Uche Nsonwu-Amadi

This is a guy who may be within reach of the Rockets come draft day. We had pretty good luck with another former soccer player from Nigeria. Sounds like someone JVG would love. Me too !

"Game description: Uche is built like a classic power forward, with huge upper body muscles and strong but lean legs. He has extra large hands as well, and seems to catch everything he touches, whether it be off a rebound or pass. He has a very effective low post game, but only scores in a few basic ways. His jump hook is excellent with either hand, and he knows how to create space to get it off. He is patient in the post, and uses his wide body very effectively. He has a nice turnaround jumpshot to counter his jumphook, and those 2 moves alone make him difficult to defend. If you overplay to either shot too much, he will spin and dunk in a flash. He also has the ability to spot shoot, especially after shaping up from a pick and roll. His range extends to between 12-15 feet but at 18 feet he lacks consistency. Despite these talents, he gets most of his points banging the glass. Relentless and aggressive, you must hit him hard and keep him away from the ball, or it will stick to his hands and he will score on the putback. Bottom line; he is very difficult to match up with because he can overpower a taller, rangier but thinner post player, yet has the size to score over the stronger but smaller power forwards that are typically seen in the college game.

Defense: On the defensive end, he is not a true shot blocker, but his lateral quickness is good, and his long arms(wingspan of 7'2") give him oportunities to block a shot or 2 a game. He is able to push his opponents off the block, and force them into tougher shots. Again, his real strength on this side is his ability to rebound. He goes after everything, and gets everything within reach. Uche has the potential to be an all-league defensive player, simply because he is longer and stronger than most of his opponents, and just as athletic. Areas for improvement: Uche has a poor running style, chopping his stride in half like a soccer player(which he was back in Nigeria). He would be more effective in transition with a longer stride befitting his size. Make no mistake, he can clearly run the floor well, but adding speed is possible with better technique. He also is an adequate, but not great, free throw shooter. With his body and style of play, he should be getting to the line a great deal, and he needs to be able to convert those opportunities into more points than he has in the past. NBA players simlar to; built like Karl Malone, but not the same transition player Malone was at 24. Plays more like Charles Oakley, great rebounder and spot shooter.

Projection: If he played in the ACC or another glamour conference, he'd be a household name. There aren't 3 post players in America that can do all that he does. He'll be 24 on draft day, so perhaps that will work against him in an era where youth is preferred over experience. Uche, though, is very mature and experienced, so he has a much better chance of helping an NBA team in the next few years than any 19 year old. For the NBA trenches, he has the perfect build to make plays throughout the season. He is also very coachable, which will help him develop whatever weaknesses hat are exposed when he joins the league, so the player you see at 25 will not be as good as the one at 27, and that can't be said about most players right now".