Charlotte Decommit Ebuka Izundu 6'10 PF (Miami commit)

#301
#301
VolNExile said:
It may be wearing us out as fans, but I admire a prospect who takes it slowly and tries to find the best spot for him.

Separately from above, what do we know about this guy? I poked around online, trying to find out some history, and came up with pretty much nothing. Where's his mom? Where's his dad? Where's his Auntie Dee? He looks a lot older than your basic high school junior. Please tell me that he's not one of these African kids who are suckered over to the USA by someone * cough AAU cough * who recruits potential players for college but gives them pretty much nothing else. God bless them if and when they do get signed by a college, but it seems like a modern-day slave trade to me.

[Report] | American Hustle, by Alexandra Starr | Harper's Magazine --don't tune this out because of its length; it's a great article

African Victims of Basketball's Global Push - Bloomberg View

--and it's been a long-ass day, and while Googling about, I might very well have missed a nice long warm-fuzzy article about Ebuka and his fam, so apologies in advance if everyone else knows this except me. :hi: He just seems to be awfully alone out there from what I could see. Best wishes to him wherever he winds up, and I'd be delighted if it were at UT.


eta: sorry all, the Harper's article is pay-only, and I can't figure out how to get past the paywall. If you find yourself in a library at some point, it's a good read.
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Wow....he doesn't have an AuntieDee? Poor fellow, he may need 2 ADs if he comes to K'ville w/o parents. I'd better give him a call and warn him.:birgits_giggle:

Seriously, this is something to think about...modern day slavery, human trafficking, or whatever you want to call it...all in the name of basketball. I never thought about it until you posted this. So, I read the articles. Now I'm pissed. :realmad:

Those coaches/recruiters should be arrested and charged with human trafficking for this. These poor guys are being used for financial gain. And when they aren't successful they are dropped off like trash in homeless shelters or foster homes. OMG!

If Izundu comes to UT, Lord knows he'll need me to protect him from some of the scavengers that lurk here. Have no fear Izundu... AuntieDee to the rescue!. :superman: lol
 
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#304
#304
rcrrcr said:
Are you sure he is on Cincy's campus this weekend? I read somewhere that he was retaking his ACT. That might have been a rumor I am not sure.
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Yea that was in this thread I posted that article, not sure, according to VQ he's at Cincy so idk
 
#305
#305
SIAP

Izundu said he’ll make a decision by May 15, a week before he graduates. His college list, in the order he gave them, is Tennessee, Cincinnati, Miami, Connecticut and Charlotte.
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“Ebuka is 6-10 with a 7-foot wingspan and he’s got a motor and he just plays so hard,” Ligon said. “He doesn’t take plays off. He’s gotten even better than he was in the fall, and even better than he was in his last high school game in the state championship.

“He’s playing at such a high level. Everybody wants in.”
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Victory Christian
 
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#306
#306
Want this guy bad. This makes about the third article snip I've read about his motor. With him and Jabari on the same team, a lack of effort would not be an area of concern any time soon. Imo
 
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#307
#307
Lefteye said:
Want this guy bad. This makes about the third article snip I've read about his motor. With him and Jabari on the same team, a lack of effort would not be an area of concern any time soon. Imo
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Yes indeed. I. Hoping we can snag him. Shouldn't be too hard with Oliver in our corner.
 
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#310
#310
Lefteye said:
Want this guy bad. This makes about the third article snip I've read about his motor. With him and Jabari on the same team, a lack of effort would not be an area of concern any time soon. Imo
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I always feel like we got screwed on Emmanuel Negedu, redemption?
 
#311
#311
VolNExile said:
Please tell me that he's not one of these African kids who are suckered over to the USA by someone * cough AAU cough * who recruits potential players for college but gives them pretty much nothing else. God bless them if and when they do get signed by a college, but it seems like a modern-day slave trade to me.
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Well if the opportunity to get a college education at a major school and potentially earn millions of dollars in the NBA is slave trade then chain me up right now.
 
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#312
#312
orange parmejohn said:
Well if the opportunity to get a college education at a major school and potentially earn millions of dollars in the NBA is slave trade then chain me up right now.
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Sounds promising, but realistically a lot of the guys never earn the millions. Instead the working class spends millions because the guys become chained to DFACS.

I'm all for advancement, educationally and financially, but not if I have to use and mistreat another human being to achieve it.
 
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#313
#313
Go read the links. These guys don't make it to college. The ones in the article were sleeping on the floor somewhere, not really fed enough, supposedly attending some no-name high school somewhere, and their paperwork not properly filed. The threat of deportation was always hanging over their heads.

I'm sure this isn't true of all of these players, but it seems as if they're brought over to be in some sort of wildly disorganized, extended tryout session, while someone decides whether or not they're worth continued grooming. If they're not, they're pretty much tossed aside.
 
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#314
#314
VolNExile said:
Go read the links. These guys don't make it to college. The ones in the article were sleeping on the floor somewhere, not really fed enough, supposedly attending some no-name high school somewhere, and their paperwork not properly filed. The threat of deportation was always hanging over their heads.

I'm sure this isn't true of all of these players, but it seems as if they're brought over to be in some sort of wildly disorganized, extended tryout session, while someone decides whether or not they're worth continued grooming. If they're not, they're pretty much tossed aside.
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I'm with you on this. :thumbsup:

I know I'm going to be blasted here for opening up this can of worms. Well actually I didn't open this can. I just poured the contents. However, this is a serious issue that is happening in the sport that we all love.

Think about this: How many Canadians are being deported here to play basketball but instead end up in foster care? What about foreigners from other countries? Correct me if I'm wrong, I believe all or the vast majority are Africans.

Now I'm not trying to stir up any "Roots" emotions. I'm just stating the obvious. Agree or not, this is real. So if this is the case with Izundu and he comes to UT, how will we receive/embrace him? What will you do to make him feel welcomed? It's difficult being far away from home with no one to to really turn to when times get tough. Lord help him when he gets in the game and fouls out or misses a lay-up.
 
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#315
#315
AuntieDee said:
I'm with you on this. :thumbsup:

I know I'm going to be blasted here for opening up this can of worms. Well actually I didn't open this can. I just poured the contents. However, this is a serious issue that is happening in the sport that we all love.

Think about this: How many Canadians are being deported here to play basketball but instead end up in foster care? What about foreigners from other countries? Correct me if I'm wrong, I believe all or the vast majority are Africans.

Now I'm not trying to stir up any "Roots" emotions. I'm just stating the obvious. Agree or not, this is real. So if this is the case with Izundu and he comes to UT, how will we receive/embrace him? What will you do to make him feel welcomed? It's difficult being far away from home with no one to to really turn to when times get tough. Lord help him when he gets in the game and fouls out or misses a lay-up.
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I know it's a "tech" world with twitter and the like, but being an older fan, I have to imagine that the message board yahoos make up a very, very small percentage of the Vol fan base and don't necessarily reflect accurately the UT fan base as a whole. Speaking as someone who goes back to the 60's watching UT sports, I can say that if and when he signs with UT, he becomes family. That will be the case even after graduation. VFL is something of a recent phrase, but it's actually been the norm for a large portion of the Vol fan base for decades. UT fans are passionate, loyal and forever. JMO but reading a message board and assuming it accurately reflects the fan base as a whole is a mistake and somewhat unfair. As I said, if he signs with UT, he becomes family.
 
#316
#316
AuntieDee said:
I'm with you on this. :thumbsup:

I know I'm going to be blasted here for opening up this can of worms. Well actually I didn't open this can. I just poured the contents. However, this is a serious issue that is happening in the sport that we all love.

Think about this: How many Canadians are being deported here to play basketball but instead end up in foster care? What about foreigners from other countries? Correct me if I'm wrong, I believe all or the vast majority are Africans.

Now I'm not trying to stir up any "Roots" emotions. I'm just stating the obvious. Agree or not, this is real. So if this is the case with Izundu and he comes to UT, how will we receive/embrace him? What will you do to make him feel welcomed? It's difficult being far away from home with no one to to really turn to when times get tough. Lord help him when he gets in the game and fouls out or misses a lay-up.
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This is before your time here, but here's a recent example of how Tennessee embraced and supported and African emigrant basketball player.

Heart condition ends Emmanuel Negedu's career at Tennessee
 
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#317
#317
Izundu said he’ll make a decision by May 15, a week before he graduates. His college list, in the order he gave them, is Tennessee, Cincinnati, Miami, Connecticut and Charlotte.
 
#318
#318
CAVPUT said:
I know it's a "tech" world with twitter and the like, but being an older fan, I have to imagine that the message board yahoos make up a very, very small percentage of the Vol fan base and don't necessarily reflect accurately the UT fan base as a whole. Speaking as someone who goes back to the 60's watching UT sports, I can say that if and when he signs with UT, he becomes family. That will be the case even after graduation. VFL is something of a recent phrase, but it's actually been the norm for a large portion of the Vol fan base for decades. UT fans are passionate, loyal and forever. JMO but reading a message board and assuming it accurately reflects the fan base as a whole is a mistake and somewhat unfair. As I said, if he signs with UT, he becomes family.
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Not one time did I accuse anyone of being unfair, nor did I insinuate the idea. I simply posed a question to a sensitive issue. I am also a Vol fan. I've also read posts here from people who claim to be Vol fans that were not so passionate and loyal. Not many but enough.
 
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#321
#321
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#322
#322
Izundu deciding between now and May 15th so plenty of time to worry. He is at Cincinnati this weekend will be coming in here next week.

There changed it for you didn't mean to upset anyone.
 
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#323
#323
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#324
#324
AuntieDee said:
This is a heartwarming success story. It makes you happy to be among caring people. No doubt when a Vol is down the family will come to the rescue.

Any idea where he is now and how he's doing health and otherwise?
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Seems to be doing fine. Still posting on twitter. Basketball didnt work out, though. Tennessee wouldn't clear him to play because of the heart condition. Emmanuel went in search of a school which would clear him. Indiana turned him down. New Mexico said yes. He played a few games; there was another incident and New Mexico shut him down. They, like Tennessee, agreed to keep Negedu on scholarship so could get a degree. That's a good thing.
 
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#325
#325
AuntieDee said:
This is a heartwarming success story. It makes you happy to be among caring people. No doubt when a Vol is down the family will come to the rescue.

Any idea where he is now and how he's doing health and otherwise?
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He transferred out of Tennessee because he was refused the opportunity to play because of his heart condition. Tennessee offered him the opportunity to continue school here still on scholarship. He was out running one day and almost died someone was there to save him. He found a school out West New Mexico I think that would allow him to play with a pacemaker installed. The pacemaker kept kicking on as his heart failed while playing so they finally did not let him play anymore. I don't know where he is today and to bad he had a bad heart he was an energetic player that would have been great. Hopefully he is well and doing great wherever he is today.
 
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