Arike Ogunbowale’s high school basketball coach predicts success on dance floor

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – There’s just a couple of hours to go, until Notre Dame basketball player Arike Ogunbowale takes the dance floor in the season premiere of Dancing with the Stars: Athlete’s Edition.

ABC57 News sent a crew to Arike’s hometown of Milwaukee to learn a little bit more about the athlete’s roots.

Her old basketball coach at Divine Savior Holy Angels High School couldn’t stop singing her praises.

“She’s got a lot of confidence. If you’re going to go out in front of millions of people dancing, you’ve got to have a lot of confidence, and I’m really excited to watch,” says Jeff Worzella.

The world waits in anticipation to see Arike trade in her basketball shoes for high heels.

Worzella says, he’s quite familiar with the athlete’s ability on the court, but hasn’t seen her dance skills just yet.  He was more than surprised when he heard what she was planning to do.

“She’s a great athlete. She’s very coachable. I don’t know how her rhythm is, per say, but I hope the coach is able to get her ready for the stage,” he explains.

And on that national stage, Worzella just hopes the audience will get their chance to see Arike, the way he sees Arike.

“The greatest thing about her is who she is as a person,” he says. “She’s a competitor. She’s confidence. She works hard. She works probably hard than anyone I’ve ever coached.”