LOUISVILLE FRESHMAN CHINANU ONUAKU IMPRESSES RICK PITINO - ALL-MET ELITE

LOUISVILLE FRESHMAN

 CHINANU ONUAKU 

IMPRESSES

 RICK PITINO 

 ALL-MET ELITE

RIVERDALE BAPTIST HS.

UPPER MARLBORO MD.

 

UofL freshman Onuaku impresses Pitino

Chinanu Onuaku showed Rick Pitino something in Louisville’s blowout victory over Jacksonville State Monday night.

The Cardinals freshman center made his second consecutive start and delivered his first double-double after fouling out against Minnesota Friday in Puerto Rico.

The 6’10 Onuaku finished with 12 points on 5 of 5 FG’s, grabbed 10 rebounds, including eight offensive. He also made two steals, dished a nifty assist to Montrezl Harrell and blocked one shot.

Here’s the impressive part about his performance: Onuaku did all of that in just 16 minutes of action.

“We had a very brief conversation today and I said `Son, look, I'm going to tell you the way it is. We're going to play a bear of a schedule and we wanted to play you 12 to 16 minutes this year, bring you along slowly, and get you ready by sophomore year but we don't have that luxury. I need you to be a killer out there, and I need you to do it now. I've got to have you become a big time player in your freshman year,’ said Pitino. “And I thought tonight, from an effort standpoint, he was a big time player, even though we overmatched them physically. I thought the way he played the game was great."

Pitino calls Onuaku a great interior passer who has a good understanding of how to play.

“He came in here in absurd shape,” said Pitino. “You all watched him when he came in here in the Derby Classic. And he wasn't in good shape, so he got in good shape. He's very strong, he knows the game mentally. He understands the game. Like Montrezl (Harrell). People ask me what the best thing about Montrezl is besides his motor and I say that Montrezl is very, very intelligent. He (Onuaku) really understands the game"