Video Breakdown: Chris Obekpa

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The following report is an evaluation of Chris Obekpa as a college basketball player, not an NBA prospect.

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Strengths

• Interior Defense.

Standing 6-foot-9 with a 7-4 wingspan, Chris Obekpa is an active shot blocker who has a commanding presence defensively. Obekpa is not a flawless defender, but overall, he possesses a unique combination of length, shot blocking instincts and a high motor to impact every possession.

Obekpa has demonstrated the potential to be a defensive juggernaut on the college level. Last season, he ranked 1st in the Big East conference in total blocks, blocks per game (3.1) and block percentage (12.2%). Nationally, he ranked 10th in blocks, 5th in blocks per game, and 10th in block percentage. 

Obekpa can block shots from all angles—defending on the ball, flying across the lane, or sliding over to provide soft help. He is a “rim protector.”

That being said, Obekpa must shore up two aspects of his game defensively: discipline and strength. In terms of discipline, he needs to hold his ground and play “vertical,” instead of trying to to block every opponent shot attempt. The great shot blockers are not only able to block shots; they know when to block shots.

In terms of strength, Obekpa is too weak right now, too frail at 235 pounds. He can’t maintain defensive position in the paint, allowing opponents to bully him in the paint and push him off his spots.

All things considered, Obekpa demonstrates terrific energy and activity in the paint, making him a defensive anchor for St. John’s. But he must get stronger, as well as slightly more disciplined.

Interior Blocks

Blocking Opponent Driving Attempts

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• Rebounding

Obekpa’s length and motor make him a terrific rebounder, both in the half court and open floor. He averaged a very-solid 7 rebounds per game, and his 10.2 rebounds per 40 minutes led St. John’s.

Though he must get stronger to corral, and finish, rebounding opportunities–Obekpa shot a putrid 41% on put-back attempts last season—you can’t blame his inability to finish on a lack of effort. He tracks down balls that are both inside and outside his immediate area, and goes after rebounds with reckless abandon. You can tell that Obekpa loves rebounding, which is a skill unto itself.

Obekpa consistently ignited the St. John’s fast break, using tip-outs and defensive rebounds to push the ball ahead in transition.

Again, he must get stronger to grab the ball firmly, but opponents must box out Obekpa because he will clean up the glass. In my opinion, he’s an elite rebounder.

Crashing the Glass / Offensive Rebounding

Can’t Finish O-Rebounds (weak hands, weak frame)

Good job securing rebounds, but he’s not strong enough yet to finish through contact.

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• Finishing Around the Basket (capable but not reliable)

In terms of an offensive game, well, Obekpa doesn’t necessarily have a polished arsenal, or even an arsenal at all.

Last season, 21% of Obekpa’s shot attempts came off offensive rebounds, 21% off cuts to the basket, and 12% off pick-and-roll sets. In contrast, only 12% of his attempts came in the form of “post ups”, and only 3% came in isolation sets. The majority of his buckets were assisted.

Obekpa is a good finisher. A reliable target on alley-oops, and a solid finisher when a guard penetrates and dishes down low. Obekpa finished 62% of his cutting attempts, and his 1.3 points per attempt ranked in the top 25th percentile nationally.

He dives hard to the rim on pick-and-rolls, and has flashed the ability to knock down a 10-foot jumper. But nothing too consistent as of right now.  He needs to develop (not polish, but actually develop from the ground-up) his offensive game, so he can space the defense and impact the game on offense as well.

Obekpa is a solid finisher when he has a clear path to the basket. But he must develop at least one back-to-the-basket move, improve his strength to bang down low, and extend his range to 15 feet.  St. John’s would benefit greatly if Obekpa didn’t need for all of his buckets to be assisted. He has the necessary tools to become a competent offensive threat.

Right now, offensively Obekpa is relegated to being an alley-oop/pick-and-roll/cutting target.

Pick-and-Roll Finishing

Obekpa converted an adequate 50% of his pick-and-roll attempts last season. He dives hard to the rim (because, like we established, his effort is never a problem). He takes pride in finishing at the cup.

Cutting/Finishing Drop-Off Passes

Obekpa finished 62% of his cutting attempts, and his 1.3 points per attempt ranked in the top 25th percentile nationally.

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Weaknesses / Areas of Improvement

• Unpolished Offensively

As mentioned, over 55% of Obekpa’s shot attempts last season came in the form of “passive scoring” (not creating himself). He has shown flashes of post moves and also has converted a few pick-and-pop jumpers, but he must become more consistent beyond 10 feet. Obekpa was 9-21 on mid-range jumpers last season, a facet of his game he should continue to develop.

Obekpa shot 4-16 on “post up” attempts, 2-12 on short-range jumpers, and hardly displayed any competent interior moves.

He must add muscle, improve his footwork and control.

Free Throw Shooting (52% on 2.7 attempts)

Pick-and-Pop Potential

Obekpa has flashed some potential here. He should continue working on a soft jumper to space the defense and open up driving lanes for his teammates.

Mid-Range Shooting Potential

Inside Struggles

Not proficient around the basket.

Weak Frame (finishing struggles)

Out of control. Weak frame.

Post Up “Potential” (small sample)

Capable, but not there yet.

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• Weak Frame. Obekpa is a proficient shot blocker, but he gets bullied in the paint on both ends of the floor.

Obekpa’s 235-pound body is too weak for the position he plays (PF/C).

Offensively, Obekpa gets pushed out of position and essentially out of scoring range. He also has trouble with his hands and coordination, fumbling passes and rebounds with regularity. Obekpa is a terrific athlete, but he must get stronger and play with more authority in the paint.

Defensively, Obekpa struggles significantly to provide resistance against his opponent. He gets pushed off his spots and defenders eat up space against him. His weak frame correlated strongly to Obekpa averaging 4.7 fouls per 40 minutes last season.

As of right now, Obekpa is too weak to maintain his position in the paint, so rather than playing sound on-ball defense, he resorts to trying to block every shot. This is a poor strategy that ultimately results in foul trouble for Obekpa and free throws for the opposing team.

A lack of strength—more so than an unpolished offensive game—is the biggest factor holding Obekpa from achieving his potential. He must add muscle, play vertically, and use his athleticism to opportunistically block shots and protect the rim.

Weak Frame (gets bullied in the paint)

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• Fouling (Defensive Discipline)

Gambles for Blocks instead of Holding His Ground and Staying Vertical.

As mentioned, Obekpa has an unfortunate habit of trying to block every shot in his area. He needs to keep a vertical stance with his arms raised high, keeping himself between the offensive player and the basket.

Obekpa has tremendous ability defensively. But the biggest factor in ability is availability. 3 fouls in 27 minutes per game is, simply, too many.

 Gambles for Blocks (fouling)