2011 NC State recruit released from LOI

[A10fan]

Wonder if X would have a chance at this kid?

Joseph Uchebo (http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/103199/joseph-uchebo)

Top 100 center. Went to Word of God Academy which is the same school that Dez went to before Hargrave. I wonder if Kelsey can make any in roads. Would be nice to pick up a 7 footer with some skills this late in the game.

[XUFan09]

Hmm, interesting. I like the look of the kid, and it seems like he would fit in well with our team (a 7'0 guy looking to gain weight, not lose it).

[bobbiemcgee]

http://www.like.co.nz/images/like.gif

[Xman95]

Went to Word of God Academy which is the same school that Dez went to before Hargrave.

Also played for CP3 All-Stars.

[MADXSTER]

Very active player. Alot to like. Most interesting.

[xufan02]

I think this guy would be a better fit than Bhullar if he is interested. It will be interesting to see if the staff goes after him. We definitely have the contacts in place.

[Strange Brew]

These like a good get. Bird dog him Kels.

[Olsingledigit]

Luther Rackley was a 7 footer looking to gain weight too - just sayin.

[bobbiemcgee]

Wonder if X would have a chance at this kid?

Joseph Uchebo (http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/103199/joseph-uchebo)

Top 100 center. Went to Word of God Academy which is the same school that Dez went to before Hargrave. I wonder if Kelsey can make any in roads. Would be nice to pick up a 7 footer with some skills this late in the game.

He's playing on Dez Wells team in the Jordan Classic today.

[wkrq59]

Bobby,
dead right..here's the results from Saturday game--
Balling out for the East team, which won 98-95, Chatham (VA) Hargrave Military’s 6-5 Wells (who will be attending Xavier next year) scored 21 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and had 3 assists and several highlight-reel plays. His teammate, 7-0 NC State-bound Joseph Uchebo, grabbed 21(!) rebounds.

And this kid could apparently play right away. No sitting out. :D

[bobbiemcgee]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/04/16/2229470/uchebo-shines-in-regional-win.html

21 rebounds in any hs game is sick! Hope we are all over him.

[SixFig]

Highly doubt he would come to X. He is looking to go someplace where he can at least earn starters minutes right away. Between Frease and McKenzie (still an unknown of course) there probably aren't enough minutes to go around.

[UnCaged]

Highly doubt he would come to X. He is looking to go someplace where he can at least earn starters minutes right away. Between Frease and McKenzie (still an unknown of course) there probably aren't enough minutes to go around.

My apologies in advance for the rant....and with all due respecti, I realize a lot of people are expecting (hoping and praying on a gross of rosarys) that Griffin will be someone who can add something to our squad next year, and we've been over the relatively large learning curve that big men have during their move to D1. But let's be serious here, if this top-100 recruit is scared that he won't get any run due to Griffin McKenzie, then we don't need him. This guy might make Griffin transfer, he looks all-world and Griffin looks like a 6'9 version of Brian Walsh. Someone who was quite good in his conference, but not quick enough or with the physical attributes to play defense or do what Xavier University needs accomplished on either end of the of the floor.

I said with all due respect.

[xufan02]

Griff is going to have a great summer, and I expect him to get some back minutes next season. He is not going to be asked to set the world on fire, but he will have a roll for us.

[madness31]

Uncaged, I agee with you that minutes likely wouldn't be an issue because of Griff if this kid is really as talented as he appears. That being said you are probably a bit to harsh on both Griff and Walsh. Walsh would have been a nice asset this past season and I expect he will be a big contributer next year at Akron (I believe that is where he transferred). Walsh had skills but he didn't fit within Mack's preferred style of play. Redford has similar problems but he is a dominant shooter so he got the nod over Walsh.

McKenzie will probably be a limited minutes guy to spread the floor and provide another body down low to keep the bigs rested and to use some fouls. He will likely be a good player at some point before his college days are done and I wouldn't be surprised if he has some good moments next year.

[THRILLHOUSE]

Griff is going to have a great summer, and I expect him to get some back minutes next season. He is not going to be asked to set the world on fire, but he will have a roll for us.

I hope he has delicious O'Charley's rolls for us.

http://zolligirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/31428-hi-rolls.jpg

[XUFan09]

Uncaged, I agee with you that minutes likely wouldn't be an issue because of Griff if this kid is really as talented as he appears. That being said you are probably a bit to harsh on both Griff and Walsh. Walsh would have been a nice asset this past season and I expect he will be a big contributer next year at Akron (I believe that is where he transferred). Walsh had skills but he didn't fit within Mack's preferred style of play. Redford has similar problems but he is a dominant shooter so he got the nod over Walsh.

McKenzie will probably be a limited minutes guy to spread the floor and provide another body down low to keep the bigs rested and to use some fouls. He will likely be a good player at some point before his college days are done and I wouldn't be surprised if he has some good moments next year.

Apparently he didn't fit well in Miller's style of play either. He looked more confused than Latham every time he went out on the floor. Quite simply, Walsh just never clicked at the high-D1 level, and I say that when he was my favorite guy in the class when we got their LOIs. It was more than an issue of playing style.

[SixFig]

Amazing how the mere mention of McKenzie turns a thread into a "Haters ball".

Back to the topic, even if Griff doesn't play one minute, why would Uchebu play only 10-15 minutes per game behind Frease when he could start right away at a lot of BCS schools?

[Atlas]

Amazing how the mere mention of McKenzie turns a thread into a "Haters ball".

Back to the topic, even if Griff doesn't play one minute, why would Uchebu play only 10-15 minutes per game behind Frease when he could start right away at a lot of BCS schools?

[/B]

Would he realize he would be the future big man for X? If he is a little light he would need to wok on his strength, wouldn't he? He could need some seasoning and a year behind Frease would be good.

[MADXSTER]

why would Uchebu play only 10-15 minutes per game behind Frease when he could start right away at a lot of BCS schools?

Because Frease is alot better than alot of BCS centers.

[Jumpy]

There is no way the coaches are going to drop a done deal (Sim) to go chase this guy at the eleventh hour.

[MADXSTER]

There is no way the coaches are going to drop a done deal (Sim) to go chase this guy at the eleventh hour.

Xavier has 2 open spots for 2011.

[Xman95]

Xavier has 2 open spots for 2011.

Depends on how the process has gone with Sim. If he has been told that he's The Guy at the C position, you don't piss the kid off (whether he has signed already or not) by recruiting another player at the same position in the same year. It would hurt the relationship with Sim and, consequently, with Tanveer Bhullar (who has said he would like to play with his brother).

Now, if there has been discussion with Sim that they are going to be looking at other centers, possibly in the same class, then you go after Uchebu. Maybe they have told Sim another center is necessary being that he may not be able to give them 30 minutes per game at any point in his career.

But if they have given him the belief that he's going to be their main guy, you don't go behind his back like that. Even a courtesy reach around wouldn't make it ok!:p

[MADXSTER]

95, I now see where you are coming from. And that makes sense. You could also look at it as Sim, would probably not be playing 40 total minutes. And if he is out there you could still have Uchebu play some time at the PF position.

Xavier could have it's own Twin Towers.(from Georgetown fame) Granted Xavier beat the Twin Towers in the NCAA. I know, I was there.

[Jumpy]

Depends on how the process has gone with Sim. If he has been told that he's The Guy at the C position, you don't piss the kid off (whether he has signed already or not) by recruiting another player at the same position in the same year. It would hurt the relationship with Sim and, consequently, with Tanveer Bhullar (who has said he would like to play with his brother).

Now, if there has been discussion with Sim that they are going to be looking at other centers, possibly in the same class, then you go after Uchebu. Maybe they have told Sim another center is necessary being that he may not be able to give them 30 minutes per game at any point in his career.

But if they have given him the belief that he's going to be their main guy, you don't go behind his back like that. Even a courtesy reach around wouldn't make it ok!:p

This.

[waggy]

Wait, did Bhullar commit? Last I heard he named other schools in addition to X. We have just a few openings. First come, first served, from my perspective.

[MADXSTER]

No commit as of yet.

[BBC 08]

Uchebo at the 3, Kenny playing the 4 and Big Simsation playing the 5. We will win it all with that.

[HuskyMuskie]

Uchebo at the 3, Kenny playing the 4 and Big Simsation playing the 5. We will win it all with that.

And Dikembe Mutumbo running the point.

[JimmyTwoTimes37]

I think one game against fordham, should Sim commit, we should do the following.

Put Tu at PF, Lyons at C, Sim at PG, Frease at SG.

[XUFan09]

Because Frease is alot better than alot of BCS centers.

I don't think he meant it as a question of why he wouldn't play starting minutes ahead of Frease but rather why would he want to come here to play backup when he could immediately start somewhere else.

[Xman95]

I think one game against fordham, should Sim commit, we should do the following.

Put Tu at PF, Lyons at C, Sim at PG, Frease at SG.

And I'll be at SF.

[xavierj]

I don't think he meant it as a question of why he wouldn't play starting minutes ahead of Frease but rather why would he want to come here to play backup when he could immediately start somewhere else.

Uh this guy is a borderline top 100 player by most ranking. It's not like he is Kevin Durant. People act like he is sure fire going to start wherever he goes. What is wrong with playing behind Kenny for a year and then being the guy his sophomore year? i don't think anyone is expecting him to go to the NBA after 1 year. Would he rather play for a winner? or just go somewhere he can start right away?

[XUFan09]

Uh this guy is a borderline top 100 player by most ranking. It's not like he is Kevin Durant. People act like he is sure fire going to start wherever he goes. What is wrong with playing behind Kenny for a year and then being the guy his sophomore year? i don't think anyone is expecting him to go to the NBA after 1 year. Would he rather play for a winner? or just go somewhere he can start right away?

Maybe it's the latter, with some hopes of winning down the road. 7'0 centers with solid skills are hard to come by, so I'm willing to bet there are middle-of-the-road BCS teams (read: potential NCAA teams) that would offer him serious minutes. I wasn't saying he was looking for top-notch programs or that he was going to be a one-and-done, just taking into consideration what SixFig said. My or your opinions on how he could develop playing behind Kenny and then get the starting job just don't matter in his decision (though I hope he takes that into consideration and picks X). If immediate solid playing time is a major factor in his decision, he can find it with some of the mediocre teams in power conferences. He won't get that at Xavier.

He probably was going to get playing time from the get-go at NC State and maybe, maybe contend as part of a bubble team down the road. Remember Aaric Murray, just recently of Lasalle. Besides the school being in his hometown, I bet immediate playing time was appealing to him, even if the team sucked.

[MuskieCinci]

I think the staff already has two guys pegged for the open scholarships and they are very confident it is just a matter of time. I would love for this guy to come into the fold if possible though. He seems like a potential stud in the Atlantic 10 going against some of the unskilled stiffs other teams have at center.

[xavierj]

Maybe it's the latter, with some hopes of winning down the road. 7'0 centers with solid skills are hard to come by, so I'm willing to bet there are middle-of-the-road BCS teams (read: potential NCAA teams) that would offer him serious minutes. I wasn't saying he was looking for top-notch programs or that he was going to be a one-and-done, just taking into consideration what SixFig said. My or your opinions on how he could develop playing behind Kenny and then get the starting job just don't matter in his decision (though I hope he takes that into consideration and picks X). If immediate solid playing time is a major factor in his decision, he can find it with some of the mediocre teams in power conferences. He won't get that at Xavier.

He probably was going to get playing time from the get-go at NC State and maybe, maybe contend as part of a bubble team down the road. Remember Aaric Murray, just recently of Lasalle. Besides the school being in his hometown, I bet immediate playing time was appealing to him, even if the team sucked.

He is not 7'0", more like 6'9". But still seems like a pretty decent player.

[XUFan09]

He is not 7'0".

My bad, got a couple of reports mixed up, but it doesn't change the overall point. A 6'10 guy with solid skills is a good get for a lot of BCS teams.

[xavierj]

My bad, got a couple of reports mixed up, but it doesn't change the overall point. A 6'10 guy with solid skills is a good get for a lot of BCS teams.

I agree with that. Just don't think that not starting will hinder him from going to a school. On top of that most schools do not have a ton of scholarships available. Xavier has 2.