One of three Xavier College Preparatory High School graduates headed to Ivy League schools this year, Adetola "Tola" Omilana, will have a spot on Harvard's Crimson football team when he heads to Boston this fall.
The cornerback and tight end spent all four years on the varsity team for the Saints. MyDesert spoke to him about playing at the next level and what it took to get there.
QUESTION: Your name is unusual; what's your ethnic heritage?
ANSWER: Nigeria -- both of my parents are from there.
And you?
I was born in Victorville. I lived there until I was about 6, and then we moved here.
Did you talk to any other schools besides Harvard?
Yeah, there was Brown and Washington University in St. Louis. Those were the main ones that I showed interest in and showed interest in me (playing football for them).
Are you going to Harvard more because of the football or more because of the academics?
My parents have always told me that education comes first, so that was the basis for choosing which schools I applied to. I didn't choose a school because of football, so I guess you could say academics were the foundation of my choice.
What was your GPA and SAT score?
Actually, I don't know my GPA off the top of my head, but I know what my SAT was.
What was it?
My SAT score was 2,100 (out of 2,400).
Why don't you know your GPA?
I've never needed to. There isn't that much stress of competition at our school and I'm not really that interested in it. I just know I'm doing a good job, so I don't feel the need to check.
Didn't you need it for your application to Harvard?
Yeah, that's the last time I checked it, but that was last winter and I can't remember what it was now.
Can you approximate what it was -- higher than a 4.0? Lower than a 4.0?
It was somewhere in the high 4s.
Do you think you'll always have the pressure on you to excel at everything you do because you'll have a degree from Harvard?
I already feel it. Just because my friends know me and if I make a stupid comment it's like, "And you're going to Harvard?" I get that joke all the time when I mess up, but I guess I'm ready to take that on.
