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- Thread starter LitlBuck
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
FELIX OKPARA KNOWS “I’VE STILL GOT A LOT OF ROOM TO GROW” BEFORE FRESHMAN SEASON BEGINS AT OHIO STATE
Ohio State didn’t sign a transfer center over the offseason. Not even a scholarship power forward.
That was a conscious decision by Chris Holtmann and the Buckeye coaching staff, and it speaks to the confidence it has in the two true big men on the roster for the 2022-23 season. For the most part, Ohio State already knows what it has in returning junior Zed Key, although his full potential may not be fully realized just yet. What true freshman Felix Okpara will bring to the table, though, will be more of a mystery.
The 6-foot-11 first-year center certainly possesses the type of length and athleticism that scouts at every level fawn over, but if you ask Okpara himself, he’s still got a ways to go before he can impact the game to the extent he wants to. It’s a realization Okpara has come to after four straight weeks of interior battles with his 6-foot-8, 245-pound counterpart down low during Ohio State’s summer practices.
“It’s been tough. Zed Key’s a real good player, a real big dude and I’ve still got a lot of room to grow in my game and also my physique,” Okpara told Eleven Warriors at this past Sunday’s Kingdom League event at Ohio Dominican University. “I feel like if I work out with him in the practice room every day, I’m gonna get better and get stronger.”
One glance at Okpara makes it obvious that his frame is a work in progress, given his wiry build as just an 18-year-old. Okpara says he weighs 218 pounds right now, but wants to get to 230 before the start of the season.
It’s no surprise Key uses that to his advantage when the pair match up in the post. But Okpara’s elite shot-blocking ability means he still wins a fair share of sequences between the pair.
“(Our one-on-one matchups have been) very physical. I know he’s gonna try to punch my shot, so I got to give him my body,” Key said at the Kingdom League event. “But he’s a good defender, and I gotta use some of my being in college two years.”
“I’M WORKING ON MY GAME EVERY DAY AND HOPEFULLY I’M GONNA ADD UP SOME STUFF AND IT’S GONNA GET ME READY FOR THE SEASON SO I CAN IMPACT THE GAME.”– FELIX OKPARA
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...w-before-freshman-season-begins-at-ohio-state
Ohio State didn’t sign a transfer center over the offseason. Not even a scholarship power forward.
That was a conscious decision by Chris Holtmann and the Buckeye coaching staff, and it speaks to the confidence it has in the two true big men on the roster for the 2022-23 season. For the most part, Ohio State already knows what it has in returning junior Zed Key, although his full potential may not be fully realized just yet. What true freshman Felix Okpara will bring to the table, though, will be more of a mystery.
The 6-foot-11 first-year center certainly possesses the type of length and athleticism that scouts at every level fawn over, but if you ask Okpara himself, he’s still got a ways to go before he can impact the game to the extent he wants to. It’s a realization Okpara has come to after four straight weeks of interior battles with his 6-foot-8, 245-pound counterpart down low during Ohio State’s summer practices.
“It’s been tough. Zed Key’s a real good player, a real big dude and I’ve still got a lot of room to grow in my game and also my physique,” Okpara told Eleven Warriors at this past Sunday’s Kingdom League event at Ohio Dominican University. “I feel like if I work out with him in the practice room every day, I’m gonna get better and get stronger.”
One glance at Okpara makes it obvious that his frame is a work in progress, given his wiry build as just an 18-year-old. Okpara says he weighs 218 pounds right now, but wants to get to 230 before the start of the season.
It’s no surprise Key uses that to his advantage when the pair match up in the post. But Okpara’s elite shot-blocking ability means he still wins a fair share of sequences between the pair.
“(Our one-on-one matchups have been) very physical. I know he’s gonna try to punch my shot, so I got to give him my body,” Key said at the Kingdom League event. “But he’s a good defender, and I gotta use some of my being in college two years.”
“I’M WORKING ON MY GAME EVERY DAY AND HOPEFULLY I’M GONNA ADD UP SOME STUFF AND IT’S GONNA GET ME READY FOR THE SEASON SO I CAN IMPACT THE GAME.”– FELIX OKPARA
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...w-before-freshman-season-begins-at-ohio-state
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2022-23 season bump
* 34 Felix Okpara, 6-11, 220, freshman – Okpara, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, has been in the United State pursuing a basketball career for the last four years. He spent two years at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Tennessee before transferring to Missouri’s Link Academy for his senior year. Playing against the nation’s best competition, Okpara averaged over eight points, six rebounds and two blocked shots per game as a senior. Okpara was ranked 62nd nationally in the 247Sports Composite rankings for the 2022 class.
* 34 Felix Okpara, 6-11, 220, freshman – Okpara, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, has been in the United State pursuing a basketball career for the last four years. He spent two years at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Tennessee before transferring to Missouri’s Link Academy for his senior year. Playing against the nation’s best competition, Okpara averaged over eight points, six rebounds and two blocked shots per game as a senior. Okpara was ranked 62nd nationally in the 247Sports Composite rankings for the 2022 class.
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DISAPPOINTING REBOUNDING EFFORT
Even without two long wings in Sueing and Brown, who Holtmann called two of his best rebounders, Ohio State held a size advantage against Chaminade. That showed up in its 54-22 edge in points in the paint.....
Felix Okpara finished with nine rebounds to lead all Buckeyes.
https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...o-states-101-57-exhibition-win-over-chaminade
Even without two long wings in Sueing and Brown, who Holtmann called two of his best rebounders, Ohio State held a size advantage against Chaminade. That showed up in its 54-22 edge in points in the paint.....
Felix Okpara finished with nine rebounds to lead all Buckeyes.
https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...o-states-101-57-exhibition-win-over-chaminade
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Felix can play a little. He needs more time early and often. Tonight's game shows what happens to this team when Zed gets in foul trouble. The conference games are going to absolutely test that every night and I'd like to think we won't automatically get killed because Zed fouls out. Get the guy some meaningful minutes. Sub in like SDSU did if necessary, 5 at a time.
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Herb Kirkstreit
He / him / I like to motorboat boobs
Okpara with 10 & 12 today for his first double double. Keep developing and this gets exciting.
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Felix Okpara’s progression an unexpected contribution
Holtmann took a submitted question asking which player has provided the most unexpected new contribution to the team.
“It’s tough to put it on any one guy,” he said. “It’s a number of guys. Big guys are always hard. It takes them a minute. They always take longer than guards to develop, so the progression of Felix has been a really good thing. He’s gotten better. He’s impacted the game with athleticism and size. He’s rebounding better with two hands through contact. I’d point to a lot of guys. It’s always good to see a big guy grow and progress.”
https://www.dispatch.com/story/spor...es-gene-brown-more-on-radio-show/69758955007/
Holtmann took a submitted question asking which player has provided the most unexpected new contribution to the team.
“It’s tough to put it on any one guy,” he said. “It’s a number of guys. Big guys are always hard. It takes them a minute. They always take longer than guards to develop, so the progression of Felix has been a really good thing. He’s gotten better. He’s impacted the game with athleticism and size. He’s rebounding better with two hands through contact. I’d point to a lot of guys. It’s always good to see a big guy grow and progress.”
https://www.dispatch.com/story/spor...es-gene-brown-more-on-radio-show/69758955007/
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calibuck
Too soon old, too late smart
Agree with above. Okpara has developed rather quickly, thankfully. No true backup to Zed, until Bball strength coach put some meat on him. Great to witness Okpara's growth, keeps fresh legs on Zed, which means fewer reaching fouls. Am thinking that this freshman class is much better than advertised, as the contributions already have been outstanding. Go Bucks!
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Another excellent game off the bench. Best rim protector in awhile. Ultimate test comes next
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