OKC Thunder NBA Draft prospect series: Ike Anigbogu

Feb 23, 2017; Tempe, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins forward Ike Anigbogu (13) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Wells-Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Ike Anigbogu is up next in Thunderous Intentions 2017 NBA Draft Prospect series.

As a UCLA freshman center Ike Anigbogu got off to a difficult start to his NCAA season when he tore his meniscus. The resulting effect was Anigobu missed much of the early season. When he returned he functioned solely in a reserve role, behind starter Thomas Welsh. For a player who saw few minutes his draft stock is relatively high. This due to his youth and potential upside.

Specifics:

Height: 6’10 ”

Weight: 250 lbs

Wingspan: 7’6.25″

Position: Center

Age: 18 years, 7 months

Statline: 4.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 1.2 blocks

College: UCLA (freshman)

Home Town: Corona, California

Current rankings:

(note – rankings are taken on day of article posting and therefore may be listed at a similar rank as previously posted prospect reviews)

The pundits place Anigbogu in a variety of positions ranging from a high of 15th to a low of 24th.

DraftExpress: 17th overall prospect

NBA DraftNet: 23rd

Scott Howard-Cooper nba.com: 24th

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor: 20th

CBS Sports: 16th

Basketball Insiders: 15th

Jeremy Woo SI.com, The Crossover: 15th

Skills:

As Kevin O’Connor points out Anigbogu displays a similar quality to Clint Capela. His leaping, rebounding and blocking ability are solid reasons for the comparison. He showcases fluid motion and lateral quickness which are best demonstrated via his stellar defense. Unlike many prospects his body is well suited for the NBA and he may find his talents also better suited for the pro level. Anigbogu tested well at the combine which had a few teams sitting up and taking notice. Specifically, his recorded weight of 250 pounds was 20 more than his initial weight at season start. He also has a huge wing span of more than 7’6″, extremely large hands and a solid lower body with as one scout put it “legs like tree trunks“.

Considering the comparison to Capela these latter points are extremely compelling given the Rockets center started his pro campaign needing to add weight and more on the scrawny side.

Bottom line Anigbogu isn’t necessarily the prototypical new age center, but for any squad requiring a rim protector and defensive specialist (ah- there is the Capela comparison again), he potentially offers the perfect elixir.

Weaknesses:

Given centers tend to develop slower than every other position there is the advantage of youth on his side The unknown however is whether he’ll be able to develop much more offensive skill than his current limitations of easy rim runs, lay-ins and put back dunks. With his early injury there remain questions about his durability. Most of his defensive shortcomings are limited to discipline related issues like biting on pump fakes, not reading situations well and staying focused.

Again, he’s young with a high motor, so these could all be moot points for a franchise willing to invest development time in him.

Pro Comparison:

More from Thunderous Intentions

Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer provided a ceiling comparison for each of his prospects. O’Connor’s list includes Clint Capela and Tristan Thompson.

The fit:

An imperfect fit for the Thunder given his limited offensive talents and similar players currently on the roster. Anigbogu’s rank varies between late lottery and after the Thunder’s 21st pick. Since OKC already boasts strength up front it makes no sense to select Ike Anigbogu. While a talent his defensive assets are similar to what Adams brings and he doesn’t offer enough offensively. Ultimately, he simply doesn’t move the needle enough to warrant Sam Presti selecting him, let alone moving up to get him.

Teams like the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and Portland Trail Blazers who are in dire need of shoring up their front court depth could focus in on the center. Still for those teams to select him with their 14 through 16 picks feels like a reach. However, Portland’s second pick at 20 would make sense as they try to add more depth around Jusuf Nurkic and their potent backcourt.

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