CONCORD — Three times, Jestus Akudinobi’s previous high school said no.
At Liberty, where the expectation is to compete for the postseason every single season, the 6-foot-8 late bloomer wasn’t ready yet.
No spot. No jersey. No minutes.
So he folded towels. He rebounded shots at practice. He kept score – learning the game from the sideline as a team manager, absorbing basketball knowledge the hard way.
Ygnacio Valley’s Jestus Akudinobi (50) goes up for a dunk while warming up before their game against Campolindo at Ygnacio Valley High School in Concord, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)And when he finally left, it wasn’t running from failure. He was carrying it with him from his former school in Brentwood to Ygnacio Valley in Concord, where the no’s turned into opportunity and patience finally paid interest.
Akudinobi, now a senior at YV, has emerged as one of the East Bay’s most reliable big men after transferring from Liberty, the powerhouse that cut him from its freshman, JV and varsity teams.
In an era where transfers are often greeted with criticism – whispered assumptions of shortcuts and convenience – Akudinobi’s journey stands as a feel-good story of moving from one school to another..
He didn’t leave to chase glory. He left to grow.
At YV, the late bloomer found space to become himself, proving that sometimes the right move isn’t about escaping where you were but arriving where you’re finally allowed to be.
“This year has been a shock for me because if you asked me a year ago if I’d be playing basketball at a different school and thriving, I would have told you no,” Akudinobi said. “I was most definitely going to quit. But I couldn’t give up on myself and my family. My brother and mom were both there for me each time I said I was gonna quit. And they just wanted me to stick with it.
“Now I’ve come all this way and I couldn’t thank my teammates and Ygnacio Valley more.”
Ygnacio Valley’s Jestus Akudinobi (50) waits to be put into the game to play against Campolindo at Ygnacio Valley High School in Concord, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)Going into this season, Akudinobi was just a name on Ygnacio Valley’s roster. Having not played a meaningful high school basketball game in three years, he didn’t have any buzz around him, let alone any college interest.
Meanwhile, YV coach Michael Woolridge was trying to figure out the direction his 2025-’26 team would go. The Wolves lost five seniors from last season’s North Coast Section Division I playoff team, including two-time all-Bay Area News Group selection Antonio Kellogg Jr. and 6-7 center Preston Oliver.
But during the offseason, Akudinobi fell into the Concord school’s lap.
According to Woolridge, Helen reached out to him to see if he can participate in a few open gyms over the offseason.
“My open gyms are for anybody who wants to just come in and play basketball and he really just wanted to play,” Woolridge said. “I didn’t know who he was and she brought him in and it just so happened that he was 6-8. I thought someone was playing a joke on me.”
Ygnacio Valley’s Jestus Akudinobi (50) drives against Campolindo’s Noah Henry (22) during their game at Ygnacio Valley High School in Concord, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)Akudinobi was granted an intradistrict transfer to attend YV and participated with the Wolves during the summer and fall prior to the season. Impressed with his potential, Woolridge and the team slowly developed a strong relationship with the often shy and quiet Akudinobi.
With a strong work ethic, Akudinobi came into his own in the summer and fall to a point where Woolridge believed the trajectory of his team changed overnight. Instead of putting together a schedule designed for young, rebuilding teams, Akudinobi’s presence gave YV the confidence that it could still be the East Bay powerhouse it has been for the last three seasons.
“Once we knew we had a big man like that who can get involved vertically in our offense, it changed everything,” YV senior point guard Jalan Cody said.
Akudinobi’s shining moment came in the Wolves’ third game of the season. At the Chris Vontoure Spartan Classic at De La Salle, YV matched up with Liberty – the same team that he was once a team manager for.
There was a quiet edge to him on that day in Concord. An edge that showed in how hard he sprinted up the floor, how aggressively he carved out space in the paint and how decisively he finished at the rim. The senior poured in 21 points, repeatedly punishing Liberty inside.
Each score felt personal. Not flashy, not forced. Just a reminder of what had been overlooked.
Ygnacio Valley’s Jestus Akudinobi (50) battles Campolindo’s Noah Henry (22) for a rebound during their game at Ygnacio Valley High School in Concord, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)The defining moment came in overtime. With YV clinging to a slim three-point lead and Liberty threatening to answer, Akudinobi caught the ball on a fastbreak, rose above the rim and delivered a ferocious two-handed slam that rattled the rim and sealed the Wolves’ win after they were down by as much as 16 in the first half.
The bench erupted. Teammates spilled onto the floor. And Akudinobi, usually reserved, let out a roar.
It wasn’t revenge that was the motivating factor, it was the validation. Against the program that turned him away three times, Akudinobi didn’t gloat or linger. He simply walked off the floor having done what he always believed he could – play, produce and belong.
“Honestly, I just wanted to get my 12 points and be on my merry way,” Akudinobi said. “It was just so surreal. We are a small public school and we beat an Open Division team.”
While YV hasn’t been what it has been in season’s past – the Wolves are currently 5-9 – it has proven to be a tough out for any team it has played.
YV’s losses have come against the likes of Salesian, Serra, Granada, Rodriguez, Bishop O’Dowd and Oak Ridge – all teams ranked highly in its respective sections. Last week, the Wolves stunned Acalanes on a buzzer-beating shot from Cody.
Ygnacio Valley’s Jestus Akudinobi (50) listens to head coach Michael Woolridge during a timeout while playing Campolindo at Ygnacio Valley High School in Concord, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)While the wins and losses are always on Akudinobi’s mind, the steadiness he’s found has become the most valuable part of his growth. He’s no longer surviving on the margins of a program and thinking about whether he belongs in the sport.
The growth has shown up in ways that haven’t always hit the box score. Teammates have appreciated his willingness to listen. Coaches point to how he’s embraced structure and accountability. The same player that was once hoovering on the bench has become a trusted interior presence, a late bloomer unfolding in real time – and one now drawing interest from Division II college programs that hadn’t known his name three months ago.
For Woolridge, Akudinobi’s development has been confirmation that everything he’s built at YV is working.
“Jestus’ story, it says everything about our culture and what we’ve been trying to build here,” Woolridge said. “I’m really proud of the progress he’s making on and off the court. His guards were up with everybody at first because he really was protecting his peace. But now he’s developed into a really good person. Just being here, I think this is changing his life.”
Ygnacio Valley’s Jestus Akudinobi (50), far left, celebrates with his teammates and head coach Michael Woolridge after defeating Campolindo during their game at Ygnacio Valley High School in Concord, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Ygnacio Valley’s Jestus Akudinobi (50) battles Campolindo’s Noah Henry (22) for a rebound during their game at Ygnacio Valley High School in Concord, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Ygnacio Valley’s Jestus Akudinobi (50) gets fouled by Campolindo’s Micah Kaufman (11) during their game at Ygnacio Valley High School in Concord, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)Hence then, the article about three no s one yes how a team manager went from rejection to starring role was published today ( ) and is available on mercury news ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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