2017 Recruiting: Chris Efretuei (7'1'' C)

[pj]

Here's an earlier highlight tape to complement the one Matrim55 put up:

 

[6xChamps]

Can he be any worse than Briamah.

This narrative is so unbelievably tired. He made one of the biggest plays in UConn history, won conference defensive player of the year, and was considered to be one of the best shot blockers in the country throughout his college career. There are going to be plenty of future UConn players that have much worse careers than him.

 

[WrenchFan69]

Another big raw African kid that's a fluid runner but perhaps a bit clumsy otherwise. Can't imagine he'd be as good as Amida was as a shot blocker at least as a freshman, but has a lot to like. Seems he could end up thicker than Amida. Would be a good fit for the 2017 class, as it seems no quality grad bigs are coming

 

[AntG168]

This narrative is so unbelievably tired. He made one of the biggest plays in UConn history, won conference defensive player of the year, and was considered to be one of the best shot blockers in the country throughout his college career. There are going to be plenty of future UConn players that have much worse careers than him.

True to an extent. Brimah was nothing short of a disappointment his last 2 seasons. So tho he may have accomplished some good things in his career we'd better hope and pray we have bigs better than Brimah in the future because je wasnt all that good. Lovable, hard worker ABSOLUTELY. Great? No...

 

[AntG168]

Another big raw African kid that's a fluid runner but perhaps a bit clumsy otherwise. Can't imagine he'd be as good as Amida was as a shot blocker at least as a freshman, but has a lot to like. Seems he could end up thicker than Amida. Would be a good fit for the 2017 class, as it seems no quality grad bigs are coming

He already has a better post game than amida. And better rebounding instincts. This is not hyperbole either. Amida may have been the worst big man in the post in basketball history.....he was that bad. It was borderline embarrassing

 

[CardiacAndre7]

He already has a better post game than amida. And better rebounding instincts. This is not hyperbole either. Amida may have been the worst big man in the post in basketball history.....he was that bad. It was borderline embarrassing

In the video he's also playing against some pretty bad competition, can't really tell if his post game is better, especially because he barely did any also.

 

[AntG168]

In the video he's also playing against some pretty bad competition, can't really tell if his post game is better, especially because he barely did any also.

Very true. Tho its hard to be worse

 

[King Husky]

True to an extent. Brimah was nothing short of a disappointment his last 2 seasons. So tho he may have accomplished some good things in his career we'd better hope and pray we have bigs better than Brimah in the future because je wasnt all that good. Lovable, hard worker ABSOLUTELY. Great? No...

Yeah, there's a difference between having made some great/important plays, and being a great player. Love Brimah for what he did, but he's not quite the prototype we want to model our center recruits after, even when talking about rim protectors.

 

[Mr. French]

In the video from Park, he was a sophomore and didn't get many minutes, despite being 7'0 in an area with no 7 footers.

That probably happened for a variety of reasons, but the highlights from that season are often in garbage time.

 

[UConnStats]

Even if Efretuei could qualify for 2017, he'd have to redshirt, so he's effectively 2018 either way. Are we willing to give him a scholarship this early before our 2018 class starts to take shape?

Unless the staff sees something that I don't in him, or desperately needs another player for practices, this one is a bit of a head scratcher.

 

[WrenchFan69]

Even if Efretuei could qualify for 2017, he'd have to redshirt, so he's effectively 2018 either way. Are we willing to give him a scholarship this early before our 2018 class starts to take shape?

Unless the staff sees something that I don't in him, or desperately needs another player for practices, this one is a bit of a head scratcher.

What makes you think he'd have to redshirt?

 

[mauconnfan]

Even if Efretuei could qualify for 2017, he'd have to redshirt, so he's effectively 2018 either way. Are we willing to give him a scholarship this early before our 2018 class starts to take shape?

Unless the staff sees something that I don't in him, or desperately needs another player for practices, this one is a bit of a head scratcher.

Don't see that at all. I mean I didn't either with AB but it never materialized as it should have, either improvement or backing up a better player. But this kid seems to have it up on AB and has a year left to mature.

 

[upstater]

Even if Efretuei could qualify for 2017, he'd have to redshirt, so he's effectively 2018 either way. Are we willing to give him a scholarship this early before our 2018 class starts to take shape?

Unless the staff sees something that I don't in him, or desperately needs another player for practices, this one is a bit of a head scratcher.

What don't you like about him? He's a 7'1" kid with some athleticism.

 

[UConnStats]

What makes you think he'd have to redshirt?

What don't you like about him? He's a 7'1" kid with some athleticism.

Don't see that at all. I mean I didn't either with AB but it never materialized as it should have, either improvement or backing up a better player. But this kid seems to have it up on AB and has a year left to mature.

If this kid could step in as a freshman and do as well as Brimah did, I would be thoroughly shocked. If the staff disagrees, by all means go for it.

I don't think he's too athletic. His feet look slow. He barely played for NY Rens and they weren't even one of the better EYBL teams. The only other good high major school who has shown interest is WVU. He seems like a major project to me though, kind of like a shorter Christ Koumadje.

 

[Huskyforlife]

What don't you like about him? He's a 7'1" kid with some athleticism.

Half his mixtape are plays that didn't count against sub par competition. There's something to work with, but he looks like a discount brimah right now.

 

[Doctor Hoop]

Just from his mixtape I can tell at least two things. One, he seems to have better hands than Brimah ever did. And two, he's got pretty good timing and lift blocking shots.

 

[Stinger92860]

He already has a better jump hook than Amida. He hustles and is athletic, I'd take him.

 

[BaZZnBOAT]

If he can play right away, we should try and bring him in. If he can't, there's really no use.

 

[Fan4ever]

Geez, half the highlights were replays of moves against poor competition. I think on 2 or 3 of the "highlights" he traveled. Definitely a project, would get eaten alive by AAC competition at this point.

 

[Mr. French]

Well, from what I've gathered, all his sophomore year highlights were in garbage time essentially. He never played, he was a legit 7'0 but a string bean and Nwora and Joe Jones as a sophomore plus 1 other big all played over him.

If he gained strength and a bit of refinement at the school he transferred to, that means he could indeed be a solid prospect at this point. But leaving Park was probably smart, as they have a bit of a rep for poor coaching with the bigs specifically. And as a raw sophomore and the best frontcourt in the area, they didn't have to play him.

Question: Does anyone else ever consider or hear whispers that these African kids are all older than they say when they come over? There's been some news stories randomly and I've heard some stories but who knows, I was just wondering if anyone else has ever heard that type of stuff going on. Not specific to him necessarily...

I'm going to try to talk to some more people who might know his game more intimately. Park is a team we play and I'm familiar with, I could actually get game film on him ... but again it's a year and a half ago and he never played real minutes then.

 

[husky429]

You and @the Q seem to be arguing based on different feet on the ground when the dribble is caught.

In that sense, a Eurostep CAN be a travel, but it can also be legal.

Well then he's incorrect saying a eurostep is a travel. Because if you travel it's not a eurostep... it's just a travel. Dude is being ridiculous and shortsighted no matter how you slice it

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Anyone know if there is a parallel universe where recruiting threads stay somewhat on topic? I'd like to exist there instead.

 

[Fishy]

Anyone know if there is a parallel universe where recruiting threads stay somewhat on topic? I'd like to exist there instead.

In 20 years, they never wandered this badly.

And then some jackass decided that every topic needed one thread to rule them all and the frankenthread was born.

It was an innocent mistake, but I remember who it was and I still intend on murdering him.

 

[Huskyforlife]

In 20 years, they never wandered this badly.

And then some jackass decided that every topic needed one thread to rule them all and the frankenthread was born.

It was an innocent mistake, but I remember who it was and I still intend on murdering him.

Who was it?

 

[Fishy]

Who was it?

Now if I tell you and then I go murder him, how is that going to go for me?

But set a Google news alert for 'woodchipper'.