You look around the recruiting landscape and see that junior Charles Bediako is already getting some national love…247Sports has him ranked 33rd, ESPN has him ranked 24th and Rivals.com has him ranked 52nd. However, after watching him you realize that these rankings are just scratching the surface of where the junior should end up once it is all said and done.
Bediako is a rim running, rim-protecting 7' big man. Yes, all of those traits that NBA GMs covet as they are scouring the globe for every year. His college recruitment depicts that of a player who is highly ranked, as he already carries offers from the blue bloods of the world with the likes of Duke, Michigan State, Ohio State, Maryland, Florida, Xavier and already extending.
In talking to his coach, Dave Briski, he compares his young center’s archetype to a Clint Capela, adding in the touch to shoot 3s. When watching him play, while still raw, you see a player who is at his best rim running and playing in the dunk spots (a la Capela) on the offensive end of the floor. On top of that you see a player who runs like a gazelle, filling the lanes in transition like a wing. He can step out and knock down shots, but he is also able to bury his man deep on the block at times and finish comfortably over his left shoulder. Defensively, he is a rim protector, a very good, quick twitch, lengthy rim protector.
Bediako is a nice kid, a very polite and cordial young man, who shakes your hand, thanks you for everything, while looking you directly in the eye. However, every day, you are seeing traces of the dog come out in him when he steps in between the lines. He is bringing some nasty to his game, just getting more and more comfortable in being who he is.
As we all know, it takes big guys a bit longer to grow into their body of work. Well the light is turning on rapidly for Bediako. 7 footers who move and jump like this just do not grow on trees and this is what the NBA guys are looking at. Sure he is ranked as low as 52 in the country, but do not be surprised if the junior ends up going to college for just one year, and subsequently ending up as a first round draft pick.
