Wichita State Lands 7-footer

[tornado]

Bradley is NOT going to be the only team in the league with a 7-footer.

Wichita just got a signed LOI from
Ehimen Orukpe, Nigerian native, had originally signed a LOi at Liberty and was released following the coaching change there.
He is an amateur 18 year old with no colege, prep school, or juco experience, has 4 years of eligibility, and was also recruited, in addition to Liberty, by Illinois State, Auburn, Western Kentucky, and Winthrop when Gregg Marshall was there..

http://www.goshockers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=7500&ATCLID=885303

With Gal Mekel (Israel), Mantas Griskenas (Lithuania), Ejike Hart (Liberia), and Orukpe (Nigeria) they will have a distinctly multicultural look!

[Bravesguy]

There's next to nothing on this player anywhere except some comments on the African baseball sites and a few blurbs about him signing with Liberty. Even Africabasket/eurobasket doesn't have him in their database.
It will be interesting to see if he contributes as much as Kobby Acquah.
Here is a link to a list of Nigerian players invited to a "Big Man Camp" in Lagos, Nigeria in 2006.
Orukpe is listed at 7-0, but eight different players are listed at 6-11 or more.

http://www.africanbasketballonline.com/

[shockerfan13]

Sup guys, yeah many of us only know what coach is saying about this kid, but what he is saying is pretty exciting. I trust Marshall because he tends to find good talent where you may not expect it.

This morning Marshall said his assistant at the time (now head coach at Wintrhop) went and saw this kid play. He came back excited and definately felt he needed to be part of Winthrop. Said watching a kid that tall run as well as he did up and down the court was a "thing of beauty". Marshall said this kid can run and jump better than most 7 footers. Says he will be an immediate impact for defense and rebounding. He did say he needs to improve offensively, but that is where his coaching comes into play. Marshall said he truely felt that if he was in the American circuit that he probably wouldn't have much of a chance recruiting him. Says he's skinny right now as most of them are from over there, but that with his frame he should have no problem becoming a "big guy".

Time will tell, but this may be a "diamond in the rough" kinda like O'Bryant was for you guys. Not saying I'm expecting him to be O'Bryant, but just that kind of potential.

[wingrider81]

7 Footers

Okay a coupla weeks ago, there may not have been any
7-footers in the Valley. Now there are at least three
with our Dave Collins hopefully leading the pack over Orukpe
at WSU and Zack House at EU. It will quite entertaining to
see who of these big guys (if any) are ready to shine.
It's another sidebar to a wild season boiling up. Wing 81

[Da Coach]

There is also 7'1" Jordan Eglseder of UNI--

http://unipanthers.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/eglseder_jordan00.html

[wingrider81]

Thanks Coach

There is also 7'1" Jordan Eglseder of UNI--
http://unipanthers.cstv.com/sports/m..._jordan00.html

Ahh a four horse race! Thanks Coach. And I look
forward to BU having the ManO'War in this barn. Wing