Steven Enoch

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Now that I have seen both exhibition games in person, I continue to be intrigued by Steven Enoch. I didn't see much from him the first game - possibly the way Tampa defended UConn made it tough for him- but I couldn't help but notice that Enoch is the biggest kid on the team, and he turned 18 years old only a few weeks ago. Yesterday, in the second half, Enoch may have been the best player on the court. Granted he was playing against a UNH team that was severely undersized with nobody nearly as big as him, but this was only his second college game, and he looked like he knew what he was doing and could more than hold his own underneath. And the 6-11, 250 on the roster is no joke. This is the biggest kid on the UConn team, to my eyes. And he looks like he has monster potential. Or the potential to be a monster.

The thing is, UConn has never had a player like this kid at the 5 (with the possible exception of Drummond although Enoch has a much smoother FT stroke than Drummond and I am not sure it's a fair comparison anyway). Other than Drummond I am drawing a blank as far as guys who UConn had at the 5 that had this kind of size (okay maybe Souleymane Wane but Enoch looks like a better athlete than Wane) - and a very smooth shooting stroke. Plus he looks comfortable scoring in the low post and doesn't look like he will be easily pushed around.

In the past we have watched and waited and hoped that our various bigs would get bigger and stronger. There is not going to be any such waiting with this guy. The future could be now - he is physically ready.

 

[aman kidwai]

I'm with you I think Enoch has potential to be a game-changer as a "stretch 5." Another great piece for the Huskies to build on going forward.

Will be interesting to see how much he can contribute this year given the depth and experience on the roster. Have to imagine he'll be developing this year and learning behind guys like Brimah, Miller, Nolan, and Facey.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Aman-

I thought so too before watching these games but Enoch has something that Brimah, Miller, Nolan, and Facey don't have which is size, and power. I think he can seize minutes away from Nolan and Facey. What I don't know is where he is mentally or how fast he will adjust to the college game. But right now he has the physical part. And if UConn plays Gonzaga at the BOA UConn will need him because Gonzaga has major size and strength on their frontline. If Enoch can pick things up and is a fast study he will be taking minutes away from someone. But we shall see what happens. It's gonna be interesting.

 

[aman kidwai]

I agree that he could take minutes from Facey and Nolan. It might take a while, though, for him to get there.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Here is how Enoch explained his improved performance in the second exhibition game:

“I went way harder than I did last game,” Enoch said. “I moved my feet a lot more than I did last game. I used my arms too much last game and my upper body. [With] these new sets of rules you have to learn how to use your lower body more often.”

http://dailycampus.com/stories/2015...bad-from-uconns-exhibition-win-over-new-haven

 

[northdakotahusky]

The results stunk in the first game, but I think it was clear he moved well. I'm with you guys. I really like this kid. He's no Andre Drummond, but he's got the most potential since Drummond. I would probably say he's got more potential than Oriakhi as well. Very good feet. Very good mobility.

 

[northdakotahusky]

I actually think he could start at center before the season is over. I like Brimah, but I'm quite certain Enoch will be better in every category except blocking shots. Starting or not starting, he will be tough to keep off the floor and he's definitely taking minutes from someone.

 

[northdakotahusky]

He will most certainly take minutes from Nolan and Facey. Speaking of Facey, I thought he looked pretty decent guarding big wings and bigs who put the ball on the floor.

 

[Ozzie3178]

Enoch is a monster a huge kid... Also he knows the game well because kid a very smart intelligent young man in the classroom as well. Mek Okafor like!!!

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Enoch is a bit bigger than Okafor was. Although Emeka developed into a competent low post scorer and was a very good rebounder, I thought shot blocking was the best part of his game. He was more adept than Thabeet and Brimah at blocking shots without fouling.

 

[the Blades]

I would love to find the first post about Enoch from a couple of summers ago but it is gone. He wasn't really a blip on the radar screen for Uconn and everyone else while they where all over Diamond Stone. Nice that Steve's dad was a Uconn fan and friends of Mike Mckay and Corny Thompson. It's been a meteoric rise in the last 2 years when he originally only had an offer from Sacred Heart.

Like mentioned above.... yesterday it was vs. undersized DII team... but the one thing he looks to have right now is better hands and a better base than Brimah. My hope is that he becomes Uconn's next "consultation prize"..... as in some guy named Kemba when we "lost out" on Brandon Jennings who never even went to college..... or Shabazz when everyone was sweating Uconn missing out on Mickey D AA's ..Josh Selby, Kyrie Irving, Brandon Knight ....who's CBB careers lasted a minute.... It'd be nice to see Enoch turn into a solid 3+ year contributor after Stone's one and out at Maryland. Here's and old NHR article about Enoch and his improvement:

NHR - UConn recruit Enoch has come a long way in a short time

 

[northdakotahusky]

I'm thinking Steve is not a shot blocker type. I certainly could be wrong, but he seems like more of a positional defender. Shot blockers traditionally give up ground to gain the required distance to see and block a shot. Steve doesn't seem too interested in giving up ground. Okafor did both pretty well, but that's not normally the case. Both methods work. It's all in the execution.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Enoch didn't record a blocked shot in the two exhibition games. However, UConn as a team blocked 19 shots in the 2 games. Between Miller and Brimah there will be a substantial number of blocked shots, and what Enoch provides in that department will likely be gravy. I note that he only grabbed 1 board against New Haven, but he only played 11 minutes and got his team leading 11 points in fewer minutes than anyone else got theirs. Brimah on the other hand had a team leading 7 boards. And his rebounding was certainly better than in the first game.