Thegreatone
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I dont know if Obekpa would provide a ton next year but it would be a really nice get. He could easily take Justins role as the spark of the bench next year.
'12 NY PF Christopher Obekpa
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JackBauer151
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@TheRecruitScoop
Two interesting notes on Chris Obekpa's visit to St. John's: It will be an official visit & his teammate Felix Balamou recently committed.
Two interesting notes on Chris Obekpa's visit to St. John's: It will be an official visit & his teammate Felix Balamou recently committed.
Always makes me nervous when a recruit visits a slick salesman type of head coach who is spewing all kinds of lies and propaganda, telling the kid everything he wants to hear and believe. Then there's Mick who probably tells the kid the truth, and loses out.
Mick is honest. The reason why no one (save Alvin Mitchell) have transfered is because he is up front with the guys. He told both Gaines and Ellis that they'd be a work in progress so they knew what they were getting into when they signed.
bearcat jeff
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His visit to St. John's this weekend could be huge. It has become an official visit. Lavin and Co.are going all out to land Obekpa. Many, including some people in the St. Johns camp, think it'll be hard to pull him from UC but this makes me very uncomfortable.
I'd love for him to come to UC but St. Johns lost Harkless which frees up some space on the team (and possibly PT). They may have the best situation other than UC at the moment (close to his home too).
Don't forget they have sampson coming in next season and he is supposed to be even better than harkless. But Obekpa probably doesn't know that.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G9w1l3zg6I&feature=fvst[/ame]
^that is a highlight reel of sampson the kid can get off the floor and im not looking forward for him to be in the big east.
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david aka the TYZ
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Could be wrong but I believe Mitchell was kicked off the team after several second chances with Cronin.
JasonS
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Chris Obekpa remains one of the most coveted uncommitted recruits of the late signing period.
The 6-foot-9 shot-blocker from Our Savior New American took an official to St. John’s this past weekend and will next head to Oregon.
“Chris enjoyed his official visit to St Johns this past weekend,” Our Savior assistant Eric Jaklitsch said by email. “He had been to campus and games a few times but there is only so much you can do on an unofficial visit. He had the chance to watch workouts on Friday and then went out to dinner with the coaching staff and JaKarr Sampson at night. The next day he was able to take a tour of Madison Square Garden and see some sites around New York City he had not seen before. At night he was able to hangout with the coaches and JaKarr while watching the NCAA tournament games.”
The Johnnies have landed Sampson and 6-3 wing Felix Balamou, Obekpa’s high school teammate, and would love to add Obekpa as a shot-blocking big in the Big East.
“St Johns needs him to come in and play up front,” Jaklitsch said. “They only had one big guy this year with God’sGift [Achiuwa] so adding frontcourt players was one of their priorities. They would play Chris to his strengths which are rebounding and shot-blocking.
“Chris is a much better offensive player than most of the public thinks. All of the coaches realize that he has a good offensive skills. He can pass the ball very well, he is unselfish around the basket and always looks for cutters. He has good form on his jumper. He just needs to make a few minor adjustments. St John’s is going to play fast and that is what Chris is capable of doing. He is one of the top interior defenders in the country with a enormous upside on his offensive game. [Head coach Steve] Lavin would love to have him and Jakaar play next to each other.”
Jaklitsch stressed that Obekpa’s situation is separate and apart from Balamou’s.
“Felix’s recruitment was separate from Chris’s,” Jaklitsch said. “St John’s recruited Felix just like any of their other recruits. Lavin saw enough of him every time he came to see Chris that he fell in love with Felix’s game. A lot of schools started getting involved at the end but the kid wanted to stay in New York City. Chris was happy for Felix when he committed to St John’s.
“The two of them played Sunday and Monday night in the historic CYP tournament in Portchester, N.Y., and are in the finals tonight at 7:30. Felix scored 19 and 28 points and Chris had 25 points and 13 points in each of the two games. They are trying to win the championship tonight.”
Obekpa will be in New Orleans this weekend and competing in the All-American Championship Game for the East team.
Obekpa has visited Providence and UConn. Next up is an official visit to Oregon.
“They have been recruiting him hard the past several months and he wants to go see what the school is all about,” Jaklitsch said. “He has seen them play on TV a few times this year and likes their style of play. He knows one of their current recruits in point guard Dominic Artis from the Lebron James Skills Academy. He will still have one remaining visit after that but hasn’t decided on where he will visit yet. ”
http://www.zagsblog.com/2012/03/27/obekpa-visits-johnnies-oregon-up-next/
The 6-foot-9 shot-blocker from Our Savior New American took an official to St. John’s this past weekend and will next head to Oregon.
“Chris enjoyed his official visit to St Johns this past weekend,” Our Savior assistant Eric Jaklitsch said by email. “He had been to campus and games a few times but there is only so much you can do on an unofficial visit. He had the chance to watch workouts on Friday and then went out to dinner with the coaching staff and JaKarr Sampson at night. The next day he was able to take a tour of Madison Square Garden and see some sites around New York City he had not seen before. At night he was able to hangout with the coaches and JaKarr while watching the NCAA tournament games.”
The Johnnies have landed Sampson and 6-3 wing Felix Balamou, Obekpa’s high school teammate, and would love to add Obekpa as a shot-blocking big in the Big East.
“St Johns needs him to come in and play up front,” Jaklitsch said. “They only had one big guy this year with God’sGift [Achiuwa] so adding frontcourt players was one of their priorities. They would play Chris to his strengths which are rebounding and shot-blocking.
“Chris is a much better offensive player than most of the public thinks. All of the coaches realize that he has a good offensive skills. He can pass the ball very well, he is unselfish around the basket and always looks for cutters. He has good form on his jumper. He just needs to make a few minor adjustments. St John’s is going to play fast and that is what Chris is capable of doing. He is one of the top interior defenders in the country with a enormous upside on his offensive game. [Head coach Steve] Lavin would love to have him and Jakaar play next to each other.”
Jaklitsch stressed that Obekpa’s situation is separate and apart from Balamou’s.
“Felix’s recruitment was separate from Chris’s,” Jaklitsch said. “St John’s recruited Felix just like any of their other recruits. Lavin saw enough of him every time he came to see Chris that he fell in love with Felix’s game. A lot of schools started getting involved at the end but the kid wanted to stay in New York City. Chris was happy for Felix when he committed to St John’s.
“The two of them played Sunday and Monday night in the historic CYP tournament in Portchester, N.Y., and are in the finals tonight at 7:30. Felix scored 19 and 28 points and Chris had 25 points and 13 points in each of the two games. They are trying to win the championship tonight.”
Obekpa will be in New Orleans this weekend and competing in the All-American Championship Game for the East team.
Obekpa has visited Providence and UConn. Next up is an official visit to Oregon.
“They have been recruiting him hard the past several months and he wants to go see what the school is all about,” Jaklitsch said. “He has seen them play on TV a few times this year and likes their style of play. He knows one of their current recruits in point guard Dominic Artis from the Lebron James Skills Academy. He will still have one remaining visit after that but hasn’t decided on where he will visit yet. ”
http://www.zagsblog.com/2012/03/27/obekpa-visits-johnnies-oregon-up-next/
JasonS
Football Moderator
I think it will be really telling if we get the final official visit from Obekpa. If not, I think it will be safe to say he isn't coming to UC. I know he was here for a game earlier but apparently, according to Zagoria, that was an unofficial visit.
There ya go mdchick, it appears Obekpa does know about Sampson and St. John's is not only not hiding it, but selling it. Being a dominant freshman duo and playing with your high school teammate does sound pretty good. Hopefully when they went out to dinner to watch tournament games Chris took notice that ST JOHNS WASNT IN IT and the cats were.
Here's to hoping...
Here's to hoping...
JackBauer151
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I just asked Adam to clarify Obekpa's visits and he said that he has taken "Official" visits to Depaul, Cincy, and St. Johns. "Unofficial" visits to UCONN and Providence. So his 4th official will be to Oregon with one remaining.....
JasonS
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Thanks
I have heard Oregon will be his last visit and he'll make his decision afterwards (signing day in April). I think UC is his current favorite, it is telling that he didn't commit to St. Johns after they pulled out all the stops to get him, or he could be sticking to his initial word that he is waiting til signing day.
obekpa probably wouldn't start over gods gift achuiwa Sam Sealy is another freshman who is the same size as obekpa, where as if he was on our team he and jj could be interchangeable and he could be very vaulable to us this year, and i don't know if he would play as much at St. Johns than if he played here.
bearcat jeff
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With or without Obekpa this team will be very good. I'd like to sign him because I think he is an impact player. But if we don't there are other players and Mick will get someone who'll be ready this season or next. With 11 players returning this is not a make or break class. Sign guys who can play and have potential to step up next season if you can't get what you want.
obekpa will have way more competition for time here. we might be only playing 1 big next year if thomas starts at the 4. that leaves him, jackson, ellis, gaines, rubles fighting for time.
Now that you bring this up I was wondering how a coach handles this with recruiting. How does Mick tell Obepka he could start right away without trivializing his current players? You can't really guarantee any playing time...and certainly not a starting spot...although I am sure some coaches do. How does he sell playing time when he has Mooj, JJ, Rubles, Ellis, and Gaines?
Also I agree with you about the competition at the 4/5 spot which is why I thought we only needed one big unless we are losing one to transfer or something. I can't see us red-shirting on of those guys. Unless we go two bigs all the time...that 4th position could be split evenly between PF's, wings, and guards. IMO we have to start (or give the most time to) the next best player on the court at the 4 be it a 1,2,3 or 4. I don't mind the thought of returning more to a traditional 2 big offense as long as one of those operates outside the lane for the most part and can handle the rock and slash or shoot on the perimeter. I don't see Mooj, Gaines or Obepka playing that roll. Although Mooj was supposed to have an outside shot when he came here.
bearcat jeff
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Cincinnati is right there still. The Oregon trip could be big. UC/St. Johns imo at this point.
JackBauer151
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I agree with Jeff that this team is going to be very good next year regardless of how recruiting shapes out. I think our personnel fits the type of style we want to play even better with additions of Shaq, Oct, and Titus. We will be scary long. I mean like Syracuse long on the back end. Imagine the 3,4, and 5 spots being taken by Jackson, Ellis, and Shaq. You could insert Titus, Kelvin, and possibly Obekpa in those spots as well. Obviously not discounting that our 3 veteran guards will be getting a huge chunk of the minutes but it will be fun to see all the athleticism out there. What did we do to win games this year? Get 40 deflections and take care of the ball. 3 veteran guards to take care of the ball and that kind of size and length behind them to get deflections (Not to mention cash set the school record this year for steals) I am super excited about next years bearcats.
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