Uchenna Nwoke
- Year: Freshman
- Height: 6-foot-6
- Position: Center
- Last year's stat line: N/A
Game Breakdown: At such an imposing 6-foot-6 frame, Nwoke makes her presence known down low. Touted as a high-energy defender, Nwoke usually makes it a point to control the paint, especially as a shot blocker and as a defensive rebounder. With the right motivation and correct utilization of her natural athletic abilities, Nwoke can compete with the top bigs around the country. On the offensive side of the ball, she has also shown signs of fluidity around the rim. If Nwoke is consistent on the low block, it will be hard for head coach Joanne P. McCallie to deny her minutes on the court to see what she can do in her first year of college basketball.
Role on the team: This year, the Blue Devils are extremely guard heavy, leaving room for competition at the forward and center positions. If Nwoke makes good use of the playing time she gets in the beginning of the season, she could work her way up from a rotational player to possibly a starter at the five position. Nwoke’s presence as a rim protector cannot be ignored if the Blue Devils need help on the defensive end, giving her an advantage over the other two true centers on the team, senior Sofia Roma and sophomore Emily Schubert. It will be interesting to see if McCallie gives Nwoke a shot, or decides to go with a smaller lineup down the stretch of the season.
Projected stats: 1.5 PPG, 3 RPG, 0.5 SPG
Stay tuned to the Blue Zone for our continuing player previews with freshman Rayah Craig tomorrow. Previous players previewed include Sofia Roma and Jayda Adams.
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