Joined: 22 Apr 2001 Posts: 1677 Location: Cerritos, California
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 12:44 am Post subject: Next Dominant Center Prospect? Udoka Azubuike the 15 year old?
I stumbled upon this player as I was perusing potential nba prospects in high school. I'm not sure I've ever seen such a "man child" in quite some time at the high school level. He has an nba body and is listed at 6'11. Also, he has man strength and explosiveness which separates him from the other supposed next shaq's.
He apparently is only 15 years of age (born in 99) and has only been playing basketball for two years or so since coming from Nigeria.
Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 18190 Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 7:58 am Post subject: Re: Next Dominant Center Prospect? Udoka Azubuike the 15 year old?
Corey78 wrote:
I stumbled upon this player as I was perusing potential nba prospects in high school. I'm not sure I've ever seen such a "man child" in quite some time at the high school level. He has an nba body and is listed at 6'11. Also, he has man strength and explosiveness which separates him from the other supposed next shaq's.
He apparently is only 15 years of age (born in 99) and has only been playing basketball for two years or so since coming from Nigeria.
Impressive. Balance looks pretty good, establishes post position well and knows how to move his feet with his back to the basket. Good to see his high school coach is developing his low post game.
My only concern is his weight. Everyone remembers Shaq as a monster but he was pretty lean when he was in high school.
I love how they inserted that one shot of him making a jumper in warm-ups in his mixtape as proof he can shoot. Every time I see that in a mixtape it makes me think the guy can't shoot. _________________ "Suck it up. Don't be a baby. Do your job." - Kobe Bryant
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 10:23 am Post subject: Re: Next Dominant Center Prospect? Udoka Azubuike the 15 year old?
numero-ocho wrote:
Corey78 wrote:
I stumbled upon this player as I was perusing potential nba prospects in high school. I'm not sure I've ever seen such a "man child" in quite some time at the high school level. He has an nba body and is listed at 6'11. Also, he has man strength and explosiveness which separates him from the other supposed next shaq's.
He apparently is only 15 years of age (born in 99) and has only been playing basketball for two years or so since coming from Nigeria.
Impressive. Balance looks pretty good, establishes post position well and knows how to move his feet with his back to the basket. Good to see his high school coach is developing his low post game.
My only concern is his weight. Everyone remembers Shaq as a monster but he was pretty lean when he was in high school.
I love how they inserted that one shot of him making a jumper in warm-ups in his mixtape as proof he can shoot. Every time I see that in a mixtape it makes me think the guy can't shoot.
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 11:50 am Post subject: Re: Next Dominant Center Prospect? Udoka Azubuike the 15 year old?
numero-ocho wrote:
Corey78 wrote:
I stumbled upon this player as I was perusing potential nba prospects in high school. I'm not sure I've ever seen such a "man child" in quite some time at the high school level. He has an nba body and is listed at 6'11. Also, he has man strength and explosiveness which separates him from the other supposed next shaq's.
He apparently is only 15 years of age (born in 99) and has only been playing basketball for two years or so since coming from Nigeria.
Impressive. Balance looks pretty good, establishes post position well and knows how to move his feet with his back to the basket. Good to see his high school coach is developing his low post game.
My only concern is his weight. Everyone remembers Shaq as a monster but he was pretty lean when he was in high school.
I love how they inserted that one shot of him making a jumper in warm-ups in his mixtape as proof he can shoot. Every time I see that in a mixtape it makes me think the guy can't shoot.
Yeah, Shaq was always really cut, even in HS, he had natural strength. The reality is that we're not likely to ever see another Shaq, that's how genetically improbable his size and athleticism was. It's a near impossible standard, and I would say most players that size, that use their athleticism as much as he did, will likely fall apart physically. I'd like to see this kid get leaner, actually, especially in today's game. That's why I hate Shaq comparisons, I think it might lead some kids to think that more weight is better.
Joined: 22 Apr 2001 Posts: 1677 Location: Cerritos, California
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 3:01 pm Post subject:
Eddy Curry had some fat on his body, was not as explosive, and was touted for having and advanced post game. Below is a highlight of him in highschool:
I hope he does not get too big as well, but (if his age is correct) he is a very intriguing and potentially beastly prospect.
Might be the best prospect but he pales in comparison to Shaq.
Shaq was incredibly lean and explosive when he was with Orlando. The guy was seriously ridiculous, and he has real basketball skills.
There's been a LOT of tall people who look good dunking, but was just horrible in other categories. This guy, at least can kind of seal. Seems like the centers these days can barely do that.
Either way, he's doesn't have the skills needed, and it'll take insane amount of work to get that in at his age.
Don't think he'll be an elite in the NBA unless something seriously drastic changes.
He has potential, going to take a LOT of work to realize. He's not Thon Maker i.e. sure fire NBA All Pro one day. _________________ “It took many years of vomiting up all the filth I’d been taught about myself, and half-believed, before I was able to walk on the earth as though I had a right to be here.”
― James Baldwin, Collected Essays
Joined: 15 Sep 2012 Posts: 29150 Location: La La Land
Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2015 1:01 am Post subject:
Corey78 wrote:
KobeBryantCliffordBrown wrote:
He has potential, going to take a LOT of work to realize. He's not Thon Maker i.e. sure fire NBA All Pro one day.
I'm not sold on Thon Maker at all. I do not think he will be as great as people expect (frame, length, athleticism).
I expect Maker will be somewhere between 1st-year Greak Freak and 1st-year Durant in terms of skills and fluidity.
This kid Azubuike looks like a grown man. Kinda hard not laughing when I see him play against what normal high school basketball players look like.
Looks like he has a knack for good timing on his blocks.
I could see him being a better version of Dwight. The thing with those players though, smart teams will foul them before the ball gets over their head for a dunk. _________________ "Every hurt is a lesson, and every lesson makes you better”
He has potential, going to take a LOT of work to realize. He's not Thon Maker i.e. sure fire NBA All Pro one day.
I'm not sold on Thon Maker at all. I do not think he will be as great as people expect (frame, length, athleticism).
I expect Maker will be somewhere between 1st-year Greak Freak and 1st-year Durant in terms of skills and fluidity.
This kid Azubuike looks like a grown man. Kinda hard not laughing when I see him play against what normal high school basketball players look like.
Looks like he has a knack for good timing on his blocks.
I could see him being a better version of Dwight. The thing with those players though, smart teams will foul them before the ball gets over their head for a dunk.
When he dunks, as a 7'1" player, he's barely getting the ball over the cup. Yes, that matters.
Joined: 15 Sep 2012 Posts: 29150 Location: La La Land
Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2015 2:52 am Post subject:
jonnybravo wrote:
kikanga wrote:
Corey78 wrote:
KobeBryantCliffordBrown wrote:
He has potential, going to take a LOT of work to realize. He's not Thon Maker i.e. sure fire NBA All Pro one day.
I'm not sold on Thon Maker at all. I do not think he will be as great as people expect (frame, length, athleticism).
I expect Maker will be somewhere between 1st-year Greak Freak and 1st-year Durant in terms of skills and fluidity.
This kid Azubuike looks like a grown man. Kinda hard not laughing when I see him play against what normal high school basketball players look like.
Looks like he has a knack for good timing on his blocks.
I could see him being a better version of Dwight. The thing with those players though, smart teams will foul them before the ball gets over their head for a dunk.
When he dunks, as a 7'1" player, he's barely getting the ball over the cup. Yes, that matters.
Maker or Azubuike? _________________ "Every hurt is a lesson, and every lesson makes you better”
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