'12 NY PF Christopher Obekpa

[bearcat jeff]

Cincinnati has placed itself in good position. If Hammons is 1 he is 1A. great job by the staff to build a strong relationship.

 

[anbuc88]

Cincinnati has placed itself in good position. If Hammons is 1 he is 1A. great job by the staff to build a strong relationship.

Jeff, do you think that the staff is looking to take one of these 2 (Hammons or Obepka) or will they accept both players if they commit. Any idea when we might expect an announcement that someone (anyone?) has commited to the Cats. Thanks.

 

[bearcat jeff]

Actually felt we had a decent chance of hearing something in regard to Hammons by mid October. I know they are working extremely hard to land one of these two bigs.

With Jackson, Moog, Ellis and Gaines returning the best case scenario would be to sign a big guard and a low post player. It keeps the post somewhat balanced and the backcourt as well.

 

[Thegreatone]

Do you guys know how lucky we are to have bearcatjeff?

I google a players name and look for bearcattalk because I know I can read info on the recruit with video's.

I have OSU fans that check BCT to get info on both football and basketball recruits.

 

[Bearcat04]

Flashbacks to all the recruits we've lost to UConn.

OBEKPA TO VISIT UCONN

Chris Obekpa, a 6-9 forward from Our Savior New American, will take an unofficial visit Thursday to UConn, per Our Savior assistant Eric Jaklitsch.

Obekpa has already taken an unofficial to Providence, but cannot take any official visits until his SAT results come in from the Oct. 1 test.

Obekpa will also be at St. John’s Midnight Madness Friday night, along with St. John’s commits Amir Garrett, Ricardo Gathers and Darrick Wood. Cardozo 2013 forward Jermaine Lawrence will also be among those in attendance, per coach Ron Naclerio, as will 2013 wing Jason Boswell of Trinity (Conn.) Catholic.

http://www.zagsblog.com/2011/10/14/ibeh-to-texas-smith-rivera-to-announce-saturday/#more-59340

 

[bearcat jeff]

Do you guys know how lucky we are to have bearcatjeff?

I google a players name and look for bearcattalk because I know I can read info on the recruit with video's.

I have OSU fans that check BCT to get info on both football and basketball recruits.

Thanks G1! Guess my mid Oct guess was fairly accurate though it didn't go our way. Would like to see UC make a run at Staphon Blair out of Florida and they may make a hard charge at Tevin Glass out of Georgia. My thought is Obekpa will be a tough get with UConn lurking. Not impossible but tough.

 

[dp3113]

Thanks G1! Guess my mid Oct guess was fairly accurate though it didn't go our way. Would like to see UC make a run at Staphon Blair out of Florida and they may make a hard charge at Tevin Glass out of Georgia. My thought is Obekpa will be a tough get with UConn lurking. Not impossible but tough.

are those guys that we are already involved with? glass's name sounds familiar....what is the story with them?

 

[bearcat jeff]

They have reached out to Glass. Southern boy with what is probably a southern lean but he is listed as having a medium interest in UC. Blair I like and hope they make an inroad. Has some really nice programs after him.

 

[JackBauer151]

It’s not hard to understand why Chris Obekpa is drawing so much high Division 1 interest and why defending national champion UConn will host him for an unofficial visit Thursday.

The 6-foot-9 Obekpa is a natural rebounder and shot-blocker who had a huge weekend for Our Savior New American at the IS8 playoffs in Queens.

In an 82-72 quarterfinal win over Sports University Sunday, Obekpa posted 11 points, 18 rebounds and nine blocks.

That followed a triple-double Saturday against Primetime Prep in which he tallied 10 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks.

“He played terrific,” New York recruiting expert Tom Konchalski said.

Obekpa and Our Savior will meet the Panthers in one semifinal Saturday at 11 a.m., while the Playaz will take on Mount Vernon in the other semifinal at 12:30.

The final is set for 11 a.m. Sunday.

UCLA, Cincinnati, Seton Hall, St. John’s, Florida and Georgia Tech are also involved with Obekpa, who cannot take any official visits until the results from his Oct. 1 SAT come in.

http://www.zagsblog.com/2011/10/17/big-weekend-for-chris-obekpa-at-is8/

 

[bearcat jeff]

UConn has had some serious talent visiting. They're going to be good no matter what league they end up in if they land a few of them.

 

[bearcat jeff]

Mick and Coach Savino have really worked hard on Obekpa but I still believe at this moment he ends up in the Northeast. Don't see much of an option but to look to the juco ranks. There are some decent options there to add depth if not a game changer. Wouldn't surprise me if look to add a point and a big if they land 2 decent bigs or 1 big and a good wing guard. If they signed a point it would allow Davis to play some 2.

 

[JackBauer151]

I know you cant really judge a class until they show up on campus and get on the floor but this is shaping up to be a disappointing class. I thought after our recent success on the court and recruiting trail we would have taken a step forward. I know there is still time and the recruiting process is fluid but I have to say I expected more for this class.....

 

[bearcat jeff]

I know you cant really judge a class until they show up on campus and get on the floor but this is shaping up to be a disappointing class. I thought after our recent success on the court and recruiting trail we would have taken a step forward. I know there is still time and the recruiting process is fluid but I have to say I expected more for this class.....

Don't see how you can say that when both signing periods are yet to come. I could understand saying"I'm disappointed we haven't signed anyone" but your statement makes no sense at this point.

 

[Bearcat04]

I can see where he is coming from. Coming off of Mick's first tournament appearance I think everyone expected recruiting to get a boost, but it doesn't seem to have happened, at least not for the 2012 class. There is still plenty of time left, but outside of Obekpa and Hawkins I haven't seen UC mentioned a whole lot. Maybe Mick can find another diamond in the rough like Kilpatrick. I just figured we'd be more of a player for top 50 guys after last year's success.

 

[JackBauer151]

No I see what you mean. I understand that both signing periods have yet to come. What I should have said is that I am disappointed that all of our "top" targets have chosen else where up to this point. Just want to see our bearcats continue upward and dont want to see us having to settle for a player because we were unable to get the guys we wanted....

 

[bearcat jeff]

I can see where he is coming from. Coming off of Mick's first tournament appearance I think everyone expected recruiting to get a boost, but it doesn't seem to have happened, at least not for the 2012 class. There is still plenty of time left, but outside of Obekpa and Hawkins I haven't seen UC mentioned a whole lot. Maybe Mick can find another diamond in the rough like Kilpatrick. I just figured we'd be more of a player for top 50 guys after last year's success.

You are coming off one year of success after 4 down years and competing against schools for top 50 players that have had a string of success. plus, it's not like they went to the elite 8 or final four. Soooo important to make the tournament again and maintain success. Plus UC doesn't get the pub of other schools, even less than Xavier gets nationally. There are many factors. Personally I have not been disappointed yet. Not disappointed at not signing Hammons. It'll all work out in the end.

 

[Bearcat04]

You are coming off one year of success after 4 down years and competing against schools for top 50 players that have had a string of success. plus, it's not like they went to the elite 8 or final four. Soooo important to make the tournament again and maintain success. Plus UC doesn't get the pub of other schools, even less than Xavier gets nationally. There are many factors. Personally I have not been disappointed yet. Not disappointed at not signing Hammons. It'll all work out in the end.

Just one year of success on the court, but I've always thought Mick has held his own in recruiting. I just thought this might be the year to finally land another top recruit after a few years of making a number of final lists. I'm not disappointed either. I trust Mick's eye for talent. I just didn't expect him to have to dig as deep again this year.

 

[TheLongHaul]

I agree, and I mentioned it early. At this point in time, the 2012 class is looking like it won't be anything special. Still could find a hidden gem and I hope they do, but I thought they'd get at least one of their top recruits.

 

[bearcat jeff]

Chris Obekpa, one of the most sought after big men in the Class of 2012, will wait until the spring signing period in April.

“Yes, Chris is going to sign in the spring,” Our Savior New American assistant Eric Jaklitsch told SNY.tv after Obekpa helped New York crush New Jersey, 133-101, in the Sharette Dixon Classic at Bishop Loughlin High School.

Earlier in the day, the 6-foot-9 Obekpa had eight points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks as Our Savior lost a heartbreaker to the New York Panthers, 77-76, in the IS8 semifinals in Queens.

Obekpa, a native of Nigeria, is considering a slew of high-major programs, including UConn, Providence, Cincinnati, UCLA, St. John’s, Georgia Tech, Florida and Kentucky. Kentucky has yet to offer.

He rescheduled an unofficial visit to UConn and will head up there sometime next week.

Obekpa is aware that UConn has produced a slew of pro big men, including several of African descent — Emeka Okafor, Hasheem Thabeet and Charles Okwandu.

“I know a bunch of the big men that went there …like the Africans,” he said.

Does that make UConn more appealing?

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, and the championship team,” he said, referring to UConn’s NCAA title.

Still, the big man is in no hurry to make a decision and plans to make several visits before deciding in the spring.

“I want to visit every school,” he said.

http://www.zagsblog.com/2011/10/22/nigerian-big-man-chris-obekpa-to-sign-late/

 

[bearcat jeff]

Chris “The Game Changer” Obekpa (Our Savior New American / 2012) – Standing 6’9” 200 pounds, Obekpa is the premier shot blocker in the 2012 class. He has long arms, explosive leaping ability, and outstanding natural instincts which allow him to have complete control of the paint on the defensive end of the floor. Easily eclipsing double figures in rejections for the game, Obekpa altered or blocked every shot taken within 10 feet. By the second half the opposition entered the paint solely looking to pass because challenging Obekpa at the rim was a completely fruitless effort. Offensively, Obekpa currently relies only on dunks and layups, can’t put the ball on the floor, and has little or no back to the basket game. He is a beast in transition because of his athleticism but in a half court set put backs are his only scoring chances. Even without an offensive game, I would still consider Obekpa a top 25 player nationally in the 2012 class because he is so dominant defensively. He should be able to step in and be a top class shot blocker and paint enforcer at the high major level immediately.

http://www.nbebasketball.com/w3/2011-1024/fall-is8-crowns-2011-champions/