A Sea Of Red

I may have learned something with my limited connections...

http://www.radarhoops.com/2008.htm

Look for Giant of Africa Big Man Camp Nigeria: Somto Ogukwe 6' 8" 200 lbs. Born in 1991.

There is a link for him on RadarHoops! too but I don't have access.

Coach Layer and Somto had breakfast this morning together.

OGUKWE SOMTO
YOB: 1991
HEIGHT: 6-8
WEIGHT: 200lb
COMMENTS: A skilled combo forward with good upside, has long arms, decent ball skills, good bounce, a outstanding transition finisher, ok handles for his size, need to work on his perimeter one on one defense, average post defender, was outstanding at the big man camp. He is an average rebounder…should be a better rebounder for his size. A potential high major prospect.

Sounds like he could be a really nice contributer for the Flames if he signs with LU.

I would LOVE to have an athletic big, but even if this kid signs, don't hold your breath. The NCAA clearinghouse is being especially tight with Nigerian players because the entire country, including the educational system, is largely a cesspool of corruption. The fact that he is in the country is a plus. Orupke, the 7 footer LU signed in November of 06, has yet to play a minute of NCAA basketball. Wichita State is finally hoping to have him this Fall.

Somto 'Sommy' Ogukwe
6' 7" Forward
McDaniels (KY) Bethel Christian Academy (Check out their nickname & logo)
Originally from Abuja, Nigeria

High School Profile - Very Solid Stuff

[youtube][/youtube]

[youtube][/youtube]

There is an entire page of links to his video highlights from nearly every game this past season here.

OK, now I'm officially excited!

17 rebounds a game???!!! That's practically unheard of in 32 minute HS games. 4 blocks too.

And in case you were wondering about the level of competition.......... 20 pts and 18 boards against OAK HILL

i'll believe he plays for LU when i see it...

olldflame wrote:And in case you were wondering about the level of competition.......... 20 pts and 18 boards against OAK HILL

That's the Oak Hill red team, not the gold team. The red team is the one that plays a normal high school schedule. The gold team is the elite team.

I say that not to say this kid isn't good because he looks to be a good player, but let's not blow a kid up in typical FlameFans fashion without putting the real deal out there.

We've been recruiting this kid for a while now. Coach Eaker was up in KY to see him back in the middle of March.

kuntryboimike wrote:i'll believe he plays for LU when i see it...

That is exactly what one of the Radford guys who post here said about Steven Baird. he signed in November.

I can't find anything about anyone else recruiting him. Not a word.

Well, it may not have been the elite Oak Hill team, but their red team was 28-1 last year playing a schedule of Virginia A and AA schools. Not exactly chopped liver.

The shot blocking is even more impressive to me than the rebounds. We haven't had a big-time shot blocker since Peter Aluma.

Oak Hill's red team is a good team. I don't think anyone would deny that. I just wanted to make sure the wrong perception didn't get out. We've got a bad habit of making every recruit look like basketball Jesus and then having unrealistic expectations.

Sommy was not even the leading scorer on his HS team. His teammate JJ Holland, a 6'4" guard from New Zealand, averaged over 23 ppg. I wonder if there's any chance of a "package deal"?

http://bethelbasketball.com/James/James.html

This would be a great get for us. Would love a bouncy 6'8 shotblocker.

I'm not at all downplaying this guys athleticism, or possible ability. But none the teams he was up against had a player near his size. He almost looked out of place because of his size, or lack of size by the opponents. If he comes here, it will definitely take him some time to get used to the difference in competition/size of the players he would be going up against.

Great footwork and soft hands. Great combination + athleticism.

And it looks like he already goes to buffets. We'll see what happens.

Peter Aluma actually taught at my high school for a year and was the soccer/assitant basketball coach. He was a BEAST of a man. Looking at this kid in person, let me just say he would need to put on some serious weight to maximize his skills. It may be a long time until we have another guy built like Aluma with decent post skills, but we could really use someone like him to set ourselves apart in the BSC.

Did you go to Emmanuel?

LUconn wrote:Did you go to Emmanuel?

I sure did...do we know each other? I'm ECS Class of 2005.

LUconn wrote:Did you go to Emmanuel?

Sure did...do we know each other? ECS Class of 2005.

No. It's funny how I keep guessing things about your life though. I'll PM you so as not to bore everybody else.

LUconn wrote: I'll PM you so as not to bore everybody else.

too late

WinterIsComing wrote:Peter Aluma actually taught at my high school for a year and was the soccer/assitant basketball coach. He was a BEAST of a man. Looking at this kid in person, let me just say he would need to put on some serious weight to maximize his skills. It may be a long time until we have another guy built like Aluma with decent post skills, but we could really use someone like him to set ourselves apart in the BSC.

As someone who saw every home game Peter Aluma played and a lot of away games as well, I can tell you that he was a better player before he became such a beast. His optimal playing weight was about 230-240 in his Sophomore and Junior years. As a 260 lb Senior he was too much for other BSC centers to handle, but he was already in the process of eating his way out of a potential NBA career.

From the video I see of this kid he would be foolish to try to beef up and be a bruising post player. He can already handle the ball and pull up for the jumper. He would no doubt start out playing inside for us, but I think he could ultimately be something special as a small forward.

olldflame wrote:

WinterIsComing wrote:Peter Aluma actually taught at my high school for a year and was the soccer/assitant basketball coach. He was a BEAST of a man. Looking at this kid in person, let me just say he would need to put on some serious weight to maximize his skills. It may be a long time until we have another guy built like Aluma with decent post skills, but we could really use someone like him to set ourselves apart in the BSC.

As someone who saw every home game Peter Aluma played and a lot of away games as well, I can tell you that he was a better player before he became such a beast. His optimal playing weight was about 230-240 in his Sophomore and Junior years. As a 260 lb Senior he was too much for other BSC centers to handle, but he was already in the process of eating his way out of a potential NBA career.

From the video I see of this kid he would be foolish to try to beef up and be a bruising post player. He can already handle the ball and pull up for the jumper. He would no doubt start out playing inside for us, but I think he could ultimately be something special as a small forward.

or even a Kevin Durant type player where he plays more SF-SG. i could see that going pretty well

Th3rd wrote:

olldflame wrote:

WinterIsComing wrote:Peter Aluma actually taught at my high school for a year and was the soccer/assitant basketball coach. He was a BEAST of a man. Looking at this kid in person, let me just say he would need to put on some serious weight to maximize his skills. It may be a long time until we have another guy built like Aluma with decent post skills, but we could really use someone like him to set ourselves apart in the BSC.

As someone who saw every home game Peter Aluma played and a lot of away games as well, I can tell you that he was a better player before he became such a beast. His optimal playing weight was about 230-240 in his Sophomore and Junior years. As a 260 lb Senior he was too much for other BSC centers to handle, but he was already in the process of eating his way out of a potential NBA career.

From the video I see of this kid he would be foolish to try to beef up and be a bruising post player. He can already handle the ball and pull up for the jumper. He would no doubt start out playing inside for us, but I think he could ultimately be something special as a small forward.

or even a Kevin Durant type player where he plays more SF-SG. i could see that going pretty well

All that sounds great, and I really hope that is within the realm of possibility...and not just fantasy land. I'm just reiterating the point that we are in DESPERATE need of a legit post player that isn't the size of a toothpick or a half a foot too short to be a good PF.