Wanted: 2011 Big Man
by: Griffin Bennett
Losing Chol and Pelle to Arizona and St. John’s was a big blow to the 2011/12 Husky team as there is no one on the roster that will replace Matthew Bryan-Amaning. It seems that Romar is on to hissecond or third back-up plan. With no easy replacement in sight, here is a list of some players that the Huskies have their eye on. These are players that I know, from a source, that the Huskies are looking at, have looked at, or plan on looking at. I am not saying Romar or the coaching staff has offered them or even talked to them. These are just players that Romar or his staff have looked into.
Will any of these guys make it onto the roster next year? I have no idea. It’s also good to keep in mind that I have no idea of their eligibility status and some of the JUCO players could be hard to get into UW. I have not seen any of these guys play so I don’t know who the best player of the bunch would be. Without further ado, here is the list.
Cheikh Mbodji – Grayson County CC – 6’9″ 253 – JUCO Sophomore
This JUCO Sophomore has all of the size that UW would want. This season he is averaging 15 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.1 bpg, 71% free throw, 6 of 15 from deep, and 53% FG%. He could add immediate offensive help down low for the Dawgs. He would also only have 3 years to play 2, so he wouldn’t be a long term fix at the position. On the other hand, he would provide some much needed experience right away.
Adrick McKinney – Angelina CC – 6’8″ – JUCO Sophomore
He’s averaging 15.1 ppg, 8.42 rpg, 1.1 spg, and 48% FG%. He seems a little undersized to replace MBA down low, but I could not find his listed weight. He is also a JUCO sophomore meaning he would have 3 years to play 2. His points and rebounding numbers look excellent, though.
Ja’Darius Davis – Angelina CC – 6’8″ – JUCO Freshman
While he may not be the best answer to replace MBA, the teammate of McKinney is a JUCO Freshman who can shoot from outside. He is currently averaging 6.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, and shoots 36% from deep (48/135). I doubt that Davis is the right fit for the Huskies next year.
God’s Gift Achiuwa – Erie CC – 6’9″ – JUCO Sophomore
Yes, that is his given name. His family is from Nigeria and grew up heavily religious and his father thought the name fit. While his name is reason enough to sign him up, he posts an impressive 23.7 ppg, 12 rpg, and 2.2 bpg. He is a JUCO sophomore so he would only be a short term answer at power forward. He already has offers from Cincinnati and Niagara. He is also getting interest from Kentucky and St. John’s. He might be the best JUCO option for the Huskies.
Jarion Henry – Kimball HS – 6’8″ 195 – High School Senior
While he is more likely to play the small forward position than power forward, he is a national high school recruit who has some real talent. He is a 4 star recruit who does not have many top tier scholarship offers. Currently only Arkansas, Fresno State, Marquette and UTEP have offered him. He may not provide immediate help next year, which is all of our #1 concern, but he could provide a great athlete for the future.
Daouda Soumaoro – Our Savior New American School – 6’9 215 – High School Senior
Here is another guy in the Aziz N’diaye build. He has nice size and is still learning the game while being able to run the court. According to ESPN, he has a high motor and rebounds blocks shots well on each end of the floor, but his body does not match his athleticism and struggles with his back to the basket. He sounds like a shorter version of Aziz. He is reportedly considering St. John’s, Colorado, UW, Utah, and Fairfield. He still needs to take the SAT’s and his qualification is unknown.
Others:
These are some other names that I have heard from other sources or I couldn’t get good information on at the time:
Daniel Edozie – Compton Centennial – 6’9″ 225 – High School Senior
Braedon Anderson – Wilbraham and Monson Academy – 6’8″ 215 – High School Senior