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2017 Orlando Magic Draft Preview: Who is Ike Anigbogu?

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Feb 25, 2017; Tucson, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins forward Ike Anigbogu (13) shoots the ball as Arizona Wildcats forward Lauri Markkanen (10) and center Dusan Ristic (14) defend during the first half at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2017; Tucson, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins forward Ike Anigbogu (13) shoots the ball as Arizona Wildcats forward Lauri Markkanen (10) and center Dusan Ristic (14) defend during the first half at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /
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Final Word

Ike Anigbogu has a ton of talent. It is clear he has a lot of the tools the NBA wants.

Anigbogu has great athleticism to block shots and finish around the basket. But that is about the only skills he has defined right now for the league. The NBA is going to like what they see with him to start with.

But Anigbogu will have to develop more skills than that. He will have to become a much more well-rounded player. There are a lot of skills he needs to grow and learn.

That is the risk with drafting Anigbogu. He still is incredibly raw and has a lot to do to get himself to become a NBA contributor.

Right now, he has a long way to go. His footwork and one-on-one defense — playing without fouling especially — are still in their rudimentary stages.

But Anigbogu has the makeup of the kind of center teams are looking for today. He can protect the rim and score above the rim. That is absolutely critical in the modern NBA center. That is at least a good place to start for him.

Anigbogu has a good foundation for becoming a NBA center. He has a lot of the tools to get there. And he showed plenty of room to grow even in his short time and limited minutes at UCLA.

Next: 2017 Orlando Magic Draft Preview: Who is Tyler Lydon?

The question will be how long will a NBA team wait for him to develop. And how quickly can he even develop?