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Seven-foot sophomore commits to Pack
Submitted by kentysiac on 11/19/2009 - 13:54
Joseph Uchebo, a 7-foot, 240-pound center who’s originally from Nigeria, has made an early commitment to N.C. State.
Uchebo is a sophomore at Oak Ridge (N.C.) Military Academy and played last season at Mount Zion Academy in Durham. Oak Ridge coach Stan Kowalewski said Uchebo runs the floor well, has good passing ability and vision, and can score from 18 feet.
“He’s very aggressive going after the basketball coming off the rim,” Kowalewski said, “but he’s not just a back-to-the-basket big man.”
Uchebo has committed so early that it’s difficult for analysts to predict how good he might become. Scout.com national recruiting analyst Dave Telep has seen him play just one time.
Telep was impressed with Uchebo’s intensity and said that it appears he will be a high-level prospect at this point, but felt uncomfortable commenting more on a player he hasn’t seen multiple times.
Kowalewski said Uchebo likes N.C. State because he has family in the Raleigh/Durham area and felt comfortable with Sidney Lowe and the Wolfpack coaches. According to Kowalewski, Uchebo believes that committing early will reduce the pressure of recruiting and help him focus on school work.
“He’s a great kid, a very good player, very skilled,” Kowalewski said. “I think he can play in the ACC right away once he gets there."
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About the blogger
Ken Tysiac has covered the ACC for The Charlotte Observer since 2003, and spent the previous eight years covering Clemson for the Anderson Independent-Mail and then The State in South Carolina. He grew up in Rochester, N.Y., and is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame.Want to post a comment?
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Comments
He is just a sophomore and
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 13:42 — lawrencemartinHe is just a sophomore and could grow 3 inches and gain at least 20 lbs. by the time he graduates. I guess we are just seeing a preview of the report when he officially signs in a couple of years.
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Size would Help in 2012
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 13:40 — jeromfitzThat's good plan to find a 7 footer for your future...and real early commitment.
It would be desirable to
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 09:18 — newslikerIt would be desirable to listen still to opinion of experts
Baby Shaq
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 21:08 — regnatI heard this guy is the next Shaq. State and Raleigh provide an amazing university experience. Don't forget State is a major basketball power first. Let's bust some brackets with all these four and five stars. Go Pack.
Major Basketball Power
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 12:40 — SurferHuh? Last year you were a football school, now you are a basketball school. Which is it?
assholeish I know
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 21:25 — gvillegatrBut these are some of my favorite posts here at ACCNow! dumb and stupid is no way to go through life, son.
you simply cant use terms like "Shaq," "amazing" and "power" when you describe ncsu.
Another One
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 09:43 — WNCMikeOr as Larry the Cable Guy might say, "Now that's funny....I don't care who you are".
Too early to get too excited.
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 18:45 — JPDOhioA lot can happen in a couple of years, so we'll see if the commitment sticks. Sid seems to have a nose for developing talent, so the fact that this kid is not on anyone else's radar screen doesn't bother me a bit.
The guy that could turn out to be Sid's Russell Wilson is Ryan Harrow. From what I have read about him, he is not only skilled on the court, but is a positive influence off the court as well. The coaches can get the recruits on campus, but the players have to step up and help reel them in. The way Harrow is already working uncommitted recruits to go to State is a good sign forsuccessful recruiting results in the future.
Agree
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 12:44 — SurferGood words of wisdom as usual JPD. Let's see how good (or how tall and big) he becomes and then whether he actually commits or not before there is too much excitement. I guess it is okay to daydream about though.
goheels 1984 comment
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 18:21 — wilmpackyou cant go straight to the nba you idiot
Excellent post! Just wanna
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 17:05 — jasmine1987Excellent post! Just wanna thank you for what you have shared.Abercrombie and Fitch. Look forward to nice articles from you.This is a good access to Abercrombie and Fitch.
Hate on lil haters....
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 16:27 — sclarkIt's painfully obvious that Sid has the ability to pick out talent at an early age, see- CJ Leslie and Ryan Harrow.
This is clearly a GOOD thing, and the boys over in the hole are clearly not cool with it. That's plenty for me.
Oh, really?
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 17:46 — melvinfurdExactly what in Sitney's resume shows that "it's painfully obvious that Sid has the ability to pick out talent at an early age..."?
Maybe the 5-11, 4-12 and 6-10 conference records he's accumulated in his three years as NCS HC?
CJ?
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 12:53 — SurferWho is this CJ you speak of? Would agree though that any good thing that can be added to the State BB program is a good thing.
Why only 7 feet?
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 16:23 — SurferAccording to Rivals and Scout, he will be in the 2012 class and is currently 6'9" and 220 lbs. Of course he is certainly projected to grow a bit and put on a few pounds. But why stop at 7 ft and 240? This story would have been much better if it said "7'10" and 300 lb center". Of course then TOB would probably be begging for him, as well. I mean since he runs so well, etc....
To the extreme.
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 18:35 — JPDOhioIt seems to be accepted practice in hoops to exaggerate a player's height. I don't know that I have ever seen such a wide difference though.
That said, he is just a sophomore and could grow 3 inches and gain at least 20 lbs. by the time he graduates. I guess we are just seeing a preview of the report when he officially signs in a couple of years.
LMFAO
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 17:12 — gvillegatrwhy stop at 7 foot and 240 lbs ... why not 7 foot 10 and 300 lbs?
that was funny!!
It is based on
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 16:14 — Steven252525the fact that the vast majority of Carolina fans never attended nor were they accepted to Carolina. Thus they are the folks at Wal-Mart buying the cheap gear.
Derogatory?
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 16:35 — SurferWhat you are saying is probably somewhat true. I would say that it is virtually impossible for UNC to accept and or graduate the total number of people over the years to account for the total population who support the University and buy UNC gear. So I guess the fact is that more people buy UNC gear than any other University? Are these people, bad, poor or lowly because they didn't go to UNC? or because they shop at Wal-mart? I don't think so. They have their own reason to choose who they support.
It is an interesting point you make, but I am not sure what it is.
cop out
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 09:53 — WNCMikeIt's basically a cop out saying that if you support a school other than their's, you are a lesser person (or fan)for not going to that school that you support....even though the school you pull for wins more. The logical extrapolation would then be that all fans of the accuser's school would then be graduates of said school, which it is obviously not the case. It's a convoluted form of sour grapes in essence.
sour grapes
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 10:40 — gvillegatris exactly right. it is not our fault their parents pointed them in ncsu athletics direction at such an early age!
Flattery
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 09:59 — WNCMikeMost Carolina grads that I know (like myself) realize that it is positive that the program can appeal to more than just those who attended school there. As you said, it leads to more sales, more interest, and overall more support on local, state, national and even international levels. Truth be known, most other schools are desireous of being recognized and held in such esteem on a large stage.
Oh, I forgot... the rule
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 15:59 — GoHeels1984Oh, I forgot... the rule says that you have to be in college one year or one year removed from high school or something like that. Funny how the coach "builds him up" though with what appears to be NBA material. Funny no one else really recruited him if that is the case.
Also, what exactly is a "walmart UNC fan"? Please elaborate. Mentally challenged? How so? Gotta hear this...... carry on....
GoHeels proves unc's fanbase among the most mentally challenged
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 15:43 — sclarkLOL at goheels.... learn something about college hoops lil fella.
You have to be out of high school for at LEAST ONE YEAR young man.
GoHeels1984 it is always important
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 14:57 — Steven252525to know what you are talking about. When is the last time a player went straight to the NBA? Know the rules, you are clearly another Wal-Mart Carolina fan.
"Oak Ridge coach Stan
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 14:26 — GoHeels1984"Oak Ridge coach Stan Kowalewski said Uchebo run the floor well, has good passing ability and vision, and can score from 18 feet."
“He’s very aggressive going after the basketball coming off the rim"
If he is all of that according to his coach, why isn't he going straight to the NBA? Makes one wonder.....
Thanks for caring
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 01:44 — tjfooseThanks for caring though
From Georgia Elite Magazine:
Dave Telep has a little more measured assessment:
Just wondering.
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 15:33 — JPDOhioDid Sid have to send some money to one of those Nigerian bank accounts to get this kid?
If so, is it an NCAA violation?
congrats
Fri, 11/20/2009 - 09:29 — gvillegatrDave Telep (putting it nicely) said he wasn't all that good.
GoHeels1984
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 22:52 — tjfooseHey look, it's Beavis.