“If you compare them as freshman — just as freshman — ‘Jah’ is a lot better offensively,” said Jeff Capel, Duke’s assistant coach who played against Duncan in college.
He even already knows how to lead the USA to Gold...
he set an ACC record for blocked shots during his college career
he set an ACC record for blocked shots during his college career
After four years though....
Okafor is going to be the best pure center that the college game has seen in quite some time.
The 6-foot-10 Okafor is a throwback. In a time where fewer true five-men are playing the game and the position is filled with shot blockers or power forwards masquerading as centers, Okafor is like a mid-1990s NBA big man with post moves, craftiness and incredibly long arms. The Chicago native is the type of jaw-dropping talent that comes along once every couple if yrs...
Duncan stayed four years at Wake Forest and was dominant by his junior season after being somewhat raw as a freshman and sop re. That won't happen with Okafor. This kid is primed to make a major impact from the first day he steps foot in the league...
His story sounds a lot like Tim Duncans as well...
And yet, Okafor remains egoless — a sarcastic, fun-loving freshman at Duke who prefers hanging out with his friends over finding himself in the spotlight, who attended his coach’s son’s birthday rather than spend his free time at the mall, who made it a point in high school to help the less fortunate.
“He’s one of those kids, if he wanted to date your daughter, you would be thrilled,” said Don Showalter, who coached Okafor on junior national teams for three years.
The 6-foot-11, 270-pound Chicagoan is becoming a household name because of his ability with a basketball in his massively large hands, possessing a developed post game and innate understanding of angles and positioning few seniors grasp.
The comparisons keep rollin in..
ESPN Draft insider Chad Ford said Okafor is the most polished big man prospect he has seen since Duncan.
Capel recalled an AAU game the summer before Okafor’s senior year in Las Vegas, with Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony in attendance. Afterward, they approached Capel and Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, and said: “That kid right there, that’s a young Tim Duncan.”
Here's the killer...
Wake Forest assistant coach Randolph Childress, who played with Duncan for two years and scouted Okafor in advance of the Deamon Deacons game against Duke, said at the same age “he has more post-up moves” than Duncan
The Duncan comparisons are humbling, Okafor said, and so are the predictions of grandeur, his name atop virtually every mock draft. But Okafor is enjoying being a 19-year-old kid for now, immersing himself in the Duke community. He has the fifth-ranked Blue Devils near the top of the polls, considered one of few teams capable of topping top-ranked Kentucky.
Staaaahhhppp it, you're killin these guys
Weaknesses: While his conditioning at Duke was a great sign, he is the type of player who will need to work on this constantly and can still tone his body to maximize his athletic potential … Lacks great lateral quickness and is not an explosive leaper … Could be much more of a presence as a defensive rebounder, will miss box outs and find himself out of position … While he shows a soft touch near the hoop, has struggled from the FT line for a majority of the year, only shooting 51.1% FT … Not a player that will stretch the floor, which some consider a downside as far as where the league is headed … Can struggle against length and athleticism, will have a much tougher time creating offense in the post … Struggled defending the pick-and-roll at times, will be that much more difficult in the NBA … Even if he did have a really high number of possessions used, his turnovers numbers were quite high, will be something to work on … His effort level has been under a microscope at times, some wonder whether he goes hard every possession … Lack of athleticism will hurt on defense, which might not make him the most ideal “franchise big man”, hard to name players who have had successful teams around them who have struggled defending the post … Foul trouble was not a major issue, but it might become more of one upon facing pro speed … Not a natural shot blocker, usually gets blocks with length alone and rarely leaves his feet, not an ideal rim protector … While he got fouled quite often, he really did not take as many FT’s as one would think, possible reluctance to get to the line? … Post skills are fantastic, though adding a nice bank shot or hook shot might be an area of focus to further diversify his offense
I'm going in rawStaaaahhhppp it, you're killin these guys
goin in raw over a guy who hasn't even played in the nba yet and isn't even the #1 prospect
last year you were telling us how great randle would be
^ this was before he lost 12 lbs....once he meets up with Kobe and the other Laker greats..they will transform him...
goin in raw over a guy who hasn't even played in the nba yet and isn't even the #1 prospect
last year you were telling us how great randle would be
Spesking of Randle
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak set about ensuring Randle, 20, was engaged mentally by assigning the rookie to write up reports about Lakers games. Randle would break down the game quarter by quarter, detailing what the Lakers did right or wrong, dissecting the opponent's game plan and focusing especially onmatchups at Randle's power forward position.
All reports are that RANDLE is looking awesome..
Randle has also put in grueling hours in the weight room, and by the beginning of March he was finally “cleared to participate in full weight-bearing, non-contact basketball activities,” according toJoey Ramirez of Lakers.com.
What about Okaf defense though?
And while he was hurt the Lakers turned him into a newspaper editor...so he can even further think his way through the game..
“Since last summer, I have spent countless hours watching and talking about basketball with Kobe,” Randle wrote for The Cauldron. “Not many people get that kind of opportunity, but it’s allowed me to study the game in a way I never could when I was actively playing it, and think about the path to development in more nuanced ways.”
Who knows? A comet could strike the Earth next week and wipe out life as we know it.
I need to bump the "Spurs will finish injury free jinx thread"goin in raw over a guy who hasn't even played in the nba yet and isn't even the #1 prospect
last year you were telling us how great randle would be
Less than 48 hours later...broken leg...done for season.
He's 19...considering some centers had the chance to improve their numbers after two to four years, and Okafor is expected to leave after one. If he ended up staying another few seasons, Okafor would have the opportunity to improve on his block percentage number too.
I need to bump the "Spurs will finish injury free jinx thread"
Less than 48 hours later...broken leg...done for season.
All the bull is over now.....with the Rsxshrimp welch...you guys are ed by Karma....only I can relieve it..and I have no plans to do that for at least 5 yrs
We just need to get him in the gym with Kareem..ok dpg lol...
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