'12 NY PF Christopher Obekpa

[mplebanon]

Is Oregon where Michelle Obama's brother coaches? Read somewhere they got a huge check from the government. Maybe they got a huge check waiting for Obekpa? LOL.

On the serious side, just read on Bearcat Banter that some poster just read a story on rivals where Obekpa's handlers are telling him to not sign at all and wait and see if there are other options that pop up. He didn't post a link, so it may be made up.

 

[handwaver]

I've just grown a little irritated at myself, that I actually gave some credence to some of the folks that post here and act like they have some kind of information that anyone who reads doesn't.

I've been smart enough to ignore them in the past, forgot my own advice, but will start anew, and as the Who said: "we won't get fooled again"!

 

[Doogle]

If your sanity is being stretched thin, just assume Obekpa is going elsewhere. Then, if he decides to come here, it's a nice surprise!

It's been a lean year for the 'Cats, recruiting wise. Everyone is just craving something new to keep the juices flowing. Once the roster is set then we can enjoy speculating about the rotations, look forward to summer league, etc.

For college hoops fans, this is pretty much the worst time of the year. Keep your heads up though, time has a way of speeding up. I remember the excruciating springs and summers of my 20s, waiting on the next hoop season. Now, I blink and it's midnight madness again.

Many thanks to our football program for giving us something to look forward to between now and then.

 

[bobbrannen]

It is a shame how the "handlers" are having any weight with a kids decision.
Maybe the NCAA should stop worrying about how to make money on college but also take over the AAU circuit and clean it up.
Then in the perfect world guys would go to school for the school..

 

[Bcatfollower]

It is a shame how the "handlers" are having any weight with a kids decision.
Maybe the NCAA should stop worrying about how to make money on college but also take over the AAU circuit and clean it up.
Then in the perfect world guys would go to school for the school..

Maybe the handlers do have his best interest in mind and they truly believe that there are better options that U.C.. Maybe he would like to go to school that has recent success in grooming players for the NBA if he feels he can reach that level...who knows? I mean, of course we are all biased because we are U.C. fans... so I really hope he comes, but I wouldn't be surprised in Mick can't land him.

 

[Eternal E]

Is Oregon where Michelle Obama's brother coaches? Read somewhere they got a huge check from the government. Maybe they got a huge check waiting for Obekpa? LOL.

On the serious side, just read on Bearcat Banter that some poster just read a story on rivals where Obekpa's handlers are telling him to not sign at all and wait and see if there are other options that pop up. He didn't post a link, so it may be made up.

Oregon State, not Oregon.

 

[bearcatrunner]

Completely agree.

I keep hearing that his recruitment has gotten ridiculous. How? I don't remember him naming different favorites every week or adding new teams to his list out of the blue. I don't remember him announcing a date for his decision and then backing off of it. All along he said he was going to announce in late-singing period and that's exactly what he's doing. Again, there are 5 other consensus top 100 players that have yet to decide. On these message boards sometimes we act like he's doing something outrageous by waiting, and even more so some act like he owes it to us to hurry up and pick a school.

These are all good points except the whole 5 other crap. I guess we just wish the kid would go ahead and pick us. Just would hate to be left not going to the prom without a date because he picked someone else. I feel like his friends (handlers) are telling him we are too ugly to take to the prom. I thought our new uniforms, top 25 ranking, top Big East Academics standing, preseason hype for next year would get us at least a few votes for prom king. Oh well I guess we will see soon enough. I just don't like the whole second fiddle feeling I am getting.

 

[Doogle]

The biggest down side is that Mick has to continue the pursuit personally, which ostensibly is taking him away from recruiting kids in the '13 and '14 classes. Savino and other guys are involved as well and maybe they are just putting in extra hours, I'm just saying that every moment spent on Obekpa is a moment lost on somebody else. The staff is having to work twice as hard for this guy, he'd better be worth it.

 

[mdchick]

The biggest down side is that Mick has to continue the pursuit personally, which ostensibly is taking him away from recruiting kids in the '13 and '14 classes. Savino and other guys are involved as well and maybe they are just putting in extra hours, I'm just saying that every moment spent on Obekpa is a moment lost on somebody else. The staff is having to work twice as hard for this guy, he'd better be worth it.

Mick is still recruiting other people, he's done all he can do with obekpa, mick has all summer to recruit kids playing AAU, AAU doesn't really pick up until july, because thats when the best teams play each other in tournaments..... and if obekpa doesnt sign by may 15 then theres nothing mick can really do.

 

[bearcat jeff]

The biggest down side is that Mick has to continue the pursuit personally, which ostensibly is taking him away from recruiting kids in the '13 and '14 classes. Savino and other guys are involved as well and maybe they are just putting in extra hours, I'm just saying that every moment spent on Obekpa is a moment lost on somebody else. The staff is having to work twice as hard for this guy, he'd better be worth it.

Not true. Mick has been personally involved with other kids from other classes. Mick is a tireless worker. If he loses a recruit it isn't because he didn't put time into his target.

 

[Doogle]

Not questioning his work ethic. I'm saying every second spent on Obekpa is taking away from recruiting another kid. A day is 24 hours long and there's only so much work that can be done no matter how hard one goes at it. If Obekpa makes a choice, that's time that can be spent on another recruit. Mick is busting his rear, I'm sure, but he can't conjure time out of thin air. The best he can do is prioritize and economize. The man hours on Obekpa are piling up in a major way because we know Mick is still going full tilt on this guy.

According to the csnbbs site, Chad Brendel is reporting that Oregon might be getting that visit after all. Chad says that their fears of not being able to get Obekpa to stay out west appear to have been alleviated. Again, I know nothing, but from the outside-in it would have all the trappings of a guy (or his handlers) looking for the best "deal". Can't imagine the Ducks have recruited him half as long or hard as Mick has, yet this Oregon thing has been going on for what seems like an eternity.

Thankfully, I've written this particular player off, so if he indeed chooses UC down the road I'll be pleasantly surprised

 

[Bearcat22]

I'm not sure anyone can confidently say they know what's going on with Obekpa's recruitment. I'm not familiar with the world of AAU, handlers, Nike - Adidas turf wars, etc.

If we can get this kid, it will be great. If not, maybe they fact that we recruited a big man so hard will serve as some motivation for our current bigs.

Whoever we get, I'm hoping for the type of player that saw that Cats - Fla St. NCAA game and said I want to be a part of that. We'll go far kids like that.

 

[Hicks' Guns]

Link:

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/05/08/rothstein-files-five-quick-hits-on-college-hoops/

Excerpt

4. CHRIS OBEKPA WILL BE A STARTER WHEREVER HE PLAYS NEXT SEASON

And all signs still point towards the shot blocker winding up at Cincinnati despite Oregon, Providence, and DePaul remaining somewhat involved. After watching the 6-foot-9 big man in person on Sunday in Queens at IS8, Obekpa really reminds me of Theo Ratliff when the former NBA big man was at Wyoming.

A freak athlete with unbelievable timing, Obekpa is perfect for any team that likes to pressure the ball with regularity. Should Obekpa opt to play for Mick Cronin and the Bearcats as many anticipate, he’ll immediately step in for Yancy Gates as Cincinnati’s starting five man.

 

[Hicks' Guns]

Grant it, I don't know the process as well as some on this Board, but it's hard to believe he's not holding out for something that he believes is better than his current options.

 

[bearcat jeff]

Grant it, I don't know the process as well as some on this Board, but it's hard to believe he's not holding out for something that he believes is better than his current options.

It's kinda hard to argue the logic. They "really" want the Oregon visit. If it happens who knows, but they want it.

 

[Doogle]

There is no benefit, long term, to playing in Eugene. Despite the coming Pac-12 Network, there is very little exposure anywhere that matters, the competition has diminished (in spite of UCLA's recruiting efforts), and last I checked, Dana Altman runs a fairly structured system. Great facilities aside, Oregon is one of the last places I'd want to go if I were used to, and liked, the East Coast.

UC has the pedigree, coming off a Sweet 16, and in immediate need of the exact kind of skill set Obekpa has. Honestly, it seems like more and more evidence is tilting this thing toward his handlers looking for some sort of payday. Maybe they see themselves as some poor man's version of World Wide Wes, who knows.

Good luck to the young man. I wish him well no matter what.

 

[bearcat jeff]

Jon Rothstein‏@JonRothstein

Others involved, but the Bearcats are strong RT @ferruccij Other than Cincinnati, who else has a good shot at Obekpa?

 

[bearcat18]

Obekpa chris ‏ @christopherewao
Oregon,providence,depaul and cincinatti... Who should get the commit...

 

[JackBauer151]

Finally, a decision is on the horizon. Lock it down Bearcats!

 

[bearcat18]

Now this:

Obekpa chris ‏ @christopherewao
What bout st johns nd UCONN... What u think bout them... Good looks too