Pitt Lands Former Wolfpack Recruit - SCACCHoops.com

Pitt Lands Former Wolfpack Recruit

by ACCBasketball.com

Posted: 5/7/2013 8:50:49 AM


Now we have a reason to care about Pittsburgh vs. North Carolina State…not that I personally needed a reason.

Joseph Uchebo, a 6-10 junior college player, has committed to play for Jamie Dixon and the Panthers. The Enugu, Nigeria native was originally committed to Sidney Lowe (I miss those red jackers) and NC State, but later backed out. Why? Some argued he didn’t have the grades to qualify, but Uchebo himself pointed the finger at Mark Gottfried back in 2011.

From Riddick & Reynolds:

“The first time the new staff called me, I got the feeling they didn’t want me at NC State,” Uchebo explained. “Coach Gottfried was working on bringing in new players, and it was like he didn’t want me. It wasn’t the same feeling Coach (Sidney) Lowe brought to me.

Uchebo ended up going to Chipola (Fla.) Junior College, where he averaged a solid 12 points and 12 rebounds per game as a rookie. However, last year he sat out the entire season with a knee injury.

That injury probably scared some teams away from the former 4-star recruit, but not Pittsburgh, who gets this kid with three years of eligibility left.

Overall, Uchebo is a load inside. Tall and long (seven-foot wingspan), he’s got a large frame and isn’t afraid to use it. Inside, he’ll put his back to the basket, but instead of finesse, he typically tries to bounce people back, looking for easy three to four foot toss ups. While I think he’ll find it a lot tougher to score in the ACC (it’s a lot tougher to play rough with people your own size), there is little doubt he won’t be able to clean up on the glass.

For Pittsburgh, it’s a solid get. They’re losing both Steve Adams and Dante Taylor, so they are desperate for size inside. Personally, I think Talib Zanna is locked in at one of the power spots, so look for Uchebo to battle incoming freshman Mike Young (#15 C) for the five-spot.

For the record, Pitt plays NC State twice in 2013-14. Yippie.

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