[jmdickens]

Doesn't say much, except that we have offered..


Ovie Soko
6' 8" 210 lb Small/Power Forward
Hampton (VA) Bethel High School (Transferred from London HS & Hampton Roads Academy)
AAU: Boo Williams

Rivals Profile

Scout Profile -

ESPN Insiders Profile

October, 2008: Soko is long and a good athlete. He attacks in transition from the wing and he also displayed the ability to rebound and go coast-to-coast. He did an excellent job finishing when he got to the rim with good touch and body control. His long arms and good hands allowed him to extend over defenders. He runs well and showed shooting range just inside the arc. This combination forward is a decent ball handler, passer and mid range shooter but would help his game if he added post moves to take advantage of his size which I didn't see today. Also, Soko has the length to be an excellent defender at both forward positions.

Click Here for Full Story

[ToTheLeft]

His ESPN profile...

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recruitin ... eason=2009

[TDDance234]

He's starting to get some looks elsewhere. Latest updates I've seen is that Fresno State is after him hard. Do we even have a scholarship to offer now?

[Cider Jim]

Interesting to think about the potential of having 3 players all from the same Virginia high school.

[SuperJon]

We picked up that last kid from Bethel because we were there looking at this kid.

[jcmanson]

Do we even have a scholarship to offer now?

I think we could find one

[TylerBakersGonnaBGreat]

And let me tell you, after quickly looking at Rivals, if he plays for the Boo Williams AAU teams they are no joke... Most of the best players in the state play on the Boo Williams squads... but he has a lot of them for both genders and multiple for each age group.

[olldflame]

I really don't think we offer Tre Lee if we don't already know where the scholarship is coming from for this kid. If bigger schools are calling, that's sometimes hard to compete with, but the idea of playing with not one but 2 HS teamates as well as being part of a program that is on the rise and getting national publicity could give us the trump card.

[coolhandluke]

And he is over 6'5"! Yes! Maybe he'll grow couple more inches in the next year.

[jcmanson]

Interesting to think about the potential of having 3 players all from the same Virginia high school.

Yeah and Bethel's PG has already signed to play at UVA next year. Sure would be nice to get Ovie.

[JDUB]

this guy has a cool name

[jcmanson]

bump

[ToTheLeft]

We lose Tre but gain Ovie... ESPN lists him as an inch taller and 10 pounds heavier.

[jcmanson]

Ovie is legit

[jcmanson]

From ESPN:

January, 2009: Soko has developed into one of the better available forwards for the late signing period. He has a very good basketball body and frame. When he fills out he will take his game up a notch. As he continues to polish his ball skills, his decision-making has equated to very few mental errors. The mid range game is where he has made the biggest improvement. He is now able to breakdown defenders and get into a mid range scoring position. His length allows him the ability to shoot over smaller defenders. During the Ronald Curry Christmas Classic he showed the ability to defend smaller guards on the perimeter by using his quick feet, length and athleticism. Soko's back to the basket game is where he needs to continue to improve. He does a solid job scoring on put backs, jump hooks and turn around jump shots in the low blocks but has to develop a feel on how to navigate traffic in the paint. When he solidifies a go-to move, along with a counter move he will become a much more productive low block player. With that being said, his ability to shoot beyond the arc and his effectiveness in high ball screen pick-n-pop situations gives him the chance to be an excellent combo forward type player down the road.

[ToTheLeft]

ESPN seems to think so, too.

Excited about this. Seems like the kind of player the Big South doesn't have right now.

[jcmanson]

I went and saw his HS team play. He's good.

[olldflame]

The closest thing I can think of to that description in the BSC would be Omar Carter, but it looks like Soko is a couple of inches taller and perhaps a better 3 point shooter.

[olldflame]

Not that it means all that much, but Ovie's rating at ESPN insiders is now 89. I don't recall us signing anyone before now with that high a rating. I'm more impressed with the other schools who were recruiting him.

[jcmanson]

Some RU posters were going around to some of the message boards claiming to have the highest rated recruit by ESPN coming in next year. Well, Ovie’s rated higher. I understand these rating systems don’t mean jack, but it gives us something to talk about.

[vabigpoppa]

nice pick up, the flames 09 recruiting class is the most confusing thing ever..........so tre lee decommited? but your still over 13 schollies right? and you just signed another guy?

[jcmanson]

Counting our verbals and one signee, and everyone else already on the team, we are at 14 schollys.

[olldflame]

Nothing has been signed poppa (except our early signee Joel Vander Pol). If these 2 committs were to sign, it would put us at 14, and since this is the men's team and not the women's, that won't work. Someone on our current roster is likely leaving. Daddy Sly doesn't like us to speculate too much about that.

[Sly Fox]

Olldflame speaks the truth. This is the last verbal and it does indeed indicate a change will be coming. But it doesn't necessarily mean anyone is leaving (although it is very possible).

[olldflame]

Olldflame speaks the truth. This is the last verbal and it does indeed indicate a change will be coming. But it doesn't necessarily mean anyone is leaving (although it is very possible).

I believe I know what you are referring to about a change without anyone leaving. I'm really hoping that works out.