Comparisons

Gazoo · #1 11-23-2018, 08:33 AM

OK, it's really, really early for this. Inappropriately early. Yes, guilty as charged. BUT.

Is it just me, or does Obi have better body control, better ball handling (that's not a really high bar), better jump shooting touch, almost (but not quite) the same hops, and better court awareness RIGHT NOW than Chris Wright did as a senior?

OK maybe he's just had the best 5 games of his life and we'll look back on this as the peak of his career. . . but is it totally crazy to see him as a potential NBA player in a few years??

I'm not predicting that it's a for-sure bet that it's going to happen. But when you look at a guy like Pollard, or Mikesell, Pierre, you realize that those guys can be great players for UD and take us places BUT NBA players are freakish. 99% of the time you have to start with the freakish athleticism and bodily attributes just as table stakes. Then you have to work yourself to death after that. I always thought Wright had the physical table stakes but just never could get the needed polish (dribbling, passing, outside shooting).

Obi seems to me to have the table stakes, even moreso than Wright. He also will need to improve his polish but Wright has made it pretty far even without that. I don't see how this guy wasn't recruited more heavily.

Paging Roy Hobbs??

Fudd · #2 11-23-2018, 09:01 AM

after going to the exhibition game this year, I was talking with a big UD fan colleague of mine at work, and giving him my best description of the team that I could at the time. I told him, that I was sheepish about saying this at such an early stage, but I told him that I hope Obi does not leave early to go pro at some point during his UD career.

I don't think I have ever said that about a UD player before.

Jeff · #3 11-23-2018, 09:07 AM

It’s early, but clearly this kid can play. Nice pull up jumper. Can execute the pick and roll. Seems to be unselfish, and is playing passable d for a freshman. On top of that seems to be a good teammate and has a passion for the game. He’ll be a team captain.

San Diego Flyer · #4 11-23-2018, 09:16 AM

Obi is definitely not awed by his own progress and potential--just comfortable with what he can do. IMO one thing that is key to his current skill set is that he was a 6'1" point guard at one time in HS. Then he grew incredibly fast while maintaining his ball skills. He learned what CW didn't have to learn because Chris was a large kangaroo from the git-go. He astounded scouts with his mercurial hops, shot blocking, and dunking. In a similar HS period, Obi was developing ball handling skills, court awareness, and lateral agility.

Obi's ceiling is Toppin the charts!

shocka43 · #5 11-23-2018, 09:46 AM

CW was an athlete that could play some basketball. Obi is a great all around basketball player. No comparison.

T-Bone 84 · #6 11-23-2018, 10:16 AM

At the PFW game last week, I said to some friends in our section that the last Flyer I could recall who had the same combination of height and athleticism was CW. But as shocka43 said, there’s really no comparison when it comes to BB skills. Obi’s ball-handling, passing, and shooting skills now (as a 19-year-old) are better than anything I ever saw out of CW in a Flyer uni. A shame for CW, really, that those skills never got developed in 4 years here. A blessing for Obi that his skill development preceded his growth spurt.
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