Azubuike signs with Kentucky

<br>LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) _ Kelenna Azubuike, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound swingman from Tulsa, Okla., has signed to play basketball at Kentucky next season, the school said Friday. <br><br>Azubuike led the state

Friday, April 12th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) _ Kelenna Azubuike, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound swingman from Tulsa, Okla., has signed to play basketball at Kentucky next season, the school said Friday.

Azubuike led the state of Oklahoma in scoring the past three years. As a senior, he averaged 39.1 points and 13.3 rebounds per game in leading his team to the Class 4A state championship game.

Azubuike averaged 23.5 points per game as a freshman, 28.5 as a sophomore to lead his team to a state title and 38.7 as a junior.

He finished his career with 3,530 points, 89 shy of the all-time state scoring mark. He scored a career-high 65 points last season and four times totaled between 50 and 60 points during his career.

``Were very happy and excited to have Kelenna be a part of our program and family,'' coach Tubby Smith said. ``He's an exciting player who exemplifies the type of outstanding student-athlete we want in our program.''

Azubuike, who earned a 4.0 grade-point average, will participate in the Kentucky Derby Classic, a prep all-star game, in Louisville on Saturday.

Azubuike is the fourth player to sign with Kentucky this season, joining Antwain Barbour, a 6-5 swingman from Wabash Junior College; Bernard Cote, a 6-9 forward from Quebec; and Brandon Stockton, a 5-11 guard from Glasgow.