Osaghae grew up playing soccer but reluctantly switched to basketball at age 16 due to his exceptional size after he attended a camp led by Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.

Osaghae played basketball for Miami Southridge High School, coached by John Herron, while attending Robert Morgan Educational Center.

[2] As a junior, Osaghae quit basketball and wanted to transfer to Palmetto High School because he found Southridge's coach "too hard" on him.

He improved his diet and lost 60 lbs before walking on to the basketball team at Florida International University (FIU), where he studied business management.

[1] Osaghae averaged 8.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and a league-high 3.1 blocks per game en route to Conference USA All-Defensive Team honors.