Seven-foot center commits to N.C. State

Joseph Uchebo, a 7-foot, 240-pound center who’s originally from Nigeria, has made an early commitment to N.C. State.

Uchebo is a sophomore at Oak Ridge (N.C.) Military Academy and played last season at Mount Zion Academy in Durham. Oak Ridge coach Stan Kowalewski said Uchebo runs the floor well, has good passing ability and vision, and can score from 18 feet.

“He’s very aggressive going after the basketball coming off the rim,” Kowalewski said, “but he’s not just a back-to-the-basket big man.”

Uchebo has committed so early that it’s difficult for analysts to predict how good he might become. Scout.com national recruiting analyst Dave Telep has seen him play just one time.

Telep was impressed with Uchebo’s intensity and said that it appears he will be a high-level prospect at this point, but felt uncomfortable commenting more on a player he hasn’t seen multiple times.

Kowalewski said Uchebo likes N.C. State because he has family in the Raleigh/Durham area and felt comfortable with Sidney Lowe and the Wolfpack coaches. According to Kowalewski, Uchebo believes that committing early will reduce the pressure of recruiting and help him focus on school work.

“He’s a great kid, a very good player, very skilled,” Kowalewski said. “I think he can play in the ACC right away once he gets there.

Ken Tysiac