Tobe Awaka Quick Scouting Report
Games watched: vs. Purdont, @ Missouri
This dude is a full on monster. He would immediately be the strongest, most physical guy on the team. However, he is a 5 all the way here and I dont see him playing much 4 unless we just want to mash teams. He is going to be similar to Ballo as a vertical spacer and lob threat. He needs a runway, but he has really good feet and can operate in traffic.
Offensively he is an absolute load in the paint. He is going to put guys into the basket, is a space eater in the heart of the defense, and active on the offensive glass. Good touch, he can finish through contact, has a pretty decent fadeaway jumper in the paint to get a shot up against longer, bigger guys. Good drop step, can work in the dunker spot, and an absolute unit setting screens. He is going to free up guards on those DHOs because hes wide and extremely physical. He is going to make sure guys feel it when he sets a screen.
In transition, he can run the court and moves pretty well for a guy his size. Will easily be able to seal and pin dudes. Definitely a threat on our duck ins. Hasnt shown much of anything as a passer.
Defensively, hes more active and agile than he initially looks. He is a quality defender who can slide his feet laterally, has decent mobility, can play at the level of the screen and in the drop. He actually does a nice job sliding with the guards at the level in ball screens. However, on the block is where you see his value. This dude was holding his own against Edey man up. He uses his strength and leverage to hold position on offense, but especially on defense. Edey wasnt able to back him down, and his footwork allowed him to keep his feet moving and slide to cut off Edey's moves and counters. He can defend any big man in the country on the block because of his strength and IQ.
He does a good job contesting shots just by playing straight up. His size allows him to get into offensive players, which is why his block rate is so high despite not being vertically athletic. When a shot goes up, he is bulldozing through guys to get to a rebound. Oh yeah, good luck boxing him out. He is going right through you.
Overall, he is a nice counter to what we have at C. He is physically imposing, would be the strongest guy on the team, has good feet, and can score around the rim multiple ways, monster on the glass and this is a dude who is NOT getting punked by anyone.
