Baylor Basketball Makes Top Six for 2017 Center Ikechukwu Obiagu

Baylor has made the top 6 for 2017 center Ikechukwu Obiagu. Obiagu tweeted out his list this afternoon:

Obiagu would be a huge addition for the Bears. Baylor is guaranteed to lose only Ish Wainright from this class, but as I mentioned in August, I believe Johnathan Motley will end up declaring for the draft at the end of the season. That leaves Baylor in a decent position with Jo Acuil and incoming 2017 freshman Tristan Clark as options at the five. However, Clark is more naturally a power forward, and asking Acuil to play 35 minutes a night is a stretch. That’s why Obiagu would be a huge addition.

Baylor’s main competition for Obiagu appears to be Maryland. A run of recent 247 crystal ball picks had him going to Maryland, but the most recent one has him at Baylor.

Obiagu told Pat Lawless of made hoops he’ll visit Baylor next week. In the interview, Obiagu added this on Baylor, “Baylor: “The coaches have developed a good relationship with me and they do a good a good job utilizing their bigs on both ends of the floor,” he said. “They have a good history with their big men and I’ve been to the campus, which has a nice atmosphere.”

If Baylor does not have any transfers or early declarations for the draft with the exception of Motley, Obiagu would be the last available scholarship for the Bears. That leaves him as the prime target. Hopefully the Bears can land him.

The 2018 roster is going to be insanely experienced. I’ll do another post on this later, but even if Motley doesn’t return, that team will probably start fifth year senior Manu Lecomte, fifth year senior Al Freeman, fifth year senior Jo Acuil, senior Terry Maston, and then junior King McClure. That’s the team Baylor needs to make a deep tournament run with, and adding Obiagu would be an immense help, if Motley leaves. And if Motley does return, the 2017 team would add fifth year senior Johnathan Motley, and then have Obiagu coming off the bench. That could be Baylor’s best team ever.