Four-star C Ben Ahmed Crystal Ball to Miami

Top 100 doesn't guarantee a thing. This ain't football. After top 20-30, it's a crap shoot many times. Plenty of Top 100 kids who didn't amount to much at the next level. I've seen many end up at the D2 & D3 level by the time it's all said and done. With the transfer portal and NIL now in play, there's no reason for Miami to settle on a high school prospect. Time to raise the bar.GO CANES!!

I think it’s to have a 5 man locked in for this class. I will say I’d be surprised if the staff weren’t confident in their plan for the kid… they know they need to sign and develop a high level post player to start changing perceptions.
 
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Looks better in this video than when I saw him in person in Atlanta. But if you pay close attention, I was pretty spot on with my initial thoughts on him.

"Lacks athleticism to run the floor and defend the pick & roll. Not a great shot blocker or rebounder. Ok back to the basket, but at the next level with no lift it's going to be very difficult for him to finish in the paint against defenders who are just as tall as him and more athletic."

Again, I hope I'm wrong in my evaluation. Hope he shows out when he gets here, but I'm just not seeing it right now. GO CANES!!
 
Looks better in this video than when I saw him in person in Atlanta. But if you pay close attention, I was pretty spot on with my initial thoughts on him.

"Lacks athleticism to run the floor and defend the pick & roll. Not a great shot blocker or rebounder. Ok back to the basket, but at the next level with no lift it's going to be very difficult for him to finish in the paint against defenders who are just as tall as him and more athletic."

Again, I hope I'm wrong in my evaluation. Hope he shows out when he gets here, but I'm just not seeing it right now. GO CANES!!
I agree with you.. The advantages he’s got right now, is that a). he’s a 300lb high school kid playing basketball. That alone creates space, lol. b). He’s left handed. Yes that’s an issue for most high schoolers to defend his primary move. Those two things help him out vs. high school defenders. In the ACC, he’s gonna see taller, faster, lighter, and stronger defenders. Being a traditional back to the basket 5 (C), in this era of basketball, at “only” 6’9” and at 300lbs is gonna cause him a lot of problems on the defensive end of the floor. He’s definitely a good developmental player to bring in. But he needs to drop about 25-30lbs to be more effective on both ends of the floor.
 
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I agree with you.. The advantages he’s got right now, is that a). he’s a 300lb high school kid playing basketball. That alone creates space, lol. b). He’s left handed. Yes that’s an issue for most high schoolers to defend his primary move. Those two things help him out vs. high school defenders. In the ACC, he’s gonna see taller, faster, lighter, and stronger defenders. Being a traditional back to the basket 5 (C), in this era of basketball, at “only” 6’9” and at 300lbs is gonna cause him a lot of problems on the defensive end of the floor. He’s definitely a good developmental player to bring in. But he needs to drop about 25-30lbs to be more effective on both ends of the floor.
At 6’9” if he works and follows a prescribed nutritional plan easily available at the high D1 level, dropping 20-30lbs shouldn’t be too difficult.
 
Don't really see anything special but who knows at this point. I thought Nwoko was going to be a stud and he turned out to be super underwhelming. All I can say is this kid has size, and seems to have soft touch. Maybe he works on an outside shot as well and a floater and maybe he can be a DJ Burns esque body for us. Gonna take a while for him to see the floor though, his conditioning and game by the time of enrollment will be telling. If he grows an inch or two that'll be really helpful maximizing his game.
 
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