NBA Comparison: Solomon Alibi

Strengths: Ideal size for the center position with a massize wingspan and huge standing reach … Showed a great deal of improvement during his time at UW, particular on the offensive end … Very difficult to box out on the offensive glass, first in the Pac-12 at 3.3 orpg as a senior … Length effects number of shots, was named to the All-Pac 12 Defensive 1st Team as a senior as well … Knows his role and developed some touch near the basket … Had a very low foul rate for a player with his size, was able to stay on the court for extended minutes when that tends to be a problem with larger centers … Shot 56% FG over his 3 years at Washington … Developed a baby hook, which given his size was difficult to defend

Weaknesses: Hands are questionable … While he may not move to badly given his size, still quite slow laterally … Also lacks optimal straight line speed … Very limited offensively, never developed into much of a post threat … Already 25 years old and still relatively raw … Given his massive size, one might expect him to block a few more shots … Mechanical in trying to get into his post moves … High number of turnovers given how little he was asked to participate in the offense … Really poor free throw shooter, to go along with his shooting range being limited … Gets little lift off of the floor … Makes pretty much any team he is on have to go into half court sets on offense, would have trouble keeping up with a running team … Quick centers are a major challenge for him to defend … Still developing his basketball IQ

Notes: Was part of NBA and NIKE sponsored SEEDS program and appears in documentary on the emergence of basketball in Africa called "Elevate" … Went to College of Southern Idaho before finishing his last three years of eligibility at the University of Washington … Redshirted during the 2009-10 season after tearing his ACL … Name is pronounced: AH-zeese EN-jai ("jai" rhymes with "eye") … Started playing basketball at the age of 14 after playing soccer in his youth … May get looks due to his size, yet is unlikely to get drafted … Should get on a summer camp roster and seems likely to be headed to either Europe or the D-League

 Mike Visenberg 6/25/13