2006 Udoh still growing

The No. 143 ranked player in the class of 2006 Ekpe Udoh received some good news when he went to the doctor with a dislocated shoulder at the start of the season. Udoh, already at 6-foot-9, 215-pounds, is not finished growing with his growth plates still wide open. No offers are on the table yet for the combo forward from Sante Fe High School in Edmond, Okla., but plenty of schools have been tracking Udoh.

"Ekpe is still getting back from a dislocated shoulder injury from the start of the season," said Sante Fe head coach Guy Hardaker. "He had limited minutes early on and is still playing in a shoulder brace.

"Wichita State, Southwest Missouri State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Tulsa and Oral Roberts have been in to see him this season. He's also hearing from Georgia Tech, St. John's, Connecticut and Illinois among others."

A potentially dominant defensive player with a 7-foot-4 wing span, Udoh is averaging 5 blocks per game along with 10 points and 11 rebounds per outing for his 12-2 team.

"I believe Ekpe has tremendous upside," said Hardaker. "He's our best defender. With his size and athleticism, he can guard in the post and on the perimeter. He set a school record for blocks as a sophomore. He blocks everything that comes into the paint."

Udoh has the capability to put up points as he did at times for the Athletes First AAU club, but his offensive skills still need some polishing.

"Offensively, Ekpe is getting better and will continue to do so as he gets stronger," said Hardaker. "He needs more bulk, and he needs to work on his perimeter stroke to get ready for the next level.

With a 3.0 GPA and a strong work ethic, Udoh is destined to only get better and make a significant contribution to a college program.

"He is a great kid to have around and has a tremendous work ethic," said Hardaker. "He plays basketball all day long."