Ike Anigbogu – C
When I said kid, I really meant it. Ike Anigbogu won’t turn 19 until late October when his first NBA season is beginning. Despite his youth, he played a vital role off the bench for the Bruins as a freshman. Ike’s stats weren’t dazzling (4.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 blocks) but impressive for just 13 minutes per contest behind junior center Thomas Welsh.
The physical tools are undoubtedly there. Anigbogu not only has great length (6’10, 7’3 wingspan) but is a muscular 250 pounds with a strong lower body. His combination of strength and agility allows him to be an absolute terror on the offensive glass. He has a very quick second jump, which he uses for multiple effort plays. It’s incredibly valuable on both ends of the floor, providing extra possessions on offense and consecutive blocks on defense. Think peak Joakim Noah or Dennis Rodman.
Like his fellow Bruin big man Leaf, Ike runs the floor very well for his size. He has long and powerful strides, which he uses to outrun his man in transition and fastbreak situations. If Anigbogu gets a full head of steam, rims beware. In addition to the full court game, he moves very well in halfcourt sets either creating space for the ballhandler or running to the rim for lobs.
Ike’s greatest NBA upside is on the defensive end. Yes, he’s a prime candidate for block parties. Beyond that, he can cover ground quickly with his length and recovers well if he’s beaten off the dribble. His timing when contesting shots is impressive. Perhaps his most useful defensive trait is the ability to handle a variety of pick and roll situations. The kid can switch and contest around the perimeter or drop back to cut off a driving lane. With his thick frame, defending larger post-up forwards isn’t a problem. Anigbogu holds his ground.
Given his brief collegiate experience and young age, Anigbogu is definitely a project in need of coaching and development. The flaws are ones you’d expect from someone so raw. His zealous defense leads to bad fouls and he can find himself out of position by not communicating with his teammates. Offensively, he isn’t comfortable shooting from anywhere outside the paint. But those are all things he can improve upon over time.
To watch Ike Anigbogu’s scouting video from DraftExpress, click here.
These two Southern California kids don’t fit the typical mold of Gar Forman and John Paxson draft picks. They both have just one year of college experience coming into the draft. But if Denzel Valentine (a four-year player at Michigan State) couldn’t crack the rotation, it might serve them well to ease up on that philosophy. Given the current state of the roster, power forward and center aren’t the team’s biggest needs. But remember, Mirotic might leave in free agency and so might Cristiano Felicio. If both of them bolt, suddenly the Bulls frontcourt looks anemic behind Robin Lopez and Portis.
Leaf perfectly fits the mold of the modern NBA’s stretch four. Anigbogu has the potential to be a defensive stud and a terror on the offensive glass. They both love to run the floor in transition and come from a UCLA team that played an offense very similar to Hoiberg’s. If either player is still available when the time comes, GarPax would be wise to draft him.
The Bulls could also choose to take a wing or guard to help this range-thirsty squad, and there are plenty of talented players at those positions too. I’d be fine with that. But please, gentlemen. Whatever you do, keep LaVar Ball the hell away from Chicago.
