'12 NY PF Christopher Obekpa

[bearcat jeff]

Christopher Obekpa
Centereach, NYHometown
Our Savior New American SchoolHigh School
6-8Height
200 lbs


Strengths:
Obekpa has an unbelievable motor that never stops. He is a long and extremely athletic power forward who moves up and down the floor like a deer. When running the floor in transition he can finish the alley-oop with both elbows well above the rim, and Obekpa's hands and quick first jump allow him to rebound the ball in traffic and finish tip dunks on the offensive glass. In the post, Obekpa has work to do, but he was able to score over his left shoulder with a running hook, spin off his defender baseline side and finish on the other side, and step through move. None of his post moves looked comfortable, but with time he could become an efficient scorer in the post. Defensively, Obekpa challenges all shots in the lane and has good timing rotating over from weak side to block shots.

Weaknesses:
Obekpa has raw offensive fundamentals. His footwork, shooting and ball handling need improvements for him to reach his full potential. Obekpa has a decent feel for the game, but with more time playing he will become more comfortable.

Bottom Line:
Obekpa is a high energy, long and athletic power forward. His fundamentals are a little raw at this stage of his career, but when they catch up with the rest of his game watch out. Defensively, he can guard multiple positions all over the court and is terrific on the glass. His best basketball is down the road when his skills improve.

Notes

Travel Team: New York Elite...Native of Nigeria...

 

[teerusty1]

I want this guy!

TheRecruitScoop

Alex Kline
Memphis, Providence & Cincinnati have offered Chris Obekpa, a 2012 PF from New York, per his coach.

 

[bearcat jeff]

I really like him as well but still believe UC needs a center and not a power forward. Regardless of the Scott situation, or even if Mick brings in 3 players in the '12 class, I believe UC needs a guy that can score in the low post.

 

[dp3113]

I really like him as well but still believe UC needs a center and not a power forward. Regardless of the Scott situation, or even if Mick brings in 3 players in the '12 class, I believe UC needs a guy that can score in the low post.

not that many teams use an actual center anymore in college basketball.

 

[teerusty1]

Offered by Uconn according to Adam Zagoria.

 

[bearcat18]

Jon Rothstein:

2012 big man Chris Obeka has been incredible protecting the rim. Legit shotblocking presence in the middle.

 

[JasonS]

@AdamZagoria
Chris Obekpa, a 6-8 2012 PF from Our Savior New American, has school visits on 9/11 with UCLA & Cincinnati.

 

[bearcat jeff]

Nice!

 

[JackBauer151]

Chris Obekpa, a 6-foot-9 Nigerian power forward at Our Savior New American on Long Island, hosted head coaches from UCLA, Providence and Cincinnati on Sunday for in-home visits.

Ben Howland had Phil Mathews with him. Ed Cooley brought Andre LaFleur and Mick Cronin was accompanied by Darren Savino.

“Everything went well with each visit,” said assistant coach Eric Jaklitsch of Our Savior. “They all expressed their interest in Christopher and how much they want him.”

A native of NIgeria, Obekpa also plays sweeper on the school soccer team and was thus unavailable the first two days of the contact period.

He takes the SAT Oct. 1, and cannot take any officials until.

“We spoke about possibly taking an unofficial to Providence,” Jaklitsch said. “We spoke to UCLA and Cincinnati about taking official visits out there once he gets his SAT and everything.”

http://www.zagsblog.com/2011/09/12/obekpa-hosts-trio-of-schools/

 

[JackBauer151]

Chris Obekpa, a 6-foot-9 Nigerian power forward at Our Savior New American on Long Island, hosted head coaches from UCLA, Providence and Cincinnati on Sunday for in-home visits.

Ben Howland had Phil Mathews with him. Ed Cooley brought Andre LaFleur and Mick Cronin was accompanied by Darren Savino.

“Everything went well with each visit,” said assistant coach Eric Jaklitsch of Our Savior. “They all expressed their interest in Christopher and how much they want him.”

A native of NIgeria, Obekpa also plays sweeper on the school soccer team and was thus unavailable the first two days of the contact period.

He takes the SAT Oct. 1, and cannot take any officials until.

“We spoke about possibly taking an unofficial to Providence,” Jaklitsch said. “We spoke to UCLA and Cincinnati about taking official visits out there once he gets his SAT and everything.”

http://www.zagsblog.com/2011/09/12/obekpa-hosts-trio-of-schools/

 

[thebeast]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-mVbqiDIoY[/ame]

Sounds and looks alot like justin jackson maybe more polished and less hustle.
I think we have a great shot with this kid and I would put him number 2 behind White as must gets.

 

[JackBauer151]

He wasn’t listed in the roster book for the New Heights NYC team at the Adidas Super 64 in Las Vegas.

Against Shabazz Muhammad and Dream Vision, though, after he continued to block shots on the defensive end and finish around the rim at the other end, his identity began to slowly make its way around the gym.

“Is that Chris Obekpa?”

Chris Obekpa, who had shown flashes of his potential in the past, is finally putting it all together. The 6-foot-8 Nigeria native who plays at Our Savior New American (N.Y.) is one of the best interior defenders in the class and runs the floor exceptionally well. He rebounds at both ends and is developing his offensive game.

Obekpa was invited to the Amar’e Stoudemire Skills Academy and then the LeBron James Skills Academy, where he held his own against the best of the best.

“I think Christopher’s stock did rise this summer,” Eric Jaklitsch, an assistant coach at OSNA, said. “His play rose because he played every possession like it was his last one. He played with a chip on his shoulder because we all knew – including him – that he is one of the best power forwards in the country and he was not getting the respect the other players were.”

Obekpa now owns offers from Providence, Memphis, Cincinnati, Seton Hall and West Virginia. UCLA could be close to offering, while Florida is also heavily involved. Texas, Maryland, St. John’s, Florida State, Washington and Miami (Fl.) are also showing interest, with Kentucky sniffing around.

Unofficial visits are being planned to several schools, but nothing is set in stone since Obekpa is currently on vacation. Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall and Cincinnati all want him on campus, while other schools could be in line for official visits.

“There is no timetable for a decision,” Jaklitsch said. “He has to develop relationships with the schools and their coaching staffs. He needs to get on their campuses to see what the schools and programs are all about.”

Obekpa’s impressive summer landed him at No. 90 in the updated CBSSports.com Top 100, but he is not content to just sneak into the rankings.

“Now that his stock has risen, he wants to continue to keep improving,” Jaklitsch said. “He is motivated to show people what he can do.”

http://eye-on-college-basketball-recruiting.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/29884776/31276320

 

[bearcat18]

You have to like our chances of landing either Obekpa, Hammons, or Blaise. And any one of these players would be great addition to the program.

 

[bearcat jeff]

TheRecruitScoopAlex Kline
2012 PF Chris Obekpa of Our Savior (NY) had in-home visits with Cincinnati, UCLA & Providence on Sunday, per his coach.

 

[bearcat18]

AdamZagoria Adam Zagoria
UConn, Pitt & Seton Hall assistants were at Our Savior New American today for 6-9 Chris Obekpa

 

[bearcat18]

TheRecruitScoop Alex Kline
Seton Hall has an in-home visit with 2012 PF Chris Obekpa tonight, followed by one with 2012 star Kyle Anderson on Monday night.

 

[bearcat jeff]

TheRecruitScoopAlex Kline

After an in-home visit with Seton Hall, 2012 Our Savior (NY) PF Chris Obekpa has an in-home visit with UConn today.

 

[bearcat jeff]

Visited Providence this weekend.

 

[bearcat jeff]

Chris Obekpa is one of the most sought after players left on the board in the Class of 2012.

An active shot-blocker and rebounder from Our Savior New American on Long Island, the 6-foot-9 Obekpa hosted UConn coach Jim Calhoun for a home visit last Monday and then visited Providence unofficially over the weekend.

“The [Providence] visit went well,” Our Savior assistant Eric Jaklitsch told SNY.tv. “We took a took a tour of their campus and got a chance to see to their facilities such as the locker room, players’ lounge, weight room, etc. We also got a chance to see the Dunkin Doughnuts Center which has been recently renovated. They have done a lot of improvements to their facilities since the last time I have been up there.

“Christopher also got a chance to play with their guys including former player Marshon Brooks and recruit Ricky Ledo who Chris played with in the Nike Global Challenge.”

Obekpa will take the SAT Oct. 1 and cannot take official visits until then.

As for the UConn home visit, Calhoun “talked about the history of the program, the national championships and how they won with the different types of teams,” Jaklitsch said. He also talked about the “development of big men in the UConn program.”

“The in-home visit went very well,” he said. “We are in the process of setting up an unofficial visit with UConn.”

UCLA, Cincinnati and Seton Hall are also involved.

http://www.zagsblog.com/2011/09/25/obekpa-visits-providence-hosts-calhoun-for-home-visit/

 

[bearcat18]

TheRecruitScoop Alex Kline
UCLA, UConn, Florida, Providence, St. John's, Cincinnati, DePaul, Seton Hall & Pitt have recently seen 2012 PF Chris Obekpa, per his coach.