Any news on Orukpe?

[KC Shox]

EO is a pure gamble. Folks, just because he's 7 feet tall, Nigerian and is athletic doesn't equate to being a great basketball stud. Is he worth the roll of the dice? He sure is and if he pans out, then hot damn we are going to remain competitive for the near future. But he could also be an absolute bomb.

Is he worth 120 pages? Goodness gracious.

[SubGod22]

Is he worth 120 pages? Goodness gracious.

He's worth a hell of a lot more than 120!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!

[shockball]

A Shocker fan was walking out after the game and said "Manigault has someone he could beat in a game of horse!"

Coach Lynn Marshall was there also as was Coach Gans. Paul Sullentrop was scoping the big guy out.

EO is going to give Garrett hell in practice next year. He draws oooh's and ahhh's from the crowd with some of his blocks. The same people who chastised Miller and Stutz will have a field day with EO.

The chocolate and peanut butter pie at the Carriage Crossing was outstanding.

[pogo]

Saw McDermott and Stutz and family. Cuonzo Martin? Missed 2 dunks bobbled several passes to him in the paint but three rivers doesn't pass much so it could have been just shock that caused him to bobble the pass. Good positioning for rebounds and blocked at least 4 shots and altered a couple more. Light on his feet and mobile moving down court. Was the outlet guy when confronted with full court pressure and seemed to have soft hands, did not bring the ball down to where it could be stripped. Like everyone else has noted, he will need alot of work on the offensive end but I would rather have him than someone else have him and have to play against him. Go Shox

[forevershockerfan]

Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 3:34 pm

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Here's the deal. Are you looking to EO as a franchise type player? He is more of a shot blocker/ rebounder based on what I witnessed today. He did not even start the game. Not to worry because there was wholesale subbing by Three Rivers. "Take a quick blow then go go go."

EO's team did win and he played plenty. EO got several blocks today in which 2 of them EO received "ohhhhh----awweees" from the masses in downtown Hutch. I only remember EO scoring 3 points but he altered shots and got his fair share of bounds. Every time I have watched EO play, he has missed a dunk, including today's game. Why? Because he can 'sky so high' but he tries to slam it so hard that he misses it. EO can scoot down the court and keep up with a fast pace game.

It is nice to know that Coach Marshall can develop players. EO has plenty of talent but it is raw in need of basketball refinement. He will probably never be a big scorer. He also tries to block every shot he can and I doubt Coach Marshall will want that. However, he has abilities and is indeed a full 7'0" tall. He needs to learn how to get open on offense in key spots. If he receives the ball in close, he will develop into more of an offensive threat. Defensively, he can shore up the middle and alter, and block some shots. He rebounded well today. EO did not seem to have soft hands today and had some trouble receiving passes. It was great to see Garrett Stutz there today to cheer on EO. More later.

[EAGLE]

Hate to spoil the brew but I think for him to become a player,some one will have to work with him 26 hours a day. Not to impressed. :roll: :roll: :(

[Aargh]

I think EO will fit into Marshall's plans nicely. HCGM seems to like perimeter players to cover passing lanes with the thought of creating some turnovers. He also likes perimeter players to contest 3-pt. shots. That combination allows dribble penetration from the perimeter.

We're already seeing some effect of a really big guy waiting down around the basket with Stutz. A lot of perimeter players get in the vicinity of Stutz and don't find a way to the basket.

EO can really sidetrack a dribble penetration game. The arm and leg length allows him to not completely lose contact with his guy while he's contesting the penetrater. It's like Marshall's plan on defense requires somebody like EO. This year that designated specialist is Ellis.

Some offense would be nice, but WSU was pretty successful this year with a defensive specialist in the front court who didn't score much.

[ShockerFever]

Hate to spoil the brew but I think for him to become a player,some one will have to work with him 26 hours a day. Not to impressed. :roll: :roll: :(

You mean this 120+ thread is wasted? No way! This place NEVER overhypes players. NEVER! :roll:

[WstateU]

I wasn't able to attend the game today; however a close friend of mine who knows more basketball than I'll ever know provided me the following report. He played his college ball in the Big 8 and was a solid player (Sorry, don't ask his name) and lives college basketball. When Shocker fans were dissing Stutz early in the season, this guy said, "watch out, he's a keeper". Ok, for what it's worth, here goes:

"Hey bud, I'm not sure if you saw Three Rivers play today, but the 7 footer that Wichita recruited is going to be good. He has a lot of work to do on the offense end, but he is a monster on defense. He swatted away four that I can remember and he altered lots of other shots. Even though he didn't start, he got plenty of minutes and those were meaningful minutes down the stretch. Their other big guy fouled out and Gene Bess tried to have the 7 footer in there on each defensive stand. I cant spell the guys name (EO :D ), so I am just calling him "the 7 footer". It was interesting. Monroe also had a kid that was 7 ft. Their team did not have the discipline that Three Rivers had. Their offense was drive and hope you get fouled.

Three Rivers will play again tomorrow night. I think they will play the team from Florida. They are pretty good.

That is my report.

_____

PS.....Stutz was at the game.....and he was signing autographs.

PSS....Gregg Marshall's wife is a knock-out!" :yahoo:

[WuDrWu]

Don't be hitting on Lynn......

[tropicalshox]

A knock on EO from those that watch him the most is his lack of good hands.

Could somebody post a pic of Lynn?

[SFL]

Here's what coach Gene Bess says about EO in today's Hutchinson News:

About the Raiders: Orukpe will attend Wichita State next year. He has struggled with leg injuries all season, but Bess said the Lagos, Nigeria native hs tremendous potential. "He has a tremendous body. He has the physical properties to play in the NBA, but he is raw at this point because of a lack of experience."

Damn people, the guy is playing his first year of organized basketball. Patience grasshoppers!

:good:

[RoyalShock]

Damn people, the guy is playing his first year of organized basketball. Patience grasshoppers!

:good:

Not exactly. He played at least a year of club ball for the Ebun Comet, considered a pretty good team/league for the area.

[forevershockerfan]

RoyalShock--what did you think of EO today?

[RoyalShock]

RoyalShock--what did you think of EO today?

See page 120 of this fine thread.

But to add, what I think will happen at WSU is that barring injury to our returning post players he won't play in every game next year. He'll see a few minutes here and there when GS or JT get in foul trouble, maybe some extended minutes in blowouts. That'll give him a year to continue working on his offensive game. When all is said and done, I think we'll get two years of significant defense and one year of serviceable offense out of EO.