Obekpa Improvements

[beast of the east]

Obekpa may very well be an NBA player ... after a four year college career. There's no question that he's a phenomenal shot blocker at the college level. However he is at best a rudimentary man defender. His blocks come mostly against penetrating guards. A capable big man with an offensive post game will eat him up, and that's what he would see in the pros. He isn't going to be blocking the shots of 6'10" guys with post moves. Not to mention that he has zero offensive game at this point and doesn't pull down nearly as many rebounds as he should (either because he is out of position looking for blocks or doesn't box out or both).

He should be using college to develop his game all around. If he does, then he will be looking at a career in the pros. But he isn't there right now. He has to add a lot of pieces beyond swatting shots.

Agree with you post, except to say that if he has a zero offensive game right now, then last year he was a -3 offensive game. He looks a lot more fluid with the ball in his hands on offense, and can actually put the ball on the floor. While its not a radical transformation, it is a vast improvement, and he should continue to add offensive skills. Wouldn't be surprised that by senior year, he averages in double digits in scoring.

 

[T6K0E6]

He needs to get his rebound numbers up. With his wingspan he should avg 10 rebounds per game at least.

 

[usguard]

Agree so long as coach stops him from shooting the 3 as a first opt

 

[qcredman]

Obekpa may very well be an NBA player ... after a four year college career. There's no question that he's a phenomenal shot blocker at the college level. However he is at best a rudimentary man defender. His blocks come mostly against penetrating guards. A capable big man with an offensive post game will eat him up, and that's what he would see in the pros. He isn't going to be blocking the shots of 6'10" guys with post moves. Not to mention that he has zero offensive game at this point and doesn't pull down nearly as many rebounds as he should (either because he is out of position looking for blocks or doesn't box out or both).

He should be using college to develop his game all around. If he does, then he will be looking at a career in the pros. But he isn't there right now. He has to add a lot of pieces beyond swatting shots.

I hope the coaches work with him on this. He does have trouble going for fakes underneath.

 

[MJDinkins]

Agree so long as coach stops him from shooting the 3 as a first opt

Huh?

 

[Andrew]

I was at the Georgia Tech game and saw a lot of upside for Obekpa. I feel he just needs coaching and practice to improve his offensive game and to get better at interior defense and rebounding. He was quite impressive blocking shots when Georgia Tech was held without a field goal for over 11 minutes.

 

[salty dog]

If we are not noticing than other are Georgia Tech coach after the game

"He just doesn't get blocks, he gets blocks at crucial times," Gregory said of Obekpa, whom he recruited heavily. "His blocks lead to breaks. That's a great weapon."

 

[guinness77]

Obekpa may very well be an NBA player ... after a four year college career. There's no question that he's a phenomenal shot blocker at the college level. However he is at best a rudimentary man defender. His blocks come mostly against penetrating guards. A capable big man with an offensive post game will eat him up, and that's what he would see in the pros. He isn't going to be blocking the shots of 6'10" guys with post moves. Not to mention that he has zero offensive game at this point and doesn't pull down nearly as many rebounds as he should (either because he is out of position looking for blocks or doesn't box out or both).

He should be using college to develop his game all around. If he does, then he will be looking at a career in the pros. But he isn't there right now. He has to add a lot of pieces beyond swatting shots.

On the surface your post is 100 percent correct and I absolutely agree with it. His offensive game is nothing special and he has no girth to his body...

However, if a team like the Heat or the Lakers or another team like that that has a very low draft pick and they have a chance to draft a shot blocker like Obekpa he'll probably explore his options and if he gets that "wink-wink, nod-nod" that he'll go late 1st round, I think he's a goner. Nothing is guaranteed in life (or basketball) and if he can get a million dollar pro contract guaranteed off of his play this season, he should go.

 

[room112]

I wonder if he could become the next Theo Ratliff. Ratliff was a 4 year player in college, and was known for his defense. His sophomore year he averaged 4.5 blocks and 9.2 points. By his senior year he was up to 5.5 blocks and 15 points per game though and eventually become a 1st round pick. So that's a sharp development curve points wise if that's the player Obepka wants to become.

 

[Mean Gene]

Obekpa reminds me of Emeka Okafor when he was at UConn. His senior year Okafor was a complete player.

 

[Moose]

Obekpa reminds me of Emeka Okafor when he was at UConn. His senior year Okafor was a complete player.

Okafor was never a Senior.
He graduated in 3 years.
Also his sophomore year he averaged 16 points, 11 boards and 5 blocks.

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/emeka-okafor-1.html

 

[Marillac]

Obekpa reminds me of Emeka Okafor when he was at UConn. His senior year Okafor was a complete player.

This is the worst player comparison I've ever seen.

 

[room112]

Obekpa reminds me of Emeka Okafor when he was at UConn. His senior year Okafor was a complete player.

This is the worst player comparison I've ever seen.

Yea no offense to Mean Gene, but that was a pretty poor comparison. Okafor was at least looked to from time to time on the offensive end, and was also a dominant rebounder.

 

[Mean Gene]

Obekpa reminds me of Emeka Okafor when he was at UConn. His senior year Okafor was a complete player.

This is the worst player comparison I've ever seen.

Yea no offense to Mean Gene, but that was a pretty poor comparison. Okafor was at least looked to from time to time on the offensive end, and was also a dominant rebounder.

My mistake then gentlemen, for some reason I remember him being really raw his first couple of seasons. Maybe I'm thinking of someone else.

 

[SJU61982]

Obekpa reminds me of Emeka Okafor when he was at UConn. His senior year Okafor was a complete player.

This is the worst player comparison I've ever seen.

Yea no offense to Mean Gene, but that was a pretty poor comparison. Okafor was at least looked to from time to time on the offensive end, and was also a dominant rebounder.

My mistake then gentlemen, for some reason I remember him being really raw his first couple of seasons. Maybe I'm thinking of someone else.

He was somewhat raw as a frosh, but really picked it up sophomore year.

The UCONN shotblocker who never really developed an offensive game was Hasheem Thabeet (though he was a half-foot taller then Obekpa). Some team (I forget who) made him the #2 overall pick in the NBA Draft, which was a big mistake.

 

[Mean Gene]

Obekpa reminds me of Emeka Okafor when he was at UConn. His senior year Okafor was a complete player.

This is the worst player comparison I've ever seen.

Yea no offense to Mean Gene, but that was a pretty poor comparison. Okafor was at least looked to from time to time on the offensive end, and was also a dominant rebounder.

My mistake then gentlemen, for some reason I remember him being really raw his first couple of seasons. Maybe I'm thinking of someone else.

He was somewhat raw as a frosh, but really picked it up sophomore year.

The UCONN shotblocker who never really developed an offensive game was Hasheem Thabeet (though he was a half-foot taller then Obekpa). Some team (I forget who) made him the #2 overall pick in the NBA Draft, which was a big mistake.

Yes, that's right, I was combining the two. I mixed up the two. Thabeet was like 7'3 wasn't he?

 

[SJU61982]

Obekpa reminds me of Emeka Okafor when he was at UConn. His senior year Okafor was a complete player.

This is the worst player comparison I've ever seen.

Yea no offense to Mean Gene, but that was a pretty poor comparison. Okafor was at least looked to from time to time on the offensive end, and was also a dominant rebounder.

My mistake then gentlemen, for some reason I remember him being really raw his first couple of seasons. Maybe I'm thinking of someone else.

He was somewhat raw as a frosh, but really picked it up sophomore year.

The UCONN shotblocker who never really developed an offensive game was Hasheem Thabeet (though he was a half-foot taller then Obekpa). Some team (I forget who) made him the #2 overall pick in the NBA Draft, which was a big mistake.

Yes, that's right, I was combining the two. I mixed up the two. Thabeet was like 7'3 wasn't he?

Yes. Unfortunatly, the rest of his body never caught up to his height.

 

[simplyred]

Obekpa reminds me of Emeka Okafor when he was at UConn. His senior year Okafor was a complete player.

This is the worst player comparison I've ever seen.

Actually, if you look closely at their last names, they're eerily similar! :manga:

 

[Moose]

For the Thabeet comparisons-

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/hasheem-thabeet-1.html

He went 6 ppg, 6 rpg, 4bpg freshman year. 11 ppg, 8 rpg, 5 bpg soph year, and then 14 ppg, 11 rpg, 4 bpg and All American JR year.

 

[beast of the east]

Obekpa reminds me of Emeka Okafor when he was at UConn. His senior year Okafor was a complete player.

This is the worst player comparison I've ever seen.

Actually, I heard the exact same comparison from a knowledgeable diehard UCONN fan who in a much smaller way roots for St. Johns. So, I don't think he'd that far off.