JC transfer Paul Egwuonwu

[TomCat88]

BOZEMAN, Mont. – Montana State added size and athleticism to its front line Wednesday, signing College of Southern Idaho’s Paul Egwuonwu to a National Letter-of-Intent, Bobcat head coach Brad Huse announced.
 
An athletic, rangy post player, Egwuonwu, a 6’9, 235-pound forward, played an integral role last season for a Southern Idaho squad that won 31 games, with nine players logging between 18 and 29 minutes per game. Egwuonwu started 11 games for the Scenic West Conference champions and averaged 4.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
 
“Paul brings size and a real physical presence to the front line, along with being a very skilled player who has proven ability to play on the interior and the perimeter,” Huse said. “He was part of a balanced team at one of the most successful programs in the country at CSI. He played the role asked of him this year, but we’ll look to him to be a more productive and assertive offensive player once he gets here, which he proved he can handle at Northwest Nazarene and in high school. He is a great person, a strong student, and is hungry to be a significant contributor at the Division I level. Coach Pfeifer did a great job identifying him and recruiting him throughout the year. ”
 
A native of Boise, the versatile center attended Northwest Nazarene University after graduating from Boise Capital High School, redshirting his first year as a 6-7, 190 lb freshman. Egwuonwu scored 10.5 points a game as a freshman, with 4.4 rebounds, and earned Great Northwest Freshman of the Year honors before transferring to CSI for the 2011-12 campaign.
 
“Paul was a glue guy on a team that won 31 games, won our conference, and played in the NJCAA National Tournament,” said CSI coach Steve Gosar. “We had a team with lots of balance. Paul made plays that helped win games yet do not always show up in the stats. With that said, he was one of our team’s top rebounders and shot blockers. He could defend multiple positions and we often relied on him to be a stopper for us. Montana State University and Coach Huse are a great fit for Paul, and there’s no question his best basketball is in front of him.”
 
An all-conference choice at Capital as a senior, Egwuonwu set an Idaho record by hitting 10 three-point field goals in a state tournament game in 2009. He averaged 12.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.5 blocked shots per game as a senior, earning academic all-conference honors. Egwuonwu did not begin playing basketball until his sophomore year in high school.
 
“When you consider how far he has come physically since his senior year in high school, Paul has certainly developed himself into a Division I player,” Huse said. “On top of that, he has a great basketball IQ and is really skilled with the ball in his hands as a scorer and passer. With him, Danny (Robison), Ryan (Shannon), and Flavien (Davis, all recent MSU signees), we’ve added size, versatility and skill to the front court, which were huge needs for us.”
 
-msu-
 

[Gidal Kaiser]

I'll have a blog post on this soon, and the story in tomorrow. It seems like in a last-ditch effort, Huse is rebuilding the entire frontcourt. I don't know if it's in anticipation of Tre or Budinich or Brumwell leaving, but you have to assume one of those three - if not more - will not be back next season.

[ilovethecats]

you have to assume one of those three - if not more - will not be back next season.

shocking.

[Gidal Kaiser]

Actually, I did some more research, and MSU has used up its 13 scholarship allotment right now when you look at the current roster. Steven Davis is on a full academic scholarship and considered a walk-on for basketball purposes. More on this later.

[BelgradeBobcat]

The College of Southern Idaho program is pretty amazing with the players they put out. I'll bet in some years they'd dominate the Big Sky. I see some of their former players on some big time teams.

I'm pretty jaded right now-whenever we do land a guy my first thought is: what's wrong with him?

If this kid is a legit 6'9" 235 (those things are usually inflated) then he's a pretty good load at power forward in the Big Sky. Looks like skill and size wise he should be an upgrade from Jordan Allou at that position-and he might be big enough to play the 5 spot behind Fall as well.

Unfortunately, what I'm not seeing is the big scorer that Huse's teams have lacked since Carlos Taylor graduated. I thought Reid might eventually be that guy...but no.

[jon]

Word is he is pretty athletic, good defender and rebounder. Obviously doesn't seem to be much of a scoring presence, but hopefully they will have a lot of that covered with Stewart-Biglow-Blount...

[Gidal Kaiser]

http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/sp ... 963f4.html The story on Egwuonwu. The blog post ---> http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/ap ... s/?p=10509 And Jon, if one of those three guards doesn't come back - I still have a feeling Blount might get booted or either Biglow/Stewart might not make his grades - it'll be on the frontcourt to produce. And this feels like one of the strongest frontcourts Huse has had in at least three years.

[BLACKnBLUEnGOLD]

I'm pretty jaded right now-whenever we do land a guy my first thought is: what's wrong with him?

Um...did you not read the part where he was averaging 4.5 and 5.6 and not even the regular starter in juco? 'cause these guys never manage to hit their juco averages once they move up. Look at Fall. 9 and 8.9 his second year in juco, 7.2 and 5.4 here. Allou had 6.6 and 5.5 his second year in juco, 4.8 and 3.2 last year. So my guess is that "what's wrong with him" is just that he's not all that great. He sounds like a poor man's Mohammed Fall, and we already have the actual Mohammed Fall. And he's not a star.

Yes, I'm jaded too, in case you couldn't tell.

[wbtfg]

I wouldn't be surprised if Brumwell and/or Budinich are not on next year's roster. I think Brumwell was a reach and was probably signed due to pressure to sign a local kid. Budinich is a solid shooter, and I think could turn into a Brandon Johnson type of player, but I'm not sure he fits into MSU's current system...though I have to admit, it's unclear exactly what MSU's system is and seems to change as frequently as Bozeman's weather (which is probably a topic for another thread).

[LTown Cat]

I wouldn't be surprised if Brumwell and/or Budinich are not on next year's roster. I think Brumwell was a reach and was probably signed due to pressure to sign a local kid. Budinich is a solid shooter, and I think could turn into a Brandon Johnson type of player, but I'm not sure he fits into MSU's current system...though I have to admit, it's unclear exactly what MSU's system is and seems to change as frequently as Bozeman's weather (which is probably a topic for another thread).

Brumwell should have accepted the football schollie...

[BelgradeBobcat]

I'm pretty jaded right now-whenever we do land a guy my first thought is: what's wrong with him?

Um...did you not read the part where he was averaging 4.5 and 5.6 and not even the regular starter in juco? 'cause these guys never manage to hit their juco averages once they move up. Look at Fall. 9 and 8.9 his second year in juco, 7.2 and 5.4 here. Allou had 6.6 and 5.5 his second year in juco, 4.8 and 3.2 last year. So my guess is that "what's wrong with him" is just that he's not all that great. He sounds like a poor man's Mohammed Fall, and we already have the actual Mohammed Fall. And he's not a star.

Yes, I'm jaded too, in case you couldn't tell.

We'll in the player's defense-the top scorers and rebounders at CSI usually go to big time programs so there's that. I keep hoping for another Damir Latovich. I remember his JC numbers were very pedestrian-less than 10 points per game and he came here and was one of the top centers and top scorers in the Big Sky. But yeah...it hasn't happened since then.

I don't see anything in next year's team to make me think we'll crack that 35% field goal percentage glass ceiling.

[dwainegf]

The one I am most afraid of losing is Johnson. He has the atletic ability to be really good. I don't know the dynamics of work ethic and coaching so his development is a question mark.
I suspect we will lose one of the juco guards to academics as well. Stewart abd Biglow come to mind due to their academic histories.

[DicTater]

I wouldn't be surprised if Brumwell and/or Budinich are not on next year's roster. I think Brumwell was a reach and was probably signed due to pressure to sign a local kid. Budinich is a solid shooter, and I think could turn into a Brandon Johnson type of player, but I'm not sure he fits into MSU's current system...though I have to admit, it's unclear exactly what MSU's system is and seems to change as frequently as Bozeman's weather (which is probably a topic for another thread).

Brumwell should have accepted the football schollie...

Well, Brumwell still has some eligibility left, 3 yrs. I think. At 6'7" and 240, he could find a spot at TE, DE, or maybe even OT.

[Helcat72]

Now's the time for McEndoo to talk to him!

[homeytennis]

I saw him play for Northwest Nazarene which is in MSU Billings D-2 League. He wasn't dominating but was a solid player. CSI does get some NBA caliber dudes. I'm not sure why he transferred. NNU is pretty conservative and religious and that might be part of the reason.

[duelalumnicat]

With Fall gone (through no fault of his own), does Paul Egwuonwu start at the post?

[CatBlitz]

With Fall gone (through no fault of his own), does Paul Egwuonwu start at the post?

I'd think so.

[BelgradeBobcat]

With Fall gone (through no fault of his own), does Paul Egwuonwu start at the post?

Probably. Unless Budnich is taught how to play center (and then actually does it).

The really scary thing: how many shots did Fall and Allou stop from going in last season? I'm pretty sure with those two and Tre Johnson we were one of the best shot blocking teams in the Big Sky. So we face the prospect of losing our best scorer in Reid and our best defenders in Fall and Allou. Fewer baskets for us, more for the other team. Next season could be even uglier than last season.

[duelalumnicat]

Thank God for football....