Me and my family are from Nigeria. I was born here, but we moved to Nigeria. We came back in sixth grade. I have four other brothers. The oldest one is Emmanuel, then there’s Ugo, Chuks, and Dubem. Two of my brothers go here and play on varsity (Garland High School). Then there’s me, my mom, and my dad. Sometimes my dad goes to Nigeria and then comes back for about two months. Then it’s me, my brothers, and my mom,” Ejiofor shared.

Ejiofor’s mother, Sandra, plays a significant role in his motivation. “She’s a nurse. She works at family homes. She works 7-7 shifts each day of the week. That’s a lot. I’m really doing this for her,” he said.

“I talk about it every night. I wouldn’t want to see my mom working that much. I’m just wanting to get to the next level and provide for my family like she did for me,” Ejiofor added.

It’s clear that his drive to succeed on the court stems from a desire to give back to the people who sacrificed for him.

Does Zuby Ejiofor have any siblings?

Ejiofor is one of five brothers — Emmanuel, Ugo, Chuks, and Dubem. His brother Ugo plays basketball at Coastal Bend College in Beeville, Texas. Despite standing at 6’9”, Zuby isn’t even the tallest in his family. He’s always been close to his brothers, crediting them for keeping him grounded through the ups and downs of his basketball journey.

Ejiofor’s basketball story didn’t start early. He didn’t even pick up a basketball until the eighth grade. “It’s a lot to take in. I never knew about basketball until I came back (to the States). It’s a lot. I started playing for fun, and then during my eighth-grade year, that’s when I started taking it more seriously when I met my coach, Andy. I met him that year. They came to one of my middle school games at Wiley. He was in the crowd, and after the game, he chatted with me and said his team needed a big man. So I started taking basketball more seriously, growing, and understanding the game. I started playing for real that year, and that’s when I started improving my game,” Ejiofor said.

Now, Ejiofor is a standout for St. John’s — but his growth has gone beyond just his stats. He’s found his voice as the team’s vocal leader. That wasn’t always the case.

“They may have been some of the worst pregame speeches that I’ve heard in my entire lifetime,” teammate Brady Dunlap said with a laugh. “Me and [Simeon Wilcher] voiced our frustrations. … He was like ‘Team on three.’ We weren’t doing ‘Team on three.’”

Like his game, Ejiofor’s leadership evolved with time. He’s stepped into the role once held by Daniss Jenkins, becoming the emotional anchor of the team. “It’s a season I really couldn’t have imagined,” Ejiofor admitted. “It’s something that really just came out of nowhere, honestly. To receive those awards is really special. … Our main focus was just winning, and that’s how it’s been the entire year. Coach ‘P’ says play for the name on the front and the back prospers. That’s what we’ve been doing all year.”

What is Zuby Ejiofor’s parents’ nationality?

Ejiofor’s parents hail from Nigeria, and their decision to move to the United States shaped his life. When asked about the biggest difference between living in Texas versus Nigeria, Ejiofor was candid.

“There’s a lot. My mom decided to move our whole family here. My dad decided to stay. Me and my brothers decided to move. She decided that this was a better place for us to be to understand life. She said this was the land of opportunity, so we moved here, and I’ve really loved it the last few years I’ve been here, so I’m going to stay,” Ejiofor explained.

“If I go back to Nigeria, we don’t really play sports except soccer. Here is where basketball and football are. I love the game, so I’m going to stay here.”

Ejiofor’s rise on the court mirrors his family’s resilience. He’s proof that opportunity, combined with hard work and sacrifice, can create something special. More awards could be on the way — Rick Pitino is expected to be named Big East Coach of the Year, and Ejiofor’s close friend RJ Luis Jr. is a frontrunner for Big East Player of the Year.

“There’s no one more deserving of that award. We’re the top seed, we know exactly what he brings to the table every single night,” Ejiofor said of Luis. “The award is his to get. I’m really ecstatic and hoping to see what happens on Wednesday.”

From struggling to find playing time at Kansas to becoming a force in the Big East, Ejiofor’s journey is a testament to perseverance — and the strength of family behind him.