'12 NY PF Christopher Obekpa
- Thread starter bearcat jeff
- Start date
Help Support BearcatTalk:
- Status
bearcat jeff
Hoops Moderator
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2010
- Messages
- 7,502
Hilarious, now Larry Brown and SMU are trying to get him on campus. WOW! Move on Mick.
Lobot
Well-known member
SMU bothers me. There are a lot of Nigerians in Dallas for starters second Larry Brown is very good teacher and I think that Obekpa would be smart to listen to him. Brown will make him a pro IMO.With Mick or Lavin it'll up to Obekpa to push himself. With SMU it's up to Larry Brown.
david aka the TYZ
Well-known member
My personal take on this, and it is just an opinion and a hunch, is I feel sorry for Obepka. I think he's had the misfortune of running into some people who he has been forced to put his trust into. He's from another country and is probably stuck in relying on the few people who are physically close to him (his high school coach and his "handlers" who may be one and the same). I think these people aren't really concerned with what he really wants and are using his talents to give themselves a payday, whether it be now or in the future. While they do seem to be doing everything to improve his abilities and stock, I have to wonder if Obepka has any say in all of this and if maybe he feels obligated somehow to these people. I hope everything works out for him in the end and I'd love to see him here, but I just have a fear that he is being oversold and if his handlers try to cash out too quickly he will not amount to anything. What we know is he has a natural raw ability as a defensive shot-blocker. Offensively he is flawed at best and the rest of his defense is still raw. With proper time and coaching he could be good and could develop into an NBA talent. He is not that now. As far as him getting paid to go to college, it seems clear his handlers are pushing that but it also seems clear they aren't getting any offers (otherwise I think he'd have signed with whatever team offered him something). We all know violations happen and kids are getting benefits, but I'm not sure this kid is good enough for a team to take that risk, especially since he doesn't seem to be an immediate difference maker. If his handlers force his hand into a quick payday (one and done type of deal) he could very easy fizzle out. Many players leave early who aren't ready, many of them do so because they are overhyped and have people in their ears. This whole situation seems destined for that and I feel sad for him if that is the case. I wish this kid the best.
So, Lavin and Cronin isn't capable of making Obekpa a better player, but Larry Brown is capable of making him a better player?
I also think Brown, more than likely, would make him a better player, but I certainly wouldn't shortchange Lavin nor Cronin.
Check out Lavin's track record when it comes to players heading to the NBA under his watch. Not to mention, Mike Dunlap and Rico Hines are very, respected when it comes to teaching.
Lobot
Well-known member
Not what I said re: Mick and Steve. I believe Brown holds a clear advantage in the the teaching dept.
Are far as Lavin goes he's a good recruiter but not much of a bench coach IMO. His track record for pro players includes recruiting for UCLA, which frankly is pretty easy considering the program history and Harkless.
Say what you want, but Lavin's overall W-L record and track record of sending players to the NBA speaks for itself.
Once again, go look up info on Mike Dunlap and Rico Hines, and see what coaches and players have to say about them.
Agree. Something smells fishy with this whole situation. When SJU goes on probation down the road, we will all be glad we didn't get him.
Also agree with someone else's comments about feeling sorry for the kid. Seems like the decision is not his, but those he feels indebted to. Which also makes the whole thing sketchy.
Btown Bearcat
Well-known member
give me a break
So if he comes to uc he was recruited by rules but if he goes to st johns or any where else its because of money? thats about the dumbest thing ive ever heard. it cant just be that cronin was out recruited thats not possible i guess
So if he comes to uc he was recruited by rules but if he goes to st johns or any where else its because of money? thats about the dumbest thing ive ever heard. it cant just be that cronin was out recruited thats not possible i guess
probation for what? even if they are paying him as some believe or allege, they aren't going to get caught. hundreds of college basketball players are getting paid. programs/boosters/coaches doing that know what they are doing. that stuff is air tight with no paper trail.
I've already sent my letter to the NCAA alleging recruiting violations by Slick Steve at SJU's. Hopefully they do the right thing and give them the death penalty.
Bcatfollower
Well-known member
Cronin getting out recruited for his main target... shocker.
bearcat jeff
Hoops Moderator
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2010
- Messages
- 7,502
My point isn't that at all. It's that with everything surrounding this I think there is too much gray so move on. Chris has said UC and St. Johns are the top two so no one is out recruited but he did say he'd like to stay close to home and you can do nothing about geography.
NYC baller
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 31, 2012
- Messages
- 64
I've already sent my letter to the NCAA alleging recruiting violations by Slick Steve at SJU's. Hopefully they do the right thing and give them the death penalty.
The letter should seal the deal! Good job.
TheLongHaul
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2009
- Messages
- 3,036
As a recruiter you can make it so geography isn't any issue by making sure the recruit feels like the coaches/players are his family. If he doesn't want to go to UC because it is too far away from "home" then Mick should have removed himself a long time ago. However, as has been said before, "home" is in Nigeria. What family does he have in NY?
Thegreatone
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2010
- Messages
- 3,187
Maybe he is tired of moving around all the time.
Mick is a basketball coach not a foster parent. Some kids just dont want to go away for college. I would have never have gone out of state for college for any reason that wasn't a full ride to Harvard (which I just missed btw)
Mick is a basketball coach not a foster parent. Some kids just dont want to go away for college. I would have never have gone out of state for college for any reason that wasn't a full ride to Harvard (which I just missed btw)
TheLongHaul
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2009
- Messages
- 3,036
Yea, I'm sure someone from Nigeria is concerned with going out of the state of NY for college.
And in a lot of ways Mick is a foster parent. If you don't understand the relationships college coaches have with these players and the fact that a lot of these players don't have much of a family at home, then I don't know what to tell you.
As SK put it re: Cronin
"He’s like a father figure to us when our dads aren’t around"
And in a lot of ways Mick is a foster parent. If you don't understand the relationships college coaches have with these players and the fact that a lot of these players don't have much of a family at home, then I don't know what to tell you.
As SK put it re: Cronin
"He’s like a father figure to us when our dads aren’t around"
No point in trying to convince you not to be so pessimistic about are recruiting anymore huh?
BearcatMick
Well-known member
Guys mick is one of the best recruiters in the country but obekpa is a lost cause. Let lavin or brown pay for him. Mick is not going to start breaking the rules and commit NCAA violations. He has integrity
Mick will find another great player and in a year you'll be saying "Wow, Mick was right. I'm glad we didn't get Obekpa"
Mick will find another great player and in a year you'll be saying "Wow, Mick was right. I'm glad we didn't get Obekpa"
- Status
