Comparison: Jahadi White/Brian Skinner

Strengths: Destructively powerful bigman with an ultra efficient offensive game ... Led the country in FG% last season shooting a miraculous 67% ... An immovable object in the post. Impossible to keep him off the block, and once he gets position, it's impossible to get him off the spot ... Anchors himself to the floor. Tremendous upper body and lower body strength ... Excellent touch from 6 feet and in. Uses both hands effectively around the basket, including a deft lefty jump hook ... Rarely fails to convert on layups, even after contact ... Finishes extremely well in traffic, often with a power jam ... Foot work in the post has improved dramatically. Displays glimpses of dominant board work with eight double digit rebounding efforts as a Junior (7.3 per game), including 5 offensive boards or more on eight occasions ... Rebounds as a result of brute strength and positioning, not leaping ability or quickness to the ball ... Enormous 7'7 wingspan and solid timing make him a serious shot blocking threat (1.4 per game).

Weaknesses: Onuaku's fatal flaw is his performance (or lack there of) at the free throw line ... His percentage dropped from 45% as a Sophomore to an unthinkable 29% last season ... Lack of confidence at the stripe began to inhibit the rest of his game ... Fear of being fouled limited his aggressiveness as he tried to avoid contact-his greatest ally on the court ... He attempted only seven field goals and three free throws per contest last season ... He also appeared to mentally check out of games because of his failures to convert at the line ... Possesses extremely limited range, with no ability to face up defenders ... Dribbles too high in traffic, and puts the ball on the floor unnecessarily on too many occasions ... Does not recognize double teams quickly and is not an adroit passer out of the post ... Basketball IQ must improve. Outmuscled in post D by far weaker opponents, showing lack of commitment to positioning and desire to defend ... Lateral quickness to guard on the perimeter is non-existent ... At 6'9 will likely need to play as an undersized 5 at the next level ... An overall decrease in numbers from his Sophomore to Junior season is quite disconcerting ... Needs to regain confidence and find consistency and hunger to dominate from game to game ... Played last year through painful tendenitis. Had ofseason knee surgery so there is some concern over the health of his knees ...

Notes: Had perhaps his best effort last season against future lottery pick Cole Aldrich and Kansas in Kansas City, tallying 19 points on 8-10 shooting including 3-3 from the line. He also added 12 rebounds and 4 blocks.

Adam Ganeles 10/24/09