MSU Closes out 2015 Class

[BEARZ77]

Bears get 3rd and currently what would be final commit for 2015 when 6'7 pf, Obediah Church of Springfield Illinois HS verballed. Church is described as a long armed, ultra athletic player who is very good defensively and around the rim, and still developing offensively. An Illinois sports writer who follows the HS scene recently said if he was picking a top 5 team for Illinois, he'd go small and put Church at center, noting his shot blocking and rebounding game.

Church completes a 2015 class that is more about potential than past performance for the Bears. It's clear that Lusk feels he has a solid core of freshman-juniors in his current roster, and focused on identifying players who had the physical traits he was looking to develop in 6'3 combo guard Jared Dixon, 6'9 post Zach Cameron, and now Church. Not a highly ranked class, so it will be interesting to see how they fit roles and develop.

Of the three, I really liked what I saw of Church on tape and when you pair him with guys like Kendrix and Thompson, will give us some very long and athletic players in that 6'5-6'8 range going forward the next 4 years.

[Kip Dynamite]

Obediah Church commits: After putting together an outstanding spring on the club circuit and turning heads during the July evaluation period with his eye-popping athleticism and improved production, Springfield’s Obediah Church became a big priority for mid-major basketball programs.

Church, one of the City/Suburban Hoops Report’s top 15 seniors in the Class of 2015, decided to end his recruitment on Monday, committing to Missouri State and head coach Paul Lusk. In the end, he chose Missouri State over Wisconsin-Green Bay, Indiana State and Ohio. He also had offers from the following programs:

-Bradley
-FIU
-Loyola (IL)
-N. Dakota
-SIU-C
-Tenn St.
-UIC

While the opportunity to play in the Missouri Valley and for coaches he says he has a great relationship with was a big part in his decision, the academics fit was also something that stood out.

“The academic piece was very important,” says Church. “I want to study criminology, and they have a really good program.”

The uber-athletic Church is a 6-7 gazelle running the floor. While his offensive game is in the midst of developing –– he will occasionally drop in a 12-15 foot face-up jumper –– where he shines is around the basket, finishing with put-back and alley-oop dunks, rebounding and blocking shots. Church is an ideal Missouri Valley Conference recruit.

Missouri State coach Paul Lusk and assistant coach Brad Korn made Church a priority, and the Bears have secured themselves one heck of a prospect

[tribecalledquest]

I have seen Obediah Church play a few times for Springfield High.

Ridiculous athlete. Off the charts athlete.

Very, very limited offensive game at this point. Not a good shooter or ball handler. Gets most everything right at the rim. But he can be a game changer defensively.

If he develops offensively he could be a great get. If not, a rotation guy with a role.

[Cdizzle]

Always fun rolling the dice with these athletic freaks with low basketball skills. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't, but at the very least you get to see them slam some wicked ones in warmups for a couple seasons.

Hopefully this one pans out for MSU.

[MSUDuo]

Always fun rolling the dice with these athletic freaks with low basketball skills. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't, but at the very least you get to see them slam some wicked ones in warmups for a couple seasons.

Hopefully this one pans out for MSU.

I'm trying to think of the last time it worked for us...

Dex Manswell and Drew Wilson anyone?

With that said, now that Lusk has things going he is more inclined to take a chance on a player. It hurts when you swing and miss within the first couple of years. Even if we miss now, it should't hurt too bad.

[Wufan]

Defense and rebounding in the post is something the Bears didn't have a lot if last year.

[Cdizzle]

Always fun rolling the dice with these athletic freaks with low basketball skills. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't, but at the very least you get to see them slam some wicked ones in warmups for a couple seasons.

Hopefully this one pans out for MSU.

I'm trying to think of the last time it worked for us...

Dex Manswell and Drew Wilson anyone?

With that said, now that Lusk has things going he is more inclined to take a chance on a player. It hurts when you swing and miss within the first couple of years. Even if we miss now, it should't hurt too bad.

Exactly. Lusk is getting things built up such that even if this guy gives nothing but defense and rebounding for a few years, that's enough of a skill to complement the team in a useful way.

[Cdizzle]

Always fun rolling the dice with these athletic freaks with low basketball skills. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't, but at the very least you get to see them slam some wicked ones in warmups for a couple seasons.

Hopefully this one pans out for MSU.

I'm trying to think of the last time it worked for us...

Dex Manswell and Drew Wilson anyone?

With that said, now that Lusk has things going he is more inclined to take a chance on a player. It hurts when you swing and miss within the first couple of years. Even if we miss now, it should't hurt too bad.

Exactly. Lusk is getting things built up such that even if this guy gives nothing but defense and rebounding for a few years, that's enough of a skill to complement the team in a useful way.

[MSUDuo]

Not sure when this was written (early summer?) and courtesy of BearNation

OBEDIAH CHURCH 6'8" PF ILLINOIS IRISH

Obediah Church Springfield 2015 Illinois Irish 17U Illinois High School Basketball Recruiting
Rating: MM/HM

While considered a high mid major prospect to this point, PrepHoopsIllinois has no doubt that, by the end of the summer, Church will project as a high major player in most circles. He's a lengthy 6'8", is very athletic, and has a great motor...something most high majors look for in power forwards. In addition, he's improved in every event he's been in since 2012. Obediah has always ran the floor like a deer, rebounded at a high level, and played above the rim on the offensive end. More recently he has grasped a better understanding of the game and feel for timing around the basket and is now consistently knocking down mid range jumpers. During the month of June Church picked up a slew of mid major offers and many high majors now have their hand in on his recruitment. Expect many of those schools to follow suit and offer scholarships by the time August rolls around.

_______________________________

If it is true that he is in fact consistently knocking down mid range jumpers, this could be one heck of a steal in 2-3 years.

[Redbird Recon]

Not sure when this was written (early summer?) and courtesy of BearNation

I actually assisted in writing that article; Obi is in my section of Illinois. He is every bit of the freak athlete that he is advertised as. With that being said, his strength, toughness, and awareness all need plenty of work.