COLUMBIA — There are plenty of inspiring high-school recruiting stories in the country, especially in South Carolina. The journey of Onis Konanbanny, though, is unique. On Aug.
23, the Heathwood Hall Episcopal School senior made his anticipated commitment to the University of Tennessee, choosing the Volunteers over Florida State. The moment of jubilation, when he revealed his bright orange polo shirt, was a symbol of his hard work starting to pay off. The road Konanbanny traveled to that day reveals why his smile so big.
The senior spent most of his early life overseas; he was born in France, and lived here until he was about five years old. When Konanbanny and his family visited a family member in London, he didn’t know that the capital of England would become their new home. “We went to London for one of my cousin’s birthday parties, and just ended up staying there,” Konanbanny said.
“It was crazy because in my mind, I’m thinking we’re going back to France, but my mom said she likes (London), so we just stayed there and signed me up for school.” He described life in London as something that took getting used to. “There’s a lot going on, (but) it’s beautiful and clean,” Konanbanny said.
“It has so many cultures, you’d fit in anywhere.” For Konanbanny, American football was not a central part of his childhood, but rather soccer. It was not until he was in secondary school when he was introduced to American football by a good friend.
Kofi Taylor.