UCLA Basketball freshman Ike Anigbogu was sidelined early in the season due to injury, but now that he’s back and balling, Anigbogu has wasted no time making his presence felt off the boards and around the rim.
The 2016 freshmen class might go down to be known as the best instant impact class in the history of UCLA Basketball.
All three members, Ike Anigbogu, Lonzo Ball, and TJ Leaf are offering meaningful contributions to team every game.
While Ball and Leaf may be receiving national accolades, and deservedly so, Anigbogu is making his own impact with his relentless policing of the paint.
“You Got Swatted”
Initially, Anigbogu sat for the first five games of the season recovering from a torn meniscus injury before being given limited minutes in the Wooden Legacy Tournament against Nebraska and Texas A&M.
Due to a knee injury to starting center Thomas Welsh and foul trouble by Gyorgy Goloman, Anigbogu was given increased playing time against Michigan.
In front of a packed Pauley Pavilion, Anigbogu set the rules in the paint, viciously swatting shots after shot, and has totaled an insane 8 blocks in the last two games while coming off the bench.
Truth be told, a night like the one against Michigan was long in the coming. If you had seen any of the preseason exhibition games in Australia, you would have known what UCLA was getting in the 6’10” center from Corona.
Anigbogu’s athleticism, competitiveness, and motor were visible from the get-go as he snagged rebounds, blocked shots, and slammed dunks against professional competition.
It doesn’t take long to realize that Anigbogu is a remarkably special athlete for his size, and has all the talent needed to eventually play in the NBA.
You could argue the thing keeping Anigbogu out of games is himself, as his physical, competitive play has a byproduct of wracking up fouls, and he is currently averaging 3.2 fouls in less than 15 minutes of play a game.
However as he gains experience, he’ll surely learn to play without fouling, and currently his energy off the bench is of enormous benefit to the Bruins, contributing to one of the deepest second units in the country. With time, Anigbogu has the potential to be one of the most dominant centers in college basketball.
Personally, I’m ready for Anigbogu to boss around the Buckeyes as UCLA plays Ohio State Saturday at Noon in Las Vegas in the CBS Sports Classic. Go Bruins!
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