scotsman13
Registered User
http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/columnstoryS0406DENTON.htm
JOHN DENTON
Standing next to Emeka Okafor last summer while he was in Orlando training with USA Basketball, there was plenty to be impressed with. Okafor was intelligent, witty and had a million-dollar smile to match his chiseled frame.
But what was alarming was that I was nearly looking eye-to-eye with the center/power forward many are projecting to be the top pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Now, I'm 6-foot-5, which is tall for most sportswriters, but thankfully I'm not being asked to keep Shaquille O'Neal away from the bucket all night.
Okafor is listed at a generous 6-foot-10, which in college basketball terms, means he's really 6-8. Maybe it was Jim Harrick Jr. who measured his height.
Okafor is a marvelous defender, possessing a great sense of timing on his leaps and the ability to jump repeatedly. He is college basketball's all-time leading shot-blocker, an accomplishment that speaks to his enormous talent.
But there is just something that scares me about 6-foot-8ish college post players trying to make a living in the paint in the NBA. The league is littered with players like Marcus Fizer, Joe Smith, Clarence Weatherspoon, Corliss Williamson and Michael Sweetney -- players who dominated inside in college, but have flopped for the most part in the NBA.
There are, of course, exceptions, such as Elton Brand and Carlos Boozer. But Brand is nearly 270 pounds and Boozer makes his living on the offensive end by hitting mid-range jumpers. Okafor is a relatively light 245 pounds and his offensive game is miles behind his defensive skills.
Okafor is a dazzling player, college basketball's best big man by far. But at 6-8, you just have to wonder if he's big enough to survive in the NBA. The top position demands that you draft a star player. I'm still not convinced that Okafor will ever be able to reach such heights.
Contact Denton at [email protected]
JOHN DENTON
Standing next to Emeka Okafor last summer while he was in Orlando training with USA Basketball, there was plenty to be impressed with. Okafor was intelligent, witty and had a million-dollar smile to match his chiseled frame.
But what was alarming was that I was nearly looking eye-to-eye with the center/power forward many are projecting to be the top pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Now, I'm 6-foot-5, which is tall for most sportswriters, but thankfully I'm not being asked to keep Shaquille O'Neal away from the bucket all night.
Okafor is listed at a generous 6-foot-10, which in college basketball terms, means he's really 6-8. Maybe it was Jim Harrick Jr. who measured his height.
Okafor is a marvelous defender, possessing a great sense of timing on his leaps and the ability to jump repeatedly. He is college basketball's all-time leading shot-blocker, an accomplishment that speaks to his enormous talent.
But there is just something that scares me about 6-foot-8ish college post players trying to make a living in the paint in the NBA. The league is littered with players like Marcus Fizer, Joe Smith, Clarence Weatherspoon, Corliss Williamson and Michael Sweetney -- players who dominated inside in college, but have flopped for the most part in the NBA.
There are, of course, exceptions, such as Elton Brand and Carlos Boozer. But Brand is nearly 270 pounds and Boozer makes his living on the offensive end by hitting mid-range jumpers. Okafor is a relatively light 245 pounds and his offensive game is miles behind his defensive skills.
Okafor is a dazzling player, college basketball's best big man by far. But at 6-8, you just have to wonder if he's big enough to survive in the NBA. The top position demands that you draft a star player. I'm still not convinced that Okafor will ever be able to reach such heights.
Contact Denton at [email protected]
