Kerwin Okoro

[BryceC]

I picture a Travis releford type player and I couldn't be more excited.

[enisthemenace]

I can't get the link I was looking at to load again, but here is a recent stat line:

21 points
10 rebounds
6 blocks

He's apparently a garbage-type of player. Defensive stopper, will outhustle for loose balls and isn't afraid of contact (rather opposite, from what I've been reading).

Every team needs a guy like this, and he'll have a year to learn from Babb. Also have a year to defend Clyburn in practice (may be even more important).

[drose1]

My prediction like tavon he will NOT be here after next year..... like everyone on here talks up freshmen... cough cough tavon

your a ****** bag

[madcityCY]

everyone bashing clone4good - just remember we were SUPER excited to get Sledge last year. You never know what a year will bring. (I can't support his prediction - just saying stuff happens)

I don't have a feeling about Okoro either way, but I do know we'll continue to have turnover in the program.













Has the Cap City League started yet?? ;)

[enisthemenace]

I hear ya MCC, but see two vastly different scenarios. Okoro is almost a foot taller and doesn't seem to care if he scores 25-30 points a game.

[clonedude]

Yes, being a foot taller alone helps his chances.

Nobody knows which recruits will end up being stars and which ones will be busts. So why try to predict it ahead of time? It does no good.

But I like Okoro's chances based on his defensive ability and rebounding alone. Guys that are great defenders and rebounders are guys that give great effort ALL the time. You can't have enough of those guys. Defense and rebounding are all about heart and desire.

And Chris Babb has shown us the impact of having a great defender on your team can be. HUGE. If you have a guy that can almost always shut down the opposing team's best weapon... that is a great advantage. Just ask Denmon from Missouri how much he liked being guarded by Chris Babb this year.

[acgclone]

everyone bashing clone4good - just remember we were SUPER excited to get Sledge last year. You never know what a year will bring. (I can't support his prediction - just saying stuff happens)

I don't have a feeling about Okoro either way, but I do know we'll continue to have turnover in the program.













Has the Cap City League started yet?? ;)

I get what you're saying, but at 6'4", being a good defender and having very good athleticism, as well as a tough attitude (not that Sledge didn't), Okoro will make it, IMO.

Chances are though, that one of our FR doesn't make it for one reason or another. It may be home sickness, or grades, or just not fitting in with the team, but usually 1 out of 4 is a safe bet for not being here by year 3.

[kentkel]

If Okoro comes to ISU and translates that defensive stopper mentality at the D-1 level, can you imagine Babb and Okoro going at it in a 1-on-1 game.

The Never-Ending Story : Babb vs Okoro
An after-practice game of 1-on-1 between senior Chris Babb and Frosh Kerwin Okoro became a marathon contest before a winner emerged shortly before midnight. It started out as a game to 10. For the first 2 hours, no one was able to get any dribble penetration into the 3-point circle, thus both players were forced into taking contested shots well beyond the 3 point line. At about 7pm, the players decided to make it a game to 5. However, that move only amped up the defensive intensity. For the next 3 hours, both players were forced into shots further out on the court. The Pioneer Seed Company logo seemed to be a common shooting spot but, again, each of those shots were contested. This prompted onlookers to suggest that the next point wins. The two players agreed and, around 11:45pm, Chris Babb emerged the winner - sinking an unorthodox, but contested bank shot from just inside the half court line. Babb described the winning shot: "Neither of us could get any good looks facing the basket, so I devised a new strategy. I got the ball and promptly dribbled to the half court line, took one hard dribble at Okoro - I probably got away with a push off to create that inch of separation - then spun around 180 degrees and threw the ball behind my head. The strange thing is, I think that Kerwin got a finger tip on it, and that slight alteration of the trajectory is likely why that shot went in. Otherwise, we might still be playing."

[ISU42]

everyone bashing clone4good - just remember we were SUPER excited to get Sledge last year. You never know what a year will bring. (I can't support his prediction - just saying stuff happens)

I don't have a feeling about Okoro either way, but I do know we'll continue to have turnover in the program.













Has the Cap City League started yet?? ;)

We don't know what will happen year to year, but I think part of the excitement for Sledge was that we didn't have a true pg on the roster. Some felt he would have to step in right away to run the team which disappointed them when he wasn't capable of doing that.

[madcityCY]

We don't know what will happen year to year, but I think part of the excitement for Sledge was that we didn't have a true pg on the roster. Some felt he would have to step in right away to run the team which disappointed them when he wasn't capable of doing that.

The other part of the excitement was that we beat out Cincy, Rutgers, Rhode Island, St. John, Seton Hall, and West Virginia for him. Those are some pretty decent programs.

Again, I'm not saying he'll be gone. Just saying nothing is for sure. I'm excited about Okoro. At least one mid-level scout has kept KO in his top 100 despite him not playing AAU last summer.

[Cydkar]

everyone bashing clone4good - just remember we were SUPER excited to get Sledge last year. You never know what a year will bring. (I can't support his prediction - just saying stuff happens)

I don't have a feeling about Okoro either way, but I do know we'll continue to have turnover in the program.

Predicting failure for a specific player is douchey. Predicting attrition, as a generality, is spot on.

[tyler24]

After Niang, this is the guy I think will have the biggest impact as a freshman. When you bring in hard nosed workers who are going to give it all on the defensive end, you have something that is gonna be here for the long haul. I think hes just going to be a stat sheet stuffer by the end of his career here at ISU. I believe him and Niang will be the freshmen that are getting a lot of attention on next years team.

[Rick]

This guy sounds like Kenny Pratt. I dont know his size etc.. but if he is a scrambler and banger we havent really had anyone like Pratt since he left.

[CYCLONECORY]

he's a guard. pratt never played guard.

[CyBer]

Heres a good article on him:
Nkereuwem ‘Kerwin’ Okoro » SwishScout