'12 NY PF Christopher Obekpa

[mplebanon]

UC returns the following players who played considerable minutes this year:

PG Wright
SG Kilpatrick
SG Parker
PF Jackson
C Mbodj

Guys who played sparingly:
SG Davis III
PG Guyn
SF Sanders

Redshirted but considered a good chance to play alot of minutes:
SF Shaquille Thomas

Someone will have to back up Mbodj if he is the starter.

I see 10 players getting significant time next season.

 

[CPAW29]

dont forget ellis redshirting too maybe.

 

[dp3113]

Do you think Calipari worried about the minutes for Eloy Vargas when Jones decided to come back and Davis committed? You play your best players. Obekpa will be one of the two best, if not the best big on this team if he commits. If I didn't know better I'd think some of these posts are from UConn or Providence fans trying to negative recruit!

i think people are just being honest/realistic. what evidence do you have that obekpa will be one of the two best next year? thats pure speculation without seeing him against our other post players.

 

[dp3113]

st. john's picked up a commitment from Obekpa's teammate Felix Balamou today. no idea if/how this affects things, but worth mentioning.

 

[Bearcat04]

i think people are just being honest/realistic. what evidence do you have that obekpa will be one of the two best next year? thats pure speculation without seeing him against our other post players.

His ability to finish strong around the rim, his athleticism, and defensive prowess would make him one of the best big men on the team. It's not like I think he would be getting Gates type minutes though. They are all going to play, but I think it's silly to think that Obekpa would be buried on the depth chart when at the same time we have fans worried about the state of our big men next year. Which is it?

 

[Thegreatone]

It will be really interesting to see if he commits. If he doesnt we may be going with no one this year and just call Ellis and Thomas our recruiting class.

 

[Ryno99]

So are you saying Rubles is out of the picture as well as some of the others we have mentioned here? Do you feel the 'ships are too valuable for '13 to use if not the right people? What is your reasoning here? Just curious.

Thanks!

 

[Eternal E]

So are you saying Rubles is out of the picture as well as some of the others we have mentioned here? Do you feel the 'ships are too valuable for '13 to use if not the right people? What is your reasoning here? Just curious.

Thanks!

Obekpa isn't the only player they are recruiting. I do not know where thegreatone got his info from, but Cincinnati will sign at least 1 (most likely 2) guys for next year. They'd like them to be big men but they are open to taking wings if they fit what Mick wants.

 

[dp3113]

His ability to finish strong around the rim, his athleticism, and defensive prowess would make him one of the best big men on the team. It's not like I think he would be getting Gates type minutes though. They are all going to play, but I think it's silly to think that Obekpa would be buried on the depth chart when at the same time we have fans worried about the state of our big men next year. Which is it?

ability to finish strong? the director of Scout Evan Daniels said that obekpa is the hardest player to evaluate in this class because he is strong on D but literally has no offensive game at all.

i will be ecstatic if we land obekpa- but i think people need to manage/temper expectations on him.

 

[Thegreatone]

ability to finish strong? the director of Scout Evan Daniels said that obekpa is the hardest player to evaluate in this class because he is strong on D but literally has no offensive game at all.

i will be ecstatic if we land obekpa- but i think people need to manage/temper expectations on him.

Sounds a lot like Justin Jackson to me.

 

[Bearcat04]

ability to finish strong? the director of Scout Evan Daniels said that obekpa is the hardest player to evaluate in this class because he is strong on D but literally has no offensive game at all.

i will be ecstatic if we land obekpa- but i think people need to manage/temper expectations on him.

Yes, finishing strong around the rim... putback dunks, alley oops, and all the like. I never said he was going to be doing the Olajuwon Dream Shake as a Freshman. He'll also be in asset in the transition game with his athleticism and ability to run the floor. He's also known for being strong on the offensive glass.

I really haven't seen any over the top expectations for him. We all know that he's raw offensively, but I still think he does enough other things well to be a valuable asset next year should we get him.

 

[mplebanon]

Obekpa isn't the only player they are recruiting. I do not know where thegreatone got his info from, but Cincinnati will sign at least 1 (most likely 2) guys for next year. They'd like them to be big men but they are open to taking wings if they fit what Mick wants.

It must be an ancient chinese secret then. Seems like all the top recruits have signed. No one is hinting that UC is in on anyone else other than Obekpa, Mitchell (gone), and Taylor, and a few other surprise JUCO's that don't really impress me.

 

[bearcat jeff]

ability to finish strong? the director of Scout Evan Daniels said that obekpa is the hardest player to evaluate in this class because he is strong on D but literally has no offensive game at all.

i will be ecstatic if we land obekpa- but i think people need to manage/temper expectations on him.

He needs to develop offensively. He has only been playing basketball a small number of years.

UC will sign at least one player and I believe 2. They will sign two bigs or a big and probably a pg. For the record I think Rubles would fit in very nicely on next years team. Great motor, good ball skills, plays D, rebounds and can play th3 3-4.

 

[Bearcat22]

He needs to develop offensively. He has only been playing basketball a small number of years.

UC will sign at least one player and I believe 2. They will sign two bigs or a big and probably a pg. For the record I think Rubles would fit in very nicely on next years team. Great motor, good ball skills, plays D, rebounds and can play th3 3-4.

Do you think that Guyn is going to be groomed as the PG of the future and we're recruiting PG depth or that Guyn is more of a 2 guard? In his limited minutes I really like his toughness. He seems like he will be a Big East type of player

 

[bearcat jeff]

Do you think that Guyn is going to be groomed as the PG of the future and we're recruiting PG depth or that Guyn is more of a 2 guard? In his limited minutes I really like his toughness. He seems like he will be a Big East type of player

I've said for some time it wouldn't surprise me if Davis is moved to the 2 guard.

 

[dp3113]

I've said for some time it wouldn't surprise me if Davis is moved to the 2 guard.

i've been curious about this as well. early in the season cronin said Davis is more of a natural point guard. i feel as thought Davis is much more under control than Guyn is with the ball, personally.

 

[bearcat jeff]

i've been curious about this as well. early in the season cronin said Davis is more of a natural point guard. i feel as thought Davis is much more under control than Guyn is with the ball, personally.

I've thought about next season and where the pieces fit with Shaq Thomas becoming eligible. Parker, Cash, Kilpatrick, Guyn, Sanders and Davis. Where do they all fit in?

 

[Eternal E]

Guyn is definitely more of a combo guard, he will get minutes because he is very good on the ball defensively, and can hit shots (hard to be consistent with spotty minutes), Davis is also a combo guard, I like his feel for the game and the patience he plays with....this day and age there are very few true point guards, UC's roster is full of solid combo guards which is sufficient.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

jeff, can never have to many players. Competition for playing time will be incredible.

Assume we sign Rubles and Opekpa. That gives us those two plus Modj,Gaines,Ellis and Jackson for two spots.

PG's are Cash and Guyn

Wings are Sanders,Parker,Killa,Davis and Thomas

There would be two candidates to redshrit or transfer in my opinion. Davis, Gaines,Ellis and Sanders. Can't see any gettng much playing time next year. Of course you could have injuries.

The pratices will be incrediblly tough. This is a good thing. I look for Sanders and Davis to consider transfering or redshirting.

The following year Modj,Cash and Parker will be leaving. If things stay as I mentioned above we will need a point,wing and PF.

What are your thoughts?

 

[bearcat jeff]

jeff, can never have to many players. Competition for playing time will be incredible.

Assume we sign Rubles and Opekpa. That gives us those two plus Modj,Gaines,Ellis and Jackson for two spots.

PG's are Cash and Guyn

Wings are Sanders,Parker,Killa,Davis and Thomas

There would be two candidates to redshrit or transfer in my opinion. Davis, Gaines,Ellis and Sanders. Can't see any gettng much playing time next year. Of course you could have injuries.

The pratices will be incrediblly tough. This is a good thing. I look for Sanders and Davis to consider transfering or redshirting.

The following year Modj,Cash and Parker will be leaving. If things stay as I mentioned above we will need a point,wing and PF.

What are your thoughts?

I don't think we'll see transfers. I look for Davis and Sanders to make nice strides in their game between now and then. Mick would love to get Sanders on the floor because of his basketball iq and has stated such. The game is still moving too fast for him.