Replacing an NBA first-round pick isn’t easy, so comparing Vince Iwuchukwu to Thomas Sorber is a waste of time.
What Iwuchukwu has shown over the summer is what he does well in the constructs of Georgetown’s offense, and it doesn’t look anything like his role at St. John’s.
Where he can be the most effective is with his back to the basket. He has a Big East body and can seal his defender deep in the lane and then go to his soft touch half-hook. He’s comfortable with that shot as a go-to move.
If teams dig or have equal size, that could force Iwuchukwu to put the ball on the floor. He will need to find efficiency in quick, definitive one-dribble moves in the paint that he can build counters off.
It’s possible that he already has that, but didn’t have a chance to show it under St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino.
Iwuchukwu’s size makes him a prime Zoom Action, Screen-and-Roll big. That skill set works well in Cooley’s offensive philosophy. It also makes him more susceptible to grabbing offensive rebounds if he’s on the move, as it requires his defender to be quick, athletic, and strong enough to keep him off the boards.
His midrange game has potential. Iwuchukwu can make it, but the question is, if a team slumps off, can he make it enough to earn their respect? If he can two or three a game consistently, that could do the trick.
Iwuchukwu can make three-pointers, but he isn’t what you classify as a stretch big. So don’t be shocked if he takes a couple, but also don’t be shocked if he doesn’t take 4-6 per game.
Iron Sharpens Iron:
Georgetown has the potential to be one of the top defensive teams in the Big East. The defensive buy-in makes practice very competitive as guys compete for minutes and roles. That should translate to the floor.
A Year Makes A Difference:
Last season, Jayden Fort and Seal Diouf were adjusting to the difference between high school and college. This summer, you can see improvement from both players.
There were plays where Fort tried to be more physical off the bounce—at times, inviting contact.
Diouf is more active around the rim and isn’t shy about physical play. He’s also learning how to make himself available on dribble penetration.
I don’t know how much either will contribute this season, especially early on, but both are heading in the right direction.
