Christopher Obekpa - PF - Our Savior New American - Centereach, NY - ST. JOHN'S

Quote from: Moose on November 22, 2012, 01:37:37 PM

Quote from: Poison on November 22, 2012, 01:36:13 PM

Obekpa will be a solid 4 year player.

Nah.  No way he sees Senior year.  That's all I can confidently say.

There's a lot of NBA talent here for a team that struggled to beat Holy Cross.

  You know one has nothing to do with the other, right?

Quote from: Moose on November 22, 2012, 01:37:37 PM

Quote from: Poison on November 22, 2012, 01:36:13 PM

Obekpa will be a solid 4 year player.

Nah.  No way he sees Senior year.  That's all I can confidently say.

There's a lot of NBA talent here for a team that struggled to beat Holy Cross.

Sampson and Obekpa have NBA potential. It doesn't mean a team of underclassmen will excel however.

 Sampson could be one of these kids that really enjoys playing college ball.  I could see it. He has that enthusiasm.  That said, I'd be ecstatic if he was here as a JR.

 Obekpa  I hope stays for 3.  He would be so much more polished offensively and ready.  Who knows.

 We should just enjoy them while they are here.

http://www.nbadraft.net/2014mock_draft

In a recent mock draft for 2014 he's projected to go in the 1st round and D' Lo is projected at #33 (2nd Round)

Obekpa will be here 2 years if not 3.  He's Gorgiu Dieng #2 but even a better natural shot blocker IMO.  Obekpa needs strength and to develop some offense.  I think he'll end up possibly being the best center SJU  has ever had if he stays in school 3 years.  Certainly not close to NBA ready yet, but I don't see him staying til senior season. 

I've always said Obekpa was the best freshman shot locker in the country and it's becoming obvious quickly.  I think he leads the Big East right now.

Need a full season against elite D1 teams to gauge.

Cause right now, he aint goin anywhere. And thats no disrespct to his talents. Just reality.

He's an incredible shot blocker but he is not a well-rounded post defender yet.  He is not a good rebounder for his size/position.  Two years of physical maturation (Ibaka might have 50 lbs of muscle on him) and experience against NBA-sized guys will go a long way. 

A back to the basket game on offense wouldn't hurt his pro prospects, either.

Need a full season against elite D1 teams to gauge.

Cause right now, he aint goin anywhere. And thats no disrespct to his talents. Just reality.

Agree.  Unless they are also exceptional OFFENSIVE players as well, shot blockers tend to stay in college a while.

An interesting player to watch in the D-League will be Anthony Stover - the UCLA player dropped from the team for academics this fall.   Tho playing only 9 minutes a game as a redshirt soph last season, the 6'10 Stover was the Pac 12's #4 shot blocker (39).   Stover has won a roster spot with the LA D-Fenders of the D-League in open tryouts.     Like Obekpa, he's percieved as a "one-trick pony"...if that "trick" translates into D-league success, could be an indicator for players like Chris.

But it has always seemed to me that if you have a kid who's an exceptional shot blocker, that offensive potential SHOULD be there.   The timing, the hand-eye coordination, the footwork, the athleticism needed to BE an elite shot blocker seems like it SHOULD easily translate to the offensive side...

Agree Cr that CO has fine potential offensively. He has decent shooting form, good hands, passes well, does not force things and appears to assimilate things quickly. Like fine wine, he just needs some maturation.

Both Obekpa and Sampson should even mention the NBA. It's straight up insane at this point.

Both Obekpa and Sampson should even mention the NBA. It's straight up insane at this point.

I agree.  I really do.   Trouble is, the NBA IS freaking insane.   Tony Wroten and Fab Melo are first round picks?  Terrence Ross is a LOTTERY pick?

Quote from: Poison on November 23, 2012, 03:30:34 PM

Both Obekpa and Sampson should even mention the NBA. It's straight up insane at this point.

I agree.  I really do.   Trouble is, the NBA IS freaking insane.   Tony Wroten and Fab Melo are first round picks?  Terrence Ross is a LOTTERY pick?

But the flip side is getting kids to the NBA is a recruiting advantage.

Quote from: crgreen on November 23, 2012, 03:47:15 PM

Quote from: Poison on November 23, 2012, 03:30:34 PM

Both Obekpa and Sampson should even mention the NBA. It's straight up insane at this point.

I agree.  I really do.   Trouble is, the NBA IS freaking insane.   Tony Wroten and Fab Melo are first round picks?  Terrence Ross is a LOTTERY pick?

But the flip side is getting kids to the NBA is a recruiting advantage.

Man, Moose, you are FAST! 

I agree as well.   It is insane these kids are GETTING to the NBA after  6 pt 4 reb seasons (Drummond was lotto?) - but it is happening.   And it is the exposure of those jumps that breeds the next round of signings at the college level.

I just REALLY miss the days when you had to actually ACCOMPLISH something to EARN a scholarship, and then accomplish MORE to GET an NBA look.   There are Nerlens Noels out there who are getting 12 pts 8 rebs in high school, leading there teams to NOTHING, getting 10 pts 6 rebs in college, who are likely going to be top 3 NBA picks.   Potential, yes.  Accomplishment?  Zilch.   

Both Obekpa and Sampson should even mention the NBA. It's straight up insane at this point.

 True, but i'm pretty sure you were saying the same thing about Harkless after 4-5 games last season.

 It's also just reality.  Most non athletes will get their degree in 4 years, and if they are lucky, get a job.  With that, it will still take them 5-10 years to make what Harkless and these other one and done's will make in 1 year.

 It is reality. It's the only reason a lot of these kids are in college. Prep for the NBA. They will jump at the first chance.

http://www.nbadraft.net/2014mock_draft

In a recent mock draft for 2014 he's projected to go in the 1st round and D' Lo is projected at #33 (2nd Round)

No way Obekpa lasts more than 3 years.  He will be a first rounder.  This mock draft is a joke because BJ Young is ten times the prospect that Harrison is.  I don't think I can name ten players in the country I want over BJ Young.  Props to them for bein the dirt I've seen to include Obepka. Two years in a row we get guys noticed too early because of an ineligible player.  Sanchez would have hidden Obekpa for at least a lottie while. 

Both Obekpa and Sampson should even mention the NBA. It's straight up insane at this point.

Except the NBA draft is all about potential and both ooze it.

Quote from: lihoop on November 22, 2012, 10:13:01 PM

http://www.nbadraft.net/2014mock_draft

In a recent mock draft for 2014 he's projected to go in the 1st round and D' Lo is projected at #33 (2nd Round)

No way Obekpa lasts more than 3 years.  He will be a first rounder.  This mock draft is a joke because BJ Young is ten times the prospect that Harrison is.  I don't think I can name ten players in the country I want over BJ Young.  Props to them for bein the dirt I've seen to include Obepka. Two years in a row we get guys noticed too early because of an ineligible player.  Sanchez would have hidden Obekpa for at least a lottie while.

Joke?  Yeah.  Lazy, p!ss poor research and prognosication.    That mock has 26 college seniors being selected.  There haven't been as many as 20 picked in the draft in the last half-decade.   That's not likely to change over the next 2 years.

“@STJ_Basketball: In today's official @Basketball_NCAA statistical rankings, #stjbb #GAMECHANGER Chris Obekpa is T-3rd nationally with 4.5 blocks per game.”

“@STJ_Basketball: In today's official @Basketball_NCAA statistical rankings, #stjbb #GAMECHANGER Chris Obekpa is T-3rd nationally with 4.5 blocks per game.”

Since I think Chris is a lock to obliterate the St. Johns single season blocks record (76), and a likely challenger to lead the nation in blocks, I want to mention this up front...

Does anyone else get the feeling he's getting shortchanged by official scorers so far this year?   Just because the ball has BARELY left the shooters hand when Chris knocks it away doens't make that any less of a block than one of his sky to the moon, slap it at the top of it's arc highlight blocks.    In watching replays, I've got him with 6 more blocks than he's officially credited with, and 2 more that "could" be called his (there've been two "simultaneos blocks" that have been credited to the other player - once Jakarr, once Amir.

May not seem like a big deal, but with those additional 6, Chris leads the nation at 5.5  a game (FWIW, he DOES lead D-1 in TOTAL blocks with just his credited 27.   Arizona State's 7'2 center leads D-1 at 5.2 a game - 26 blocks in only 5 games)...

Agree, had same observation.