West Virginia forward Gabe Osabuohien (3) pressures a shot attempt by Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell (1) during the first half of a Big 12 Conference men's basketball tournament first-round game in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
West Virginia forward Gabe Osabuohien (3) attempts to block a shot by Kansas guard Christian Braun (2) during the second half of a Big 12 Conference men's basketball tournament quarterfinal game in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, March 10, 2022.
West Virginia forward Gabe Osabuohien (3) pressures a shot attempt by Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell (1) during the first half of a Big 12 Conference men's basketball tournament first-round game in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
West Virginia forward Gabe Osabuohien (3) attempts to block a shot by Kansas guard Christian Braun (2) during the second half of a Big 12 Conference men's basketball tournament quarterfinal game in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, March 10, 2022.
Many athletes who come to West Virginia as college students tend to make the Mountain State home after their playing days.
Former WVU men's basketball player Gabe Osabuohien has made West Virginia his second home and has started giving back to natives of the state.
Osabuohien created a backpack program three years ago that provides school supplies to those in need across West Virginia.
The former Mountaineers forward has been to Kanawha County and Morgantown during the third year of his program.
Excited to announce my 3rd Annual Backpack Giveaway! We’ll be providing students all across WV with the supplies they need for a successful school year! I’m currently looking for sponsors and donations/people to help and places to host! pic.twitter.com/J8dDrrItrU
He has scheduled remaining stops in Parkersburg, Spencer and Grafton to conclude the summer.
"The amount of support and love received throughout my playing career from West Virginia fans and youth meant a lot to me," Osabuohien said. "Then, after my car wreck [in 2023], that love continued. I wanted to do something where I could give back to the state every year."
Osabuohien has hit various locations of the state, whether it be this year or prior ones. He's been to Fairmont, Morgantown, Logan, Spencer, St. Albans and Grafton.
The former Mountaineer said there wasn't an exact science behind picking the locations. Rather, he just wanted to help the state that poured so much support into him.
"In my first year, I just Googled the poorest counties in West Virginia," Osabuohien said. "As I continued to go on, I learned more about the state and different counties and started expanding. I hope I get to the point where it's in every single county and area where I touch. The first two years I did it on my own, then I just opened a nonprofit organization this year.
"As I continue to grow, I hope to grow in locations and get bigger and bigger every year."
Osabuohien is able to see firsthand the reactions of young people and families when they come to his program. The students receive a backpack and other necessary school supplies to help during the school year.
Osabuohien gets the supplies through sponsorship help.
The reactions he sees from across the state make his day.
"It means a lot when I see these kids," Osabuohien said. "The first summer doing it, I was doing it by myself at every location. Just seeing the reaction from these families means a lot. You see the actual impact. It made me set a commitment to where I'm going to do it every year. A lot of families do benefit from it and it helps in multiple ways unimaginable."
Osabuohien played three seasons at WVU, from 2019-22.
He played in 88 games for coach Bob Huggins and the Mountaineers.
He was most valuable on the defensive end of the floor, as he finished his time in Morgantown with 112 steals.
Osabuohien has played professionally for the Calgary Surge in Canada and the Cleveland Charge, the G-League affiliate for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
It's been three years since he last played for WVU, but he still takes the Mountain State with him everywhere he goes.
"This is a state of hard-working people who are selfless and care about others and their state," Osabuohien said. "They show love. It's a bunch of hard-working people. This is a close-knit place. Coach Huggins made sure my teammates and I know about the fans we were playing for and how much the state meant to him and the love he had here. He instilled in me that, and that's where it breeds from."
