Latest news with #Omoruyi
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 Lakers draft prospects: Clifford Omoruyi
The Los Angeles Lakers need help at the center position — badly. They will look to the trade market and free agency for at least one player who could plug that hole, but there is also a chance they find a contributor in the NBA draft later this month. They will only have the No. 55 pick, and while one cannot necessarily expect someone who is drafted so low to become a viable rotation player, there are always exceptions to that rule. The Lakers, in particular, have found their share of diamonds in the rough in the second round of the draft. Advertisement Reportedly, Clifford Omoruyi, a center who spent this past season at the University of Alabama, had a workout scheduled with the Lakers. He's a bouncy 6-foot-11 center with the type of outstanding athleticism and basic abilities they want and need in a big man. He weighs 250 pounds and has an impressive 7-foot-6 wingspan, which allows him to disrupt opposing offenses. He's a very adept rim protector, and while his production in terms of blocked shots fell this past season, he averaged 1.7 blocks in 24.4 minutes a game during his five seasons in the NCAA. The Nigerian native, who moved to New Jersey at the age of 14, spent his first four years at Rutgers University before transferring to Alabama. He isn't much of an offensive threat, but he was able to average double figures in scoring during his last three years at Rutgers because of his ability to convert lob passes into layups and dunks. He also runs the floor very well on the fast break and hustles to get easy baskets in transition. Omoruyi is also a good rebounder and a capable interior defender who has a career NCAA average of 7.4 rebounds a game. He plays with plenty of energy, and he's still considered somewhat raw, although some feel he may have the ability to develop a respectable mid-range offensive game. He may not be ready to contribute a lot in the NBA as a rookie, but if he's available at No. 55, one has to assume the Lakers will at least consider taking him. This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: 2025 Lakers draft prospects: Clifford Omoruyi
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 Lakers draft prospects: Clifford Omoruyi
2025 Lakers draft prospects: Clifford Omoruyi The Los Angeles Lakers need help at the center position — badly. They will look to the trade market and free agency for at least one player who could plug that hole, but there is also a chance they find a contributor in the NBA draft later this month. They will only have the No. 55 pick, and while one cannot necessarily expect someone who is drafted so low to become a viable rotation player, there are always exceptions to that rule. The Lakers, in particular, have found their share of diamonds in the rough in the second round of the draft. Reportedly, Clifford Omoruyi, a center who spent this past season at the University of Alabama, had a workout scheduled with the Lakers. He's a bouncy 6-foot-11 center with the type of outstanding athleticism and basic abilities they want and need in a big man. He weighs 250 pounds and has an impressive 7-foot-6 wingspan, which allows him to disrupt opposing offenses. He's a very adept rim protector, and while his production in terms of blocked shots fell this past season, he averaged 1.7 blocks in 24.4 minutes a game during his five seasons in the NCAA. The Nigerian native, who moved to New Jersey at the age of 14, spent his first four years at Rutgers University before transferring to Alabama. He isn't much of an offensive threat, but he was able to average double figures in scoring during his last three years at Rutgers because of his ability to convert lob passes into layups and dunks. He also runs the floor very well on the fast break and hustles to get easy baskets in transition. Omoruyi is also a good rebounder and a capable interior defender who has a career NCAA average of 7.4 rebounds a game. He plays with plenty of energy, and he's still considered somewhat raw, although some feel he may have the ability to develop a respectable mid-range offensive game. He may not be ready to contribute a lot in the NBA as a rookie, but if he's available at No. 55, one has to assume the Lakers will at least consider taking him.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
'He was wonderful to coach': Nate Oats believes Clifford Omoruyi can flourish in the NBA
'He was wonderful to coach': Nate Oats believes Clifford Omoruyi can flourish in the NBA Clifford Omoruyi established himself as a dynamic player in college, and the former Alabama standout is looking to showcase that ability and more ahead of the 2025 NBA draft. Omoruyi was born in Nigeria and moved to New Jersey at the age of 14. He eventually committed to play at Rutgers in March 2020 after fielding over 20 offers, becoming the first consensus top-50 recruit to join the program since Kadeem Jack in 2010. The 6-foot-11 center saw steady improvement over his four years with the Scarlet Knights, culminating with two All-Big Ten Defensive Team selections. He played with a relentless motor, fighting for every rebound while protecting the rim at a high level. Omoruyi averaged 10.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.9 blocks on 51.2% shooting from the field as a senior during the 2023-24 season. He ranked fourth in the country in blocked shots (93) and was the first player with at least eight blocks in multiple conference games since 1999-00. "Just being Nigerian, you've got to push yourself to be better," Omoruyi told Rookie Wire of his energetic playing style. "Everybody is trying to win and chase their dreams, so if I don't do it, someone is going to do it. It is just better if I push myself to do it." Fresh off a tremendous season, Omoruyi entered the transfer portal and was viewed as one of the top available interior defenders. He eventually chose the Crimson Tide over the likes of Georgetown, Kansas State and North Carolina, among other programs. Omoruyi helped Alabama advance to the Elite Eight for the second straight year, averaging 7.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 37 appearances. He registered two double-doubles and ranked ninth in the country in 2-point field goal percentage (73.9). The 23-year-old finished in double figures 13 times this past season, including a season-high 17 points, four rebounds, three steals and two blocks on March 21 in a win over Robert Morris in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. "The best thing he does is protect the rim and rebound, and you've got to have that to win," Alabama head coach Nate Oats told Rookie Wire. "We are the only school in the country that has made the last two Elite Eights, so he helped us have a really successful year. We competed for an SEC championship, and the SEC was the best conference in the history of college basketball this year, and we were one of the top teams. He helped us with all of that." Omoruyi stepped into a starting role at Alabama, averaging 19.2 minutes per game, a decrease from 26.9 minutes per game the previous season. Oats and the team used a more pro-style approach designed to maximize their personnel, including Omoruyi. Because of their depth, Omoruyi wasn't required to log 30-plus minutes a night. By keeping him mostly in the 18-24 range, Omoruyi was able to continue to make high-energy plays by chasing loose balls, crashing the glass and protecting the paint. Omoruyi adjusted well to how the Crimson Tide operated on offense by serving as a consistent lob threat, with his athleticism and 7-foot, 6 1/4-inch wingspan. He put pressure on the rim as a roller in pick-and-roll situations and expanded his offensive game by handling the ball more. "He definitely wasn't used to playing at the pace we did, but I think he picked that up as it went on," Oats said. "He was used to getting the ball a lot more in the post, coming from Rutgers. He had no complaints ever about scoring less. He was really just a team guy and did whatever we needed him to." Omoruyi is now focused on proving himself, with team workouts and interviews ramping up before the draft on June 25-26 in Brooklyn, New York. He signed with Edge Sports, which also represents Indiana Pacers forward Enrique Freeman, among other players. The Nigerian has made his 3-point shooting a point of emphasis during his offseason workouts, putting up at least 500 shots in the gym on most days. He is also working on various other elements of his game, such as pick-and-rolls, ball handling and attacking the rim. "I have really improved greatly because I've been working on everything," Omoruyi said. "During the season, my coaches knew I could shoot, but that wasn't my game. They just wanted me to be a better player and work on what I'm good at, so I've been working on adding the 3-pointer to my game, and that is going well." Omoruyi previously tested the predraft process in 2023, competing in the G League Elite Camp in Chicago, Illinois. He views himself as a completely different player than he was at that time, and is more comfortable doing different things on the court. That experience prepared him for this year, after he finished his collegiate career with the Crimson Tide. He is looking to make the most of this process and is eager to show teams that he can be a reliable player at the next level. "I can be the best version of myself, I just need the opportunity to get there and keep doing what I'm doing," Omoruyi said. "I'm already a great defensive player, and I can improve more. I just have to keep improving on my shooting and everything." Omoruyi is considered a potential second-round pick, with many projecting him to be a productive backup center. He has completed several workouts with teams, including the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers, and has additional visits scheduled this month. After a productive five years in college, Omoruyi is on the verge of advancing to the next stage of his career. He left his mark at each stop over that span, and is looking to do it again in the NBA. "He is one of the best kids I've ever coached," Oats said. "He is great. He has a high IQ and is all about the team. He was wonderful to coach. Whoever gets him is going to get a great kid. I hope he ends up in a great situation where he gets a real chance to play. I think he'll take full advantage of it."
New York Times
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Doing Business Casual With a Bomber Jacket
Justice Omoruyi had just wrapped another photo shoot before ours took place. He and some friends were in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood taking pictures for CunyOutfits, an Instagram account showcasing the style of City University of New York students, when we crossed paths on a Tuesday in mid April. 'We go around the city, take pictures and just have fun,' said Mr. Omoruyi, an 18-year-old mechanical engineering student at City College in Harlem. His style has been influenced by his love of thrift shopping, he said, noting that he bought the bomber jacket he was wearing over his shirt and tie at the Grand Bazaar, a resale market on the Upper West Side. What Mr. Omoruyi likes most about thrifting is the journey some items take before he finds them. 'I could thrift a shirt from Texas, or Jersey,' he said, 'because someone may have moved here and decided to give it away.' Tap to see more looks
USA Today
25-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USA TODAY Sports reseeds all Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament teams: Where does Alabama rank?
USA TODAY Sports reseeds all Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament teams: Where does Alabama rank? Entering the Sweet 16, Alabama ranks four spots below a Kentucky team the Crimson Tide beat three times in head-to-head play. USA TODAY Sports analyst explains why. The Alabama Crimson Tide come head into the Sweet 16 with plenty of high hopes but with some question marks looming after their first two games in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Alabama, the No. 2 seed in the East Region bracket, overcame a scare against No. 15 seed Robert Morris in the first round in Cleveland for a too-close-for-comfort 90-81 victory on Friday before a much-improved performance against a dangerous Saint Mary's Gaels team. The Crimson Tide (27-8) defeated the Gaels, 80-66, with Nate Oats' team showing off its depth as six players finished in double figures, led by Chris Youngblood's 13 points. With the win, Alabama advanced to the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive season and for the fourth time in the past five years. On Tuesday, USA TODAY Sports reseeded each Sweet 16 team based on their performances in the first two rounds of March Madness. Alabama was No. 10 in college basketball analyst Eddie Timanus' rankings. The Crimson Tide ranked one spot below Texas Tech and four spots below the Kentucky Wildcats (who Alabama beat three times this year). Alabama's Sweet 16 opponent, the BYU Cougars, ranked No. 12. Timanus said of Alabama's low ranking: "A No. 2 seed that reach the Final Four a year ago should probably be higher on the list. But this year's version of the Crimson Tide is more prone to defensive lapses, a trait that could send them packing as early as their next contest against a high-scoring Brigham Young team. They found a way in the regional rounds last year to put it all together. Perhaps, Mark Sears and Grant Nelson can turn back the clock." Alabama certainly turned some heads with its opening-round showing against Robert Morris. The Crimson Tide trailed 65-64 with under seven minutes to play when Nelson entered the game and threw down a dunk. But the combined presence of big men Clifford Omoruyi and Mouhamed Dioubate so far in the tournament shouldn't be overlooked. Dioubate had a double-double against Robert Morris as he and Omoruyi combined for 35 points. Against Saint Mary's, they combined for 20 with Omoruyi finishing with 10 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. Regardless of where Alabama sits in anyone's Sweet 16 rankings -- for comparison, CBS Sports and The Athletic have them at No. 6 -- the Crimson Tide will need to be at their best against a BYU (26-9) team led by top guard Richie Saunders that can shoot the ball as well as anyone. RELATED: Alabama Basketball 2024-25 Opponent Preview: BYU Cougars Tipoff for Alabama vs. BYU is scheduled for 6:09 p.m. CT Thursday at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The game will be televised on CBS. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
