Canes Hoops lands huge boost in transfer Cleveland

I’m glad we nabbed this dude out of the portal. Is this just a one year rental before he goes pro?
Don't think so at all. He already is a very solid college player but that doesn't mean he has NBA in his future. He'd have to have a monster year to leave after one season. Not likely as it'll take some time for him just to acclimate here.
 
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I'd like to see us add another big who can help Omier with interior defense, rebounding and just giving L a chance to rest Omier more during games. It's possible we have that player in Nwoko but .. hard to pin your hopes on a true frosh.

To turn your question around, we would be SOL if Pack and Omier don't return. Especially Omier.
Agree with your point about Nwoko as a freshman, but that young man is a beast inside. And wait until he has college nutrition and weight training. I have not been as high on a freshman big man coming to UMN since …..I can’t remember
The only thing that may hold Nwoko back next year, which goes to your point about being a freshman, is that all these 5th and 6th year players mean an 18/19 year old Nwoko will battle against 22/23/24 year olds and that much more physical maturity.
 
Agree with your point about Nwoko as a freshman, but that young man is a beast inside. And wait until he has college nutrition and weight training. I have not been as high on a freshman big man coming to UMN since …..I can’t remember
The only thing that many hold Nwoko back next year, which goes to your point about being a freshman, is that all these 5th and 6th year players mean an 18/19 year old Nwoko will battle against 22/23/24 year olds and that much more physical maturity.
I totally am with you on Nwoko. People who saw him play recently for the International team out in Portland at the NIKE Hoops Summit could not have been higher on his play. He more than held his own with the cream of the prospect crop.

Previous UM bigs like Jekiri and Ezundu were VERY raw coming out of HS; Nwoko evidently much more polished at the same age.
 
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He is not. He looks like Miller but does not play like Miller…yet. Give Coach L 1-2 years and this can turn around. And if it does watch out because Matt is extremely athletic. With him and Wooga we will always be the most athletic team next year.
The good news he does not have to be 5th year senior Miller. Those expectations are unfair. He will still be an effective player for us this year and is a great fit for what we run. Jim will get more out of him than what Ham got out of him. That I am very confident we can expect.
 
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I totally am with you on Nwoko. People who saw him play recently for the International team out in Portland at the NIKE Hoops Summit could not have been higher on his play. He more than held his own with the cream of the prospect crop.

Previous UM bigs like Jekiri and Ezundu were VERY raw coming out of HS; Nwoko evidently much more polished at the same age.
Nwoko plays like he knows he’s big and powerful. Tenacious, Anquan-Boldin like attitude. Tonye and Ezundu played like they thought they were 8 inches shorter than their listed height.
 
I totally am with you on Nwoko. People who saw him play recently for the International team out in Portland at the NIKE Hoops Summit could not have been higher on his play. He more than held his own with the cream of the prospect crop.

Previous UM bigs like Jekiri and Ezundu were VERY raw coming out of HS; Nwoko evidently much more polished at the same age.
Nwogo has college ready size which puts him already ahead of any freshman big we've brought in. He is already a willing defender and rebounder which Jim loves out of his young guys.
 
I said it in multiple threads, let the process play out, let L and his staff work. Don’t be shocked if Miami lands another legit transfer to replace Wong.

I would love to not start Wooga and have him and Jospeh be first two off the bench.

If we can find a legit SG to take wongs place it could make this roster really good if/when Pack and Omier hopefully return
 
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Nwoko plays like he knows he’s big and powerful. Tenacious, Anquan-Boldin like attitude. Tonye and Ezundu played like they thought they were 8 inches shorter than their listed height.
We got a lot out of Jekiri and Ezundu, considering ... just took some years. Didn't Tonye lead the ACC in rebounding his last year?

Nwoko looks to be ready a heckuva lot sooner.
 
I would love to not start Wooga and have him and Jospeh be first two off the bench.

If we can find a legit SG to take wongs place it could make this roster really good if/when Pack and Omier hopefully return
A legit SG to replace Wong doesn't take Wooga out of starting lineup. You'd have to get another wing good enough out of the portal to take an entrenched ascending player like Wooga's job. Or have Watson or Robinson take the job. Not scenarios that are likely to happen.

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A legit SG to replace Wong doesn't take Wooga out of starting lineup. You'd have to get another wing good enough out of the portal to take an entrenched ascending player like Wooga's job. Or have Watson or Robinson take the job. Not scenarios that are likely to happen.

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So Cleveland at 4 I was th king he could play 3 and Maybe AJ can Step up and start
 
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I would love to not start Wooga and have him and Jospeh be first two off the bench.

If we can find a legit SG to take wongs place it could make this roster really good if/when Pack and Omier hopefully return
Wooga isn’t coming off the bench. He was a starter last year, and is more than capable of being an ALL-ACC performer. He’d transfer if he had to sit and for good reason.
 
I would love to not start Wooga and have him and Jospeh be first two off the bench.

If we can find a legit SG to take wongs place it could make this roster really good if/when Pack and Omier hopefully return
Kyshawn George or possibly Jakai Robinson could fill that role if they don’t bring in another Guard
 
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Nwoko plays like he knows he’s big and powerful. Tenacious, Anquan-Boldin like attitude. Tonye and Ezundu played like they thought they were 8 inches shorter than their listed height.
Are we talking about the same Jekiri and Izundu? Their problem wasn't that they played small, in the case of Tonye, it was more a case of him physically maturing, people forget how skinny he was as a true frosh, and even then, he was a productive guy off the bench when asked to do what he could do at the time. Izundu had a better body coming in, his issue was more of him being unable to defend without manhandling someone, dude was a walking foul throughout his career.
 
I would love to not start Wooga and have him and Jospeh be first two off the bench.

If we can find a legit SG to take wongs place it could make this roster really good if/when Pack and Omier hopefully return

According to L Wooga has a good shot at being our leading scorer next year.

L sees him as a lottery pick player as long as he continues to listen and work.
 
According to L Wooga has a good shot at being our leading scorer next year.

L sees him as a lottery pick player as long as he continues to listen and work.
L is right, for us that have watched the growth in Wooga's game, it's beyond obvious that he is on the verge of something special. He didn't get nearly as many shots as he should have gotten last year, because he was splitting with Wong, Pack and Miller. That's going to change this year, because he will pick up a lot of the shots Wong took last year and honestly, he has the potential to be a much more efficient scorer, due to his stroke from deep. When you have plus athleticism, defend at a high level, can shoot from deep and still can hit from midrange, that's going to get you picked up in the lottery, provided you continue to grow and improve. If Wooga can get his handle under control, we may be talking about an All-American type of player.
 
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