At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, over one hundred players from North Carolina went on to play at the Division I, II, III or NAIA levels, and that number looks likely to continue increasing with the current senior class. Typically, we take a closer look at guys who are overlooked and underrated, and today’s edition will highlight Kanayo Nwosu of Word of God.
Between camp, travel ball, and the high school season, we’ve seen Nwosu in all possible settings, including our All-American camp, where we stated, “Finishing up, we look at a player that seems to consistently dominate in various facets of the game, Kanayo Nwosu. He’s a big, strong, physical, extremely athletic forward prospect with a nonstop motor and terrific defensive versatility. Nwosu overwhelms opponents with his energy, intesntiy, and sheer toughness, but also highlighted an improved offensive skillset in terms of polish. He knocked down jumpers, attacked the basket with ferocity, and finished above or through any amount of contact. Nwosu forces turnovers, rebounds consistently, and make his presence felt in transition on a regular basis. Next in his development process is working to become a better passer, as it would make him a more complete player. Coach Orr on Nwosu: “Kanayo can jump out of the gym. He has extremely high upside. Kanayo has a scorer’s mentality and is very athletic. He’s a highlight waiting to happen. He runs the floor extremely well for his size but needs to improve his court awareness and learning how to play without the ball. Kanayo was one of the top players in the camp.” Nwosu was exceptional at camp, securing the MVP award with relative ease, and should have a very productive upcoming season for Word of God.”
The various different settings have allowed Phenom Hoops to see Nwosu’s adaptability on a consistent basis, whether winning the MVP at camp, being a major cog for Juice All-Stars, or maximizing his presence within a role for Word of God. Nwosu possesses the type of identity that naturally seems to mesh with any collection of teammates, largely due to his combination of size, motor, and athleticism. Add in his toughness and willingness to do the little things, and Nwosu brings obvious value to the table. His recruitment has gradually picked up over the last six months, and numerous next-level programs should be prioritizing the two-way forward over the foreseeable future.