Mike Nzei
6-7, 205 | Class of 2014
3 Star
47 POSITION
41 REGIONAL
9 STATE
ESPN Analyst
Updated 05/19/2014
Strengths:
Nzei is a high level athlete who is equally mobile and bouncy. He covers the court, moves well laterally and is very quick off his feet. He's a high volume rebounder with a great nose for the ball who will come up with boards both in traffic as well as outside his area. He plays hard and has a motor and is consequently valuable atop any type of extended zone pressure. Offensively, he's an excellent finisher around the rim who not only bounces up for quick dunks but also has dexterity and a sense of when he needs to go to the other side of the rim. Nzei also has a developing mid-range touch and is capable of making an open jumper from the elbow or short-corner.
Weaknesses:
Nzei is just slightly undersized for the power forward position, at least at the highest levels of college basketball. He isn't much of a low post scoring threat and gets the vast majority of his points by rim running, going to the offensive glass, or via his guards' dribble penetration. He's not productive when looking to put the ball on the floor and more of a turnover threat with each passing bounce.
Bottom Line:
He's a high level athlete with a motor and a clear niche in his ability to rebound the ball. He's never going to be an offensive star but because he's such a good finisher and capable mid-range shooter, he's not without value on that end.
School List
School Status Offer
Seton Hall Committed
Slight change of pace as we will profile a player who injured his wrist late during the summer and never practiced with the team after having surgery to heal his left wrist.
Strengths:
This one is easy. Athleticism and a big time motor is Nzei's calling card. Think a skinny more athletic version of Angel Delgado. Like Angel Nzei is a monster on the boards. Unlike Angel he is quicker off his feet with far better lateral movement although he does not have Delgado's size or strength.
I never saw Nzei practice as the one summer workout I attended he had just hurt his wrist. But I did see him play in Brooklyn in an All Star game before he committed to the Hall. In that game, one that he clearly was playing harder than some of the other all star participants he was fierce on the glass and on defense. At the time I didn't know we were recruiting him that seriously so I wasn't really paying him any attention instead focusing on Delgado, Carrington and Rodriquez who were also in the game playing for the opposition. But during the contest he stood out and I had to check my roster to see who this 'madman' was. He was that good.
Weaknesses:
Raw, raw and raw. Mike doesn't have much of an offensive game right now instead doing his scoring on put backs and dunks. That will become even more of a problem this season because despite being a non qualifier he was allowed to practice last year until the surgery ended his season before it ever began. That means a crucial 12 months (or more) of needed development went by the wayside.
Another issue is lack of strength. Nzei is really thin and because of his bad wrist he couldn't lift to add needed strength in his first year at the Hall. That too is going to be an issue in 2015/16.
Bottom Line:
Nzei will play spot minutes as a backup 4. With Willard's emphasis on defense this season that plays right to his wheelhouse.
Willard has multiple options at the power forward position so Nzei can be brought along at his own speed and put into situations where he will have his best chance to succeed.
The staff loves Nzei and so does Haralds Karlis. In fact Karlis has told a good friend of mine on multiple occasion that he thinks Nzei could be a star in a couple of years at Seton Hall. Behind the scenes I have heard that Willard has said the same thing.
The future looks bright for the slender power forward. It might just be a question of time before the fans get a glimpse of that future.
Final Rating: INC
Well this was a no brainer. Don't play and you don't get rated. Probably the only rating that everyone will agree on. LOL
6-7, 205 | Class of 2014
- Hometown Centereach, N.Y.
- School Our Savior New American School
- Position Power Forward
- Status Committed Seton Hall 05/19/2014
3 Star
47 POSITION
41 REGIONAL
9 STATE
ESPN Analyst
Updated 05/19/2014
Strengths:
Nzei is a high level athlete who is equally mobile and bouncy. He covers the court, moves well laterally and is very quick off his feet. He's a high volume rebounder with a great nose for the ball who will come up with boards both in traffic as well as outside his area. He plays hard and has a motor and is consequently valuable atop any type of extended zone pressure. Offensively, he's an excellent finisher around the rim who not only bounces up for quick dunks but also has dexterity and a sense of when he needs to go to the other side of the rim. Nzei also has a developing mid-range touch and is capable of making an open jumper from the elbow or short-corner.
Weaknesses:
Nzei is just slightly undersized for the power forward position, at least at the highest levels of college basketball. He isn't much of a low post scoring threat and gets the vast majority of his points by rim running, going to the offensive glass, or via his guards' dribble penetration. He's not productive when looking to put the ball on the floor and more of a turnover threat with each passing bounce.
Bottom Line:
He's a high level athlete with a motor and a clear niche in his ability to rebound the ball. He's never going to be an offensive star but because he's such a good finisher and capable mid-range shooter, he's not without value on that end.
School List
School Status Offer
Seton Hall Committed
Slight change of pace as we will profile a player who injured his wrist late during the summer and never practiced with the team after having surgery to heal his left wrist.
Strengths:
This one is easy. Athleticism and a big time motor is Nzei's calling card. Think a skinny more athletic version of Angel Delgado. Like Angel Nzei is a monster on the boards. Unlike Angel he is quicker off his feet with far better lateral movement although he does not have Delgado's size or strength.
I never saw Nzei practice as the one summer workout I attended he had just hurt his wrist. But I did see him play in Brooklyn in an All Star game before he committed to the Hall. In that game, one that he clearly was playing harder than some of the other all star participants he was fierce on the glass and on defense. At the time I didn't know we were recruiting him that seriously so I wasn't really paying him any attention instead focusing on Delgado, Carrington and Rodriquez who were also in the game playing for the opposition. But during the contest he stood out and I had to check my roster to see who this 'madman' was. He was that good.
Weaknesses:
Raw, raw and raw. Mike doesn't have much of an offensive game right now instead doing his scoring on put backs and dunks. That will become even more of a problem this season because despite being a non qualifier he was allowed to practice last year until the surgery ended his season before it ever began. That means a crucial 12 months (or more) of needed development went by the wayside.
Another issue is lack of strength. Nzei is really thin and because of his bad wrist he couldn't lift to add needed strength in his first year at the Hall. That too is going to be an issue in 2015/16.
Bottom Line:
Nzei will play spot minutes as a backup 4. With Willard's emphasis on defense this season that plays right to his wheelhouse.
Willard has multiple options at the power forward position so Nzei can be brought along at his own speed and put into situations where he will have his best chance to succeed.
The staff loves Nzei and so does Haralds Karlis. In fact Karlis has told a good friend of mine on multiple occasion that he thinks Nzei could be a star in a couple of years at Seton Hall. Behind the scenes I have heard that Willard has said the same thing.
The future looks bright for the slender power forward. It might just be a question of time before the fans get a glimpse of that future.
Final Rating: INC
Well this was a no brainer. Don't play and you don't get rated. Probably the only rating that everyone will agree on. LOL
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