Chino Hills center Nnamdi Okongwu seriously injured in skateboarding accident

There was shock and sadness Wednesday in the Southern California basketball community after the news that 6-foot-9 senior center Nnamdi Okongwu of Chino Hills High was seriously injured and was at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton following a head injury suffered in a skateboarding accident.

Okongwu is alive, Felisa Cardona, deputy public information officer for San Bernardino County, said Thursday afternoon. She did not give his condition.

Chino Hills Coach Steve Baik had told The Times on Wednesday afternoon that Okongwu, 17, had died and that information was originally reported in this article.

Okongwu, a native of Nigeria, was a key member of a Huskies team that made it to the Southern Section Open Division championship game last season, and he was developing into a major-college prospect.

Okongwu always enjoyed entertaining fans with his dunks and shot-blocking. He was expected to be an important contributor on one of the best high school basketball teams in the Southland next season.

Twitter:@LATSondheimer