Ike Anigbogu looks like the modern NBA center. And he has a lot of those skills. But the UCLA center is raw and has a long way to go to get NBA ready.
The 2017 NBA Draft class does not have a lot of centers. That is just the random distribution for the Draft this year. There are not many centers.
Not that NBA teams care very much. The center in the traditional sense feels like a dinosaur — even as both the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers employ rebound and defense-focused centers. It is not a heavy need. And it is not like the Orlando Magic have a shortage of centers right now anyway.
Outside of sharpshooter Lauri Markkanen, the center and “post” player prospects in this Draft are relatively short. It is not until around the time the Magic will pick at 25 when players like Ivan Rabb, Harry Giles and Ike Anigbogu are likely to be selected.
Each brings their own unique skills. But they are all three paint-bound centers in a league that is increasingly more perimeter based.
What the league asks of its centers is much different now. A good center has to be able to protect the rim, defend the paint and step out to stop pick and rolls. It requires a different kind of athlete than before.
That is where UCLA Bruins center Ike Anigbogu provides a lot of intrigue. His stats are still very meager — 4.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game in 13.0 minutes per game as a freshman at UCLA. But he has the profile of that ideal center.
Anigbogu is athletic and able to finish above the rim. He can run the floor and attack the basket, able to score on putbacks and thunderous jams. Even in 13.0 minutes per game, he averaged 1.2 blocks per game. Anibogu was a force in the paint.
The promise Anigbogu brings is huge. If anything, he would have climbed even higher if he could get more playing time at UCLA on that star-studded team.
The Good
Ike Anigbogu seems to have the perfect profile for the modern-day NBA center.
He is athletic and capable of blocking shots and changing shots at the rim. He averaged 1.2 blocks per game in 13.0 minutes per game. That is a huge number and promises to be something that can translate.
Anigbogu is an athlete who can effect play around both baskets. He can block shots and he can finish hard. That is what has him catching NBA eyes.
After just one year, there is clearly a lot of room to grow. And the signs that he can grow into a bigger contributor are pretty evident too.
The shot blocking and dunking are just the basics for a center. But they clearly lay the foundation for what the NBA wants from its centers. Anigbogu could be a rim-running, rim-protecting big.
What makes him intriguing is he has a lot of other innate skills that will help him as he continues to develop and grow into his body.
Anigbogu does not suffer from the greatest of big men maladies — poor hands. Anigbogu catches the ball cleanly and showed some hint he could have a soft touch around the basket.
Orlando Magic
For now, he uses the ability to catch it cleanly, shrug off defenders and dunk it hard.
He can also roll down the lane and finish off lobs, a very big and important skill for a growing young center.
Anigbogu has several other skills that could continue to translate. He showed a decent jumper at times and even had some nice outlet passes to spark UCLA’s legendary fast break.
More importantly, he showed an ability to rebound in space and traffic. He uses his size well and can box out opponents to get board. Four rebounds per game in 13.0 minutes per game translates to 12.4 rebounds per 40 minutes. He posted a 19.9 defensive rebound rate — his 16.9 total rebound rate does leave something to be desired.
The reality is Anigbogu’s role last year was extremely limited. He showed flashes of his athleticism and his ability around the basket. And he showed he has a lot of room for continued growth.
The Bad
Anigbogu did not get a ton of playing time at UCLA — just 13.0 minutes per game — so it is hard to project too much with him. He did not get a lot of playing time or experience in his lone year with the Bruins.
That also hid a lot of his shortcomings.
Anigbogu does not have a lot of offensive skills outside of put backs and dunks. His footwork in the post needs a lot of work. And if there is a defender in front of him, he is going to struggle. No one is about to send the ball into the post and let Anigbogu go to work.
No one is about to send the ball into the post and let Anigbogu go to work.
Defensively, Anigbogu is a good shot blocker but will struggle against opposing players one on one. At least for now at this stage of his development. Anigbogu committed 2.5 fouls per game in his 13.0 minutes per game — that is 7.6 fouls per 40 minutes.
The bottom line is Anigbogu is extremely raw. His skills are very limited at this point. He relies more on his athleticism than anything else and Anigbogu has to stick to what he does best right now. Those are some very simplistic things at the moment.
He has good defensive instincts and upside. That shot blocking is encouraging. But that is about all that he has right now.
His rebounding was good, but he also did not rebound at an incredibly encouraging rate — 16.9 percent total rebound rate in his limited minutes. It is not dominating in the least. And this is typically a number that translates among center.
The question with Anigbogu is whether he can overcome these shortcomings and develop into a stronger player. His skills are ill-defined.
He has the athleticism to be a good shot blocker and rim runner, finishing around the basket. But he does not have the refined skills to be relied on immediately.
Draft Sites Say
Mike Schmitz & Derek Bodner, DraftExpress
"The intrigue with Anigbogu starts with his excellent frame, standing 6’10” with long arms, an excellent standing reach, and a strong lower body. He’s also quick on his feet, fast off the ground, changes direction well, has a very quick second jump, and brings a consistently high energy level, providing him with many of the attributes that NBA teams look for in the modern NBA big man. Those physical tools provide Anigbogu with a strong starting point, allowing him to make an impact even as his overall skill level catches up."
NBADraft.net
"The intrigue with Anigbogu starts with his outstanding frame, standing at 6’10” with great length (7′ 6.25” wingspan and 9′ 2.5” standing reach) , and a strong, (252 lbs) explosive lower body … He’s also quick on his feet, changes direction well, has a quick second jump, and brings a consistently high energy level … He offers many of the qualities of the modern energy big man that NBA teams look for today. . . . Although Anigbogu has an impressive combination of physical tools, his overall skillset has a great deal of catching up to do … His touch around the basket can be a bit erratic, as most of his scoring comes off of putbacks and lob passes … He’s also not nearly as explosive of a leaper in traffic, and he doesn’t have the awareness to consistently know when to kick the ball out and reset the possession."
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?