2021-22 Men's Basketball Roster
Oquendo, Kario
Jersey Number 3
Kario Oquendo
- Height:
- 6-4
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Titusville, Fla.
- High School:
- Astronaut High School
- Prev Team:
- Florida SouthWestern State
Bio
Final Bio (PDF)
• Recipient of the Charles Jones Scholarship for 2021-22 and 2022-23.
2022-23 Season Highlights:
• Voted second-team preseason All-SEC in balloting of league coaches.
• In the starting lineup for 28 of 29 games played and the Bulldogs’ second-leading scorer both overall (12.7 ppg) and in SEC play (11.9 ppg).
• Led Georgia in both makes (109) and takes (146) at the free throw line.
• Finished the campaign ranked No. 19 in the SEC in scoring (12.7 ppg) as well as No. 13 in free throw percentage (.747).
• Produced double-digit scoring outputs 20 times, including a quartet of 20-point performances.
• The Bulldogs’ leading scorer in non-conference action, averaging 14.3 points per game.
• Poured in a season-high 22 points against Chattanooga on Dec.21, including 16 in the second half.
• In a pair of SEC wins, handled all of the late scoring – 1) UGA’s last 12 points over the final 5:21 at Ole Miss, lifting the Dogs from a 54-50 deficit to a 62-58 win, and 2) all eight points in overtime against South Carolina in Athens.
• Three of his four 20-point outings came versus SEC opponents – 21 against Kentucky in Athens, 20 at Arkansas and 20 versus Florida in Athens.
2021-22 Season Highlights:
• Georgia’s leading scorer, both overall (15.2 ppg) and in SEC action (18.3 ppg).
• Started all 31 games he played, missing only the game at Auburn as a late scratch due to a slight lower body injury sustained in the previous contest against Vanderbilt.
• Led the Bulldogs offensively in a team-high 13 contests, and also paced Georgia on the boards six times, in steals in 15 outings and in blocks in 12 games.
• Of his 22 double-digit scoring outputs, 15 came in SEC play.
• Recorded 10 20-point performances, including eight against SEC opposition. In those contests, shot 50.9 percent (83-of-163) from the field and 81.8 percent (54-of-66) from the line.
• Scored 33 points against Texas A&M, equaling the highest single-game tally by any SEC player during the 2021-22 campaign.
• Posted the Bulldogs’ four highest scoring outputs of the season – 33 points at Texas A&M, 28 at Mississippi State, 26 at LSU and 25 vs. Auburn in Athens.
• In addition, also accounted for Georgia’s top tallies for field goals (12 at Texas A&M), field goal attempts (22 at Texas A&M), free throw attempts (15 at Missouri), steals (four in three games) and blocks (three vs. Wofford).
• Among SEC statistical leaders, finished the season ranked No. 9 in scoring and No. 7 in field goal percentage.
• In stat leaders for SEC games only, ranked No. 4 in scoring (18.3 ppg) and No. 9 in field goal percentage (.460). Ranked fourth in the league in scoring in SEC play despite scoreless outing at South Carolina while still playing through a slight injury.
• Played his best against the stiffest competition. In four games against ranked teams (No. 18 Memphis, at No. 16 Kentucky, vs. No. 1 Auburn and vs. No. 13 Tennessee), averaged 21.8 points while shooting 52.5 percent from the field.
• One of college basketball’s best dunkers who earned his way onto SportsCenter’s top-10 plays on a trio of Tuesdays, nicknamed the “Top Quen.” On Nov. 16, his uncontested windmill versus S.C. State came in at No. 3. On Nov. 23, his posterization of a 6-9 Northwestern defender was featured at No. 6. On March 1, an emphatic tomahawk finish over a helpless Volunteer came in a No. 3.
• Exploded for 24 points in an efficient manner (.692 FG pct.) in Georgia’s upset of No. 18 Memphis.
• Opened SEC play with 21 points against Texas A&M, 22 at Kentucky and 28 at Mississippi State to become the first Bulldog with three-straight 20-point outings since Anthony Edwards did so in 2020.
• His 33-point outburst at Texas A&M was the best by a Bulldog since Anthony Edwards’ 37 against No. 3 Michigan State in the 2019 Maui Jim Maui Invitational.
2020-21 Season Highlights:
• Coached by Eric Murphey at Florida SouthWestern.
• Named first-team All-Southern Conference, one of three freshmen featured on that unit.
• Averaged 13.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 22.2 minutes of playing time per game for the Buccaneers.
• Helped Florida SouthWestern to an 18-5 overall record and a 9-3 mark in Southern Conference play.
• An efficient scorer from the floor who shot 55.4 percent overall and 40.3 percent from 3-point range.
• Recorded 18 double-digit scoring outputs in 23 games, including doing so in nine times in conference games.
• Upped his contributions in conference play to 15.3 points per game, which ranked fourth among league leaders.
• Also improved his shooting percentages in league action, connecting on 57.4 percent overall and 51.3 percent on 3-pointers.
• Played his best basketball against the Bucs’ stiffest competition, averaging 22.0 points and 5.8 boards while shooting 63.6 percent from the field and 52.6 percent from behind the 3-point arc in four outings against ranked opponents.
• Posted his career-high tallies with 31 points and 10 rebounds against No. 16 Indian River on Feb. 13, which also resulted in his first career double-double.
High School Highlights:
• Coached by Kyle Gilreath at Astronaut High as a junior.
• Enrolled at Florida SouthWestern College in January 2020 and bypassed his senior season at Astronaut.
• As a junior, averaged 21.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game for the Astronaut War Eagles, who finished with a 20-6 record.
• Scored his 1,000th career point during his final game with the War Eagles.
• Named 2019 Brevard County Class 5A Player of the Year in balloting of the area’s coaches.
• Selected to the 2018 and 2019 All-Cape Coast Conference team, an 11-player squad featuring players from Brevard County’s 16 public high schools.
• Coached by Chris Bainbridge as a freshman and sophomore at Titusville High.
• As a sophomore, earned first-team All-District 14-6A honors.
• Helped the Terriers compile a 26-3 record and reach the “Sweet 16” round of the FHSAA Class 6A state tournament as a freshman. Titusville lost to the eventual state champion, Leesburg (71-60).
Personal:
• Born January 28, 2000, in Titusville, Fla., Kario is the son of Shannon Deese and is majoring in Housing Management & Policy.
• Recipient of the Charles Jones Scholarship for 2021-22 and 2022-23.
2022-23 Season Highlights:
• Voted second-team preseason All-SEC in balloting of league coaches.
• In the starting lineup for 28 of 29 games played and the Bulldogs’ second-leading scorer both overall (12.7 ppg) and in SEC play (11.9 ppg).
• Led Georgia in both makes (109) and takes (146) at the free throw line.
• Finished the campaign ranked No. 19 in the SEC in scoring (12.7 ppg) as well as No. 13 in free throw percentage (.747).
• Produced double-digit scoring outputs 20 times, including a quartet of 20-point performances.
• The Bulldogs’ leading scorer in non-conference action, averaging 14.3 points per game.
• Poured in a season-high 22 points against Chattanooga on Dec.21, including 16 in the second half.
• In a pair of SEC wins, handled all of the late scoring – 1) UGA’s last 12 points over the final 5:21 at Ole Miss, lifting the Dogs from a 54-50 deficit to a 62-58 win, and 2) all eight points in overtime against South Carolina in Athens.
• Three of his four 20-point outings came versus SEC opponents – 21 against Kentucky in Athens, 20 at Arkansas and 20 versus Florida in Athens.
2021-22 Season Highlights:
• Georgia’s leading scorer, both overall (15.2 ppg) and in SEC action (18.3 ppg).
• Started all 31 games he played, missing only the game at Auburn as a late scratch due to a slight lower body injury sustained in the previous contest against Vanderbilt.
• Led the Bulldogs offensively in a team-high 13 contests, and also paced Georgia on the boards six times, in steals in 15 outings and in blocks in 12 games.
• Of his 22 double-digit scoring outputs, 15 came in SEC play.
• Recorded 10 20-point performances, including eight against SEC opposition. In those contests, shot 50.9 percent (83-of-163) from the field and 81.8 percent (54-of-66) from the line.
• Scored 33 points against Texas A&M, equaling the highest single-game tally by any SEC player during the 2021-22 campaign.
• Posted the Bulldogs’ four highest scoring outputs of the season – 33 points at Texas A&M, 28 at Mississippi State, 26 at LSU and 25 vs. Auburn in Athens.
• In addition, also accounted for Georgia’s top tallies for field goals (12 at Texas A&M), field goal attempts (22 at Texas A&M), free throw attempts (15 at Missouri), steals (four in three games) and blocks (three vs. Wofford).
• Among SEC statistical leaders, finished the season ranked No. 9 in scoring and No. 7 in field goal percentage.
• In stat leaders for SEC games only, ranked No. 4 in scoring (18.3 ppg) and No. 9 in field goal percentage (.460). Ranked fourth in the league in scoring in SEC play despite scoreless outing at South Carolina while still playing through a slight injury.
• Played his best against the stiffest competition. In four games against ranked teams (No. 18 Memphis, at No. 16 Kentucky, vs. No. 1 Auburn and vs. No. 13 Tennessee), averaged 21.8 points while shooting 52.5 percent from the field.
• One of college basketball’s best dunkers who earned his way onto SportsCenter’s top-10 plays on a trio of Tuesdays, nicknamed the “Top Quen.” On Nov. 16, his uncontested windmill versus S.C. State came in at No. 3. On Nov. 23, his posterization of a 6-9 Northwestern defender was featured at No. 6. On March 1, an emphatic tomahawk finish over a helpless Volunteer came in a No. 3.
• Exploded for 24 points in an efficient manner (.692 FG pct.) in Georgia’s upset of No. 18 Memphis.
• Opened SEC play with 21 points against Texas A&M, 22 at Kentucky and 28 at Mississippi State to become the first Bulldog with three-straight 20-point outings since Anthony Edwards did so in 2020.
• His 33-point outburst at Texas A&M was the best by a Bulldog since Anthony Edwards’ 37 against No. 3 Michigan State in the 2019 Maui Jim Maui Invitational.
2020-21 Season Highlights:
• Coached by Eric Murphey at Florida SouthWestern.
• Named first-team All-Southern Conference, one of three freshmen featured on that unit.
• Averaged 13.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 22.2 minutes of playing time per game for the Buccaneers.
• Helped Florida SouthWestern to an 18-5 overall record and a 9-3 mark in Southern Conference play.
• An efficient scorer from the floor who shot 55.4 percent overall and 40.3 percent from 3-point range.
• Recorded 18 double-digit scoring outputs in 23 games, including doing so in nine times in conference games.
• Upped his contributions in conference play to 15.3 points per game, which ranked fourth among league leaders.
• Also improved his shooting percentages in league action, connecting on 57.4 percent overall and 51.3 percent on 3-pointers.
• Played his best basketball against the Bucs’ stiffest competition, averaging 22.0 points and 5.8 boards while shooting 63.6 percent from the field and 52.6 percent from behind the 3-point arc in four outings against ranked opponents.
• Posted his career-high tallies with 31 points and 10 rebounds against No. 16 Indian River on Feb. 13, which also resulted in his first career double-double.
High School Highlights:
• Coached by Kyle Gilreath at Astronaut High as a junior.
• Enrolled at Florida SouthWestern College in January 2020 and bypassed his senior season at Astronaut.
• As a junior, averaged 21.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game for the Astronaut War Eagles, who finished with a 20-6 record.
• Scored his 1,000th career point during his final game with the War Eagles.
• Named 2019 Brevard County Class 5A Player of the Year in balloting of the area’s coaches.
• Selected to the 2018 and 2019 All-Cape Coast Conference team, an 11-player squad featuring players from Brevard County’s 16 public high schools.
• Coached by Chris Bainbridge as a freshman and sophomore at Titusville High.
• As a sophomore, earned first-team All-District 14-6A honors.
• Helped the Terriers compile a 26-3 record and reach the “Sweet 16” round of the FHSAA Class 6A state tournament as a freshman. Titusville lost to the eventual state champion, Leesburg (71-60).
Personal:
• Born January 28, 2000, in Titusville, Fla., Kario is the son of Shannon Deese and is majoring in Housing Management & Policy.
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