Recruiting on the South Plains | PF Norense Odiase Player Profile

Thanks to MikeTTU for covering this on Friday afternoon, where we found out that Elev8 Sports Academy Forward Noresne Odiase committed to Texas Tech (via VTM). With Odiase's commitment, Texas Tech has three forwards that are now a part of the 2014 class and with Odiase and Jamison, Texas Tech has two big men that have some legitimate size and beef.

FORWARDS
NORENSE ODIASE	POWER FORWARD
POSITION: Power Forward HT/WT: 6-9/265 HIGH SCHOOL: Elev8 Sports Academy (Delray Beach, FL) VIDEO: Clip 1 RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals N/R | Scout N/R | ESPN N/A | 24/7 Sports 84 CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.8163 VTM PROFILE DATE: March 19, 2014 OFFERS | Georgia, Old Dominion, Texas Tech and TCU

THE PLAYER SPEAKS | Odiase talked about the rason he chose Texas Tech, in part because his brother, Nick, goes to school at Texas Tech (via WreckEm 24/7):

"I wanted to be part of what Tubby Smith is building at Texas Tech and having my brother at Texas Tech was big too," Odiase said. "It was real tough. It basically came down to Texas Tech and Georgia. They came on real strong at the end."

SCOUTING REPORT | I tried like heck to find some stats on Odiase, while at Elev8 Sports Academy, but just couldn't find anything. There's no doubt that Odiase is raw and went to the Elev8 academy in order to possibly gain a scholarship, which he obviously did. Odiase is originally from Ft. Worth, North Crowley to be specific. Odiase is originally from Nigeria (via Ledger-Enquirer and has been looking at Georgia in addition to Texas Tech. At North Crowley, Odiase averaged 7.8 points a game and 7.4 rebounds a game (via Crowley Star) and made first team in his district two years in a row.

Odiase is a bull in a china shop. He's so big and strong, he's still learning how to play the game. Odiase has nice touch and really nice athleticism. He reminds me, and this is going back a bit, like Oliver Miller, a former Arkansas big man that was very large, but had soft hands and a really touch around the basket. Odiase has no problem lowering his shoulder and taking the ball to the basket, but he's a load. Odiase can finish with either hand and he doesn't have any real post moves other than to back in his opponent and just make room with his body. That's efficient in some ways, but probably not enough in the Big 12. Odiase has good vision for a guy his size and looks to outlet the ball after a rebound. Odiase can get to the rim, so don't let the 260+ fool you. He's capable of finishing at the rim.

Norense, welcome to Texas Tech and Git Your Guns Up!

2014 Class

GUARDS
JUSTIN GRAY	SHOOTING GUARD
HT/WT: 6-4/180 HIGH SCHOOL: Berkeley Prep (Tampa, FL) VIDEO: Clip 1 | Clip 2 RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals | Scout N/R | ESPN 80 | 24/7 Sports 85 CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.8381 VTM PROFILE DATE: October 4, 2013 OFFERS: Harvard, S. Florida, Stanford, Texas Tech and UCF
KEENAN EVANS	POINT GUARD
HT/WT: 6-3/170 HIGH SCHOOL: Berkner (Richardson, TX) VIDEO: Clip 1 RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals | Scout | ESPN 69 | 24/7 Sports 83 CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.8344 VTM PROFILE DATE: October 16, 2013 OFFERS: Colorado, Colorado St., Fresno St., North Texas, Texas St., Texas Tech Utah St., UTEP, Western Kentucky, Wichita St.
DEVAUGNTAH WILLIAMS	COMBO GUARD
HT/WT: 6-3/205 JUCO: Missouri State-West Plains (West Plains, MO) VIDEO: Clip 1 RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals N/R | Scout N/R | ESPN N/A | 24/7 Sports 85 CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.8500 VTM PROFILE DATE: March 10, 2014 OFFERS: Arkansas, Iona, Loyola Chicago, Kent St., Southern Miss, Texas Tech and UTSA
FORWARDS
ZACH SMITH	SMALL FORWARD
HT/WT: 6-7/205 HIGH SCHOOL: Plano East (Plano, TX) VIDEO: Clip 1 RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals | Scout N/R | ESPN N/R | 24/7 Sports 70 CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.700 VTM PROFILE DATE: October 6, 2013 OFFERS: Creighton, Marquette, Nebraska, San Jose St., St. Bonaventure, TCU, Texas Tech, UTEP, Washington St., Wright St.
JUSTIN JAMISON	POWER FORWARD
HT/WT: 6-9/260 JUCO: Missouri State-West Plains (West Plains, MO) VIDEO: Clip 1 RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals N/R | Scout | ESPN N/A | 24/7 Sports 84 CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.8400 VTM PROFILE DATE: March 11, 2014 OFFERS: Florida St., Kent St., Oregon, Pittsburgh, SMU, TCU, Texas Tech, Wichita St.
NORENSE ODIASE	POWER FORWARD
POSITION: Power Forward HT/WT: 6-9/265 HIGH SCHOOL: Elev8 Sports Academy (Delray Beach, FL) VIDEO: Clip 1 RECRUITING SERVICES: Rivals N/R | Scout N/R | ESPN N/A | 24/7 Sports 84 CUMULATIVE RANKING: 0.8163 VTM PROFILE DATE: March 19, 2014 OFFERS | Georgia, Old Dominion, Texas Tech and TCU