JP Olukemi vs. Cameron Clark.. Did OSU get the right guy?

[thebigabd]

JP Olukemi (sophomore) averages 11 points and 4 rebounds per game for a 13-2 OSU squad who just beat a top 20 KSU team at home... In that game, he had 22 and 11. I don't know how much you have followed OSU this year, but JP is a very good player. He kinda reminds me of Nolan Johnson, only perhaps a better shooter and definitely a better athlete. This guy can soar, is big, and very strong.

Cameron Clark (freshman) averages 9 points and 4 rebounds for an 8-7 OU team. He plays all 40 minutes sometimes. He is a prospect though, certainly a big time athlete as well. He isnt nearly as ready to play at this level as JP is though... He is probably a better shooter from outside than JP.

When I watch them play, I come away thinking that JP is a better player right now by a wide margin.

 

[HoHum]

Ford wanted to sign both of them, I know that.

It'll be interesting to see the next two to three years who has the better numbers.

 

[campbest]

I think each got a recruit which fills their need. CC will be fine, you can see the talent and actually it has gotten to the point where even though he hasn't put up great numbers teams are already keying on him. CC does need to work on his dribble drive game, but that will come.

My biggest beef w/ Capel concerning this team is that Clark and Pledger are not getting shots early. I'm sure Capel is telling them to shoot, but he needs to be drawing plays where either CC or Pledger are catching as the person who has to shoot, almost as if everyone else steps off the floor at that point. Losses are inevitable at this point, getting CC, Pledger and Fitz as many touches/shots as possible should be a premium.

Very impressed with JP today, he will be solid for them.

P.S. Will add this, very disappointed in CC's defense tonight on Middleton. Khris is efficient so he is difficult to guard, but CC should know better to be trying to cut off the ball screens when Middleton is looking to shoot. He needs to follow Khris out and rely on his teammates to hedge the curl. Very poor execution on his part.

 

[skyvue]

All players, but especially freshmen, benefit from being surrounded by talent. CC might have equal numbers to JP if he were at oswho.

 

[SuperHoops]

Olukemi is also 2 years older and had the benefit of going against James Anderson everyday at practice last year while he was redshirting.

 

[MVPx2]

Comparing Markel Brown and Clarke might be a better scenario.

 

[Seymore Cox]

Olukemi is also 2 years older and had the benefit of going against James Anderson everyday at practice last year while he was redshirting.

JP might be three years older. JP didn't redshirt at OSU last year either. Weak post abd, I know you couldn't wait for a loss to start doing this, but this one is below the belt. Both players are good, but it's weaksauce to wait for a bad game to pump your old agenda. Everybody can acknowledge that both are good players. Capel and Ford would have picked Clark over Olukemi. I've personally seen Olukemi play a few times this year and will take nothing from him, but at the same time, I will tend to side with the real basketball experts who liked Clark's upside over Olukemi.

 

[seniorsooner]

ABD's "i can't wait until X happens so I can run to OUHoops.com and gloat" posts are beyond pathetic.

 

[21standyale]

Well if JP didn't redshirt he somehow found a way to practice with the team and sit on the bench all of last year...

 

[Seymore Cox]

Well if JP didn't redshirt he somehow found a way to practice with the team and sit on the bench all of last year...

The guy has his facts wrong. He redshirted at his juco, Vincennes. He also went to a 5yr prep school, Stoneridge prep. He may be 22 years old.

 

[21standyale]

I guess I don't understand the situation then. I know for a fact he practiced with the team last year. How was that possible if he wasn't redshirting?

 

[Seymore Cox]

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recruiting/player-J.P.-Olukemi-60609

 

[bgrch1350]

Have to give props to Olukemi, he has managed to become their 2nd best player even though he comes off the bench. I'm sure he has benefited from being an older player and from redshirting last year at OSU. Thats why I'm excited to get Osby in here ASAP.

 

[bocabull]

This guy was born on 10/25/1988. He is Cade Davis age. Lol @ comparing him to a true freshman.

 

[oSuJeff97]

I guess I don't understand the situation then. I know for a fact he practiced with the team last year. How was that possible if he wasn't redshirting?

Yeah... he definitely redshirted last year.

He played one year at Vincennes (2008-09), then transferred to OSU.

He redshirted last year (2009-10), and is now playing as a RS-sophomore and has three seasons of eligibility.

And yeah - I agree it's unfair to compare him to CC... unless it's just in the "newcomer" category... they've both played the same number of Big 12 games at this point.

 

[Seymore Cox]

Yeah... he definitely redshirted last year.

He played one year at Vincennes (2008-09), then transferred to OSU.

He redshirted last year (2009-10), and is now playing as a RS-sophomore and has three seasons of eligibility.

And yeah - I agree it's unfair to compare him to CC... unless it's just in the "newcomer" category... they've both played the same number of Big 12 games at this point.

He redshirted at his JC. If he redshirted at OSU, then there would be no debate about if OU should have got him or Clark because last year Clark was in High School. How could you choose a guy already redshirting at OSU vs. a guy in high school.

 

[ByronHoustonsSweatyPalms]

He also has a supporting cast that allows him to do what he does best, drive and score. The threat of Marshall Moses in the lane and Page on the perimeter takes the defensive focus off JP when he is in the game.

Apples to oranges.

 

[oSuJeff97]

He redshirted at his JC. If he redshirted at OSU, then there would be no debate about if OU should have got him or Clark because last year Clark was in High School. How could you choose a guy already redshirting at OSU vs. a guy in high school.

Then how was he at OSU last year, practicing with the team, without losing a year of eligibility?

 

[SilliSooner]

Then how was he at OSU last year, practicing with the team, without losing a year of eligibility?

Simply by having Dexter Manley misspell Olukemi's name on the paperwork.

 

[thebigabd]

The comparison is valid because Capel pretty much had his pick at whoever he wanted, and went with Clark. Its kinda similar to the Obi Muonelo vs Tony Crocker debate that happened, or the Ray Penn vs TMG debate.

Of course, Clark is probably a better pick for the future, but not a better pick for a guy ready to contribute this season. There is little doubt that Clark is gonna be big time.

I will tend to side with the real basketball experts who liked Clark's upside over Olukemi.

Of course Clark has more upside... JP is in his 20's and Clark is 18.

ABD's "i can't wait until X happens so I can run to OUHoops.com and gloat" posts are beyond pathetic.

Run to OUhoops.com and gloat? I post here pretty much every day, just like you.

Also, I didnt say ANYTHING bad about either player. Just that right now (probably due to age), JP is in a little different league right now. I think Cam has great upside, and he will have big games this year and some bad ones. Nothing wrong with that.

And yeah - I agree it's unfair to compare him to CC... unless it's just in the "newcomer" category... they've both played the same number of Big 12 games at this point.

Again, because OU had their pick and went with Clark. Right now, JP is better. Next year, who knows? Year after that, who knows?