Florida State has won consecutive basketball games and snapped its 8-game losing streak in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge with a win over Minnesota on Monday, but the biggest positive this week for the program may have been the addition of highly-sought high school center.
Ikechukwu Obiagu, a 4-star center from Decatur, Georgia, pledged his commitment to Leonard Hamilton’s Seminoles on Monday. A 7-0, 230-pound Goliath, Obiagu is the No. 47 overall prospect for 2017 and the fourth best center in the class.
Obiagu is the top-ranked prospect for an FSU class that currently ranks 16th nationally and already has five commitments. All five are in the top 300 nationally and four are in the top 175 nationally.
What he brings: As most would assume of a 7-foot prospect, Ikechukwu Obiagu is an outstanding shot blocker, which is his biggest strength. Obiagu has very good instincts for a guy his size, but at 230 pounds, could stand to put on some weight once he gets to FSU and is asked to bang on the block against the bigger bodies in the ACC.
FSU has had no trouble bringing in 7-footers under Coach Hamilton. Solomon Alabi, Jon Kreft, Boris Bojanovsky and current Seminoles, Christ Koumadje and Michael Ojo all quickly come to mind. Obiagu however, is a better athlete and moves very well for a big guy. Obiagu has some work to do offensively, but gets off the floor pretty quick for a 7-footer.
How he fits: The obvious answer seems to be that Obiagu will replace Ojo and immediately share minutes at the 5-spot with Christ Koumadje. It’s possible that Obiagu may even be a better option for the Seminoles upon arriving in Tallahassee. While Koumadje is four inches taller at 7-4, Obiagu already has more bulk and with more athleticism, may be a better fit for an FSU offense that has focused on pushing the ball more in recent years.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
Mike Olivella/FSU athletics
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