ESPN analyst impressed with Butler basketball freshman's scoring, athleticism at FIBA U19 World Cup
- Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor has not yet played for Butler, but Bulldogs fans were able to catch a glimpse of the future during the FIBA U19 World Cup.
It can sometimes be hard to gauge what an international recruit brings when enrolling in university for the first time. But Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor showcased his athleticism and scoring ability that Butler basketball hopes he brings.
A freshman who will soon arrive to Butler competed in the FIBA Under-19 World Cup with his native Canada. He perhaps had his most complete game in the quarterfinals, a 108-102 loss to USA Basketball, because it wasn't just his scoring that impacted the game, but he had tournament-highs of five rebounds and five assists to go with 13 points.
He averaged a Canadian-best 14.6 points across five games in the event. He paired it with 3.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. The 6-foot-6 wing showcased his athleticism with several highlight-reel dunks. He was 23 for 50 (46%) for the tournament but needs to develop a perimeter shot as he was 2 for 13 (15.4%) on 3-pointers.
Oliogu-Elabor was part of a recruiting class that ranked 20th by 247Sports and On3. He was a three-star recruit per 247Sports and four stars by On3 out of William Academy in Toronto, Ontario. And known ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla, who specializes on international scouting and frequently calls Big 12 games, was impressed: "@ButlerMBB got a very good one in 6-6 Efeosa Oliogu. Has taken it to USA in the paint. Impressive freshman.
Oliogu impressed in his final group stage game against Germany. He scored his high for the tournament, 21 points, on 8-of-10 shooting and was 4 for 4 at the free-throw line. Though, unfortunately for him, it didn't translate as Canada lost 104-88.
But it did draw perhaps the best reaction from social media over the weekend: