Chris Nwuli of Rutgers
- Thread starter SPK145
- Start date
He'll definitely be playing for a significantly better New Jersey program. That much is certain. He has made the right choice. Welcome aboard.
I imagine if Rutgers wanted him they would still have him. They did a solid job retaining players.
Spoke about the awesome upside of the player and after his early injury (he didn't play against us because of the injury) he got much better as the season progressed. Obviously Jerry saw every game he played at Rutgers and feels the best is yet to come for Nwuli.
I'm sure the usual cast of characters will look for the negative as they always do. But Pikiell wanted him to return and he was the only player that chose to go elsewhere.
Also said that Nwuli has attitude but in a good way that did not create any problems with his teammates. A Holloway type of player.
He averaged 2 and 1 in double digit minutes on one of the worst big ten teams. If he’s the 11th or 12th man fine. Unfortunately he’s the starting PF right now. Can’t spin this into a positive
Very good addition. Should be a good match for what Shaheen's style.
I read he was one and only player they wanted to retain that they were unable to so there’s that..
Welcome addition. Look forward to reading more about what he may bring to the team
I am not so sure that he improved so much during the course of the season -- he played more as the injuries became an issue -- I could never figure out why someone so athletic had such problems with on ball defense. But the fact is that the staff saw enough potential to try to retain him, so they must think the potential can be realized. One red flag is that he has never played at the same place for two consecutive years since 8th grade. Hopefully for you this will be more fruitful than the Jon McDaniel transfer.
He is another unknown quantity added to a roster where if the pieces work out it might surprise in a positive way or the ship can sink.
Hopefully he’s truly 6’8” and not 6’6”. He’s thin. Not sure how well he’ll hold up as a PF. Who knows.
My thoughts are he reminds me a lot of the transfers we brought in before the 2024-25 season. Highly rated as a high school senior, did pretty much nothing as a freshman in college, still has a ton of potential. Hopefully better than what we got in 2024-25.
On paper, he does nothing. But games aren't played on paper.
Also apparently had some solid high majors after him out of prep, only 2 years ago, so that’s a positive sign as to the potential as well.
After I just spent 20 minutes reading about him, I had the exact same thought. Reminds me of Scottie M prior to 2024. Someone who everyone thinks fits Sha’s style and is a Sha type of player. Was a 4 start HS recruit pursued by other solid high majors. Seems talented. Only different is that I don’t think we went after him out of prep like we did Scotty M.
These are the kind of guys we’re going to get. That’s reality. Sha and Team have to make something of it. Embrace it.
We will get a center. IMO no way he’s starting. Mariano at PF from the little I know.
If you are reading these boards you “embrace it”. Again though “”embracing” doesn’t mean we have to overstate every get or make silly comparisons or projections.
That phrase right there is what leads me to believe he’s not very good. Everybody today is obsessed with being “athletic” that they never actually gain skill in the sport they’re trying to excel at..
I never heard of this guy. Other than francis, no RU player from last yr has entered my memory. He was highly touted in hs. Was hurt early and got more time as the season progressed though never a major player. I assume that is what most of us know. Most are unimpressed (how socking). I assume Sha likes his defensive appetite. I can think of two of our best defensive forwards who seemed like a waste after their frosh yr. So I will hope this young man reminds me of these guys, once I actally see him in a basketball uniform.
I would like to have seen RU retain him as the fourth 3/4 option and developmental gamble because he can run, jump and has occasionally shown glimpses of skill. Like I said above – – it was just odd that everyone he guarded seemed to be able to get him on their hip even when they were much less athletic. Maybe it’s just discipline with ignoring a jab step or head fake — maybe he will learn with experience – – I don’t know.
A big man with some attitude and upside. Glad to have him! Welcome to the Pirates family!!
Christopher Nwuli is a raw but intriguing Big Ten freshman whose 79th-percentile block rate and positive DBPM already signal defensive legitimacy at a high level of competition. The offensive profile — 48.8% TS%, 24.1% TO%, negative OBPM — is a real concern, but is consistent with a limited-minutes developmental role rather than a disqualifying inefficiency. Portal programs at the mid-major or low high-major level should value the defensive ceiling here, understanding they are acquiring a project with a genuine trait rather than a finished product.
Coming together, I like it. Be patient, more on the way
Given our Budget situation, we have no choice but to try to get players like this and hope Shaheen can get the player to max his potential. If you’re upset we can’t get better players who bring rankings; we can’t afford them. Otherwise we’d still have Hines.
The situation is what it is for us.
The situation is what it is for us.