Former NBA middle and HBCU basketball legend Kyle O’Quinn has formally retired from skilled basketball and returned to his alma mater, Norfolk State College, as the manager director of athletic development. The 35-year-old introduced his retirement on April 12, 2025, bringing to an in depth a profession that spanned eight NBA seasons and a number of other worldwide stints.
“Being again on the college means lots to me and my household,” stated O’Quinn in an interview with Forbes. “Going by means of this transition of retirement, [it’s] not the best factor to do, however my college is certainly serving to in these efforts. From the hiring course of to bringing me on board [and] to my relocating. My household’s understanding [that] I’m relocating, however not for basketball this time. I believe that, as soon as once more, my college is serving within the house of my life that solely they’ll.
“[I’m] fortunate to be again, grateful to be again, love being there daily, love being, going to tennis matches, softball video games, and baseball video games. All of the sports activities that our college offers and simply being that piece that helps flip the web page on the college for, probably, the subsequent Kyle O’Quinn, and lots of others.”
HBCU to NBA
O’Quinn’s basketball journey started in Jamaica, New York, and led him to Norfolk State, the place he performed from 2008 to 2012. He grew to become the primary participant in MEAC historical past to win the convention Participant of the Yr and Defensive Participant of the Yr in the identical season. O’Quinn was additionally named the nation’s mid-major Participant of the Yr whereas guiding the Spartans to their first-ever MEAC title and NCAA Event look.
15-seed Norfolk State College went on to tug off probably the most memorable upsets in NCAA Event historical past because the HBCU knocked off No. 2 seed, Missouri. In that sport, O’Quinn delivered a dominant efficiency with 26 factors and 14 rebounds. Propelling Norfolk State to a historic 86–84 victory and marking essentially the most memorable HBCU hoops upset in event historical past.
Following his standout school profession, O’Quinn was chosen forty ninth total within the 2012 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. Over eight NBA seasons, he performed for the Magic, New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, and Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 5.4 factors, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per sport throughout 472 regular-season appearances. After his NBA tenure, O’Quinn continued his skilled profession abroad, with stints in Turkey, France, Japan, and China.
Government Director of Athletic Development
In his new function at Norfolk State, O’Quinn goals to leverage his skilled experiences to advance the HBCU athletic program. He expressed his dedication to giving again to the establishment that performed a pivotal function in his improvement. “On this function, I might love to depart my mark, realizing that I helped folks navigate the novelty of basketball,” O’Quinn instructed Bobby Krivitsky of Forbes. “Once I say that, the sport is altering, [it’s] nonetheless the identical formulation, however it’s a must to change issues a little bit bit.
“After which, simply having my enter on ensuring that Norfolk State College stays at a degree of being aggressive nationwide with the NIL, switch portals, and issues like that. Letting donors and all our sources perceive what this newness appears to be like like. But additionally giving them a flashback of what my time appeared like. What we went by means of, and the way it has modified. And utilizing cross-references to make it make sense to folks that actually care and actually need to be part of the Norfolk State College model. With that being stated, simply being that voice in between the college, athletics, and people who need to be part of it.”
Kyle O’Quinn’s return to Norfolk State is a full-circle second in HBCU basketball. As O’Quinn transitions from an NBA participant to a management function inside an HBCU athletic division, his dedication to fostering development and excellence at Norfolk State highlights the lasting connections that may type inside the HBCU group.
