The Big Man Battle of Chicago: Part 2

Two of the top big men in the class of 2014 face off in an Illinois sectional semi-final tonight with the winner meeting Jabari Parker and Simeon one day later. In one of the most anticipated individual match-ups of the season, the number one player in the junior class in Jahlil Okafor leads his Whitney Young squad against Cliff Alexander (#5 – 2014) and Curie.

Match-up #1:

Okafor: Match-Up #1

Cliff- Match-Up #1

Despite playing in the same city, Okafor and Alexander have only squared off once in both high school and AAU.  Last year Curie defeated Whitney Young 59-47, but both of the big men were relatively quiet in a guard dominated game. Okafor put up 9 points and 8 rebounds with his baskets coming on three power dunks, a contested lay-up, and a free-throw. In the 3^rd quarter Okafor went to his patented spin move on the right block which slightly missed and turned into the last shot he attempted all game. On the other hand, Alexander finished with 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks. He spent a good chunk of the game in foul trouble and scored off dunks and a contested and-one spin move on Okafor in the second half. On the defensive side, Okafor guarded Alexander straight up, while Alexander often fronted Okafor and received back side help from his teammates. 

2012-12 Season Recap:

This year Whitney Young comes into the sectional semi-finals fresh off a Chicago public league championship and sports a 26-3 overall record while being ranked #6 in the country by ESPN. Curie comes in with a 19-7 record and is currently ranked #12 by the Chicago Sun-Times. Whitney Young has been one of the most improved and impressive teams in the country while running through a nationally ranked schedule. The three losses came against Montverde (overtime), Simeon (3 points), and Orr (3 points). Besides Okafor, Whitney Young features a steady senior point guard in Ausar Madison and three other high major juniors in Paul White, L.J. Peak, and Miles Reynolds. On the other hand, Curie played most of their games within the state of Illinois and doesn’t sport the same resume as Whitney Young. Their main match-up that came on the national stage resulted in a blowout loss to Oak Hill in the first game of the season. With the addition of junior guard Joseph Stamps Curie is a much different and more dangerous team now.

Match-up #2:

While both centers hail from the same city and are mentioned in the same breath, they are two completely different players.

Jahlil Okafor (#1 – 2014)

Okafor stands 6’10, 273 lbs with a 7’3” wingspan and a pair of hands similar to former UNC big man Sean May. Okafor was named the Chicago Sun Times player of the year for his dominant junior season which has often resulted in routine double doubles.

• Go To Move: Okafor is a true post up player and loves to use his wide body to establish post position. His go to move comes when catching the ball on the right block. Okafor will take a dribble or two while backing his defender down and then utilize a quick left to right spin move for a lay-up or short shot off the glass. Defenders know the move is coming, but they still can’t keep up with the speed and power of the spin move.  

Cliff Alexander (#5 – 2014) – Alexander stands 6’8”, 240 lbs and has a 7’2” wingspan. “Big Cliff” is known for his dominant shot blocking prowess and athleticism similar to LA Clipper DeAnde Jordan which earned him a spot on the Chicago Sun Times 1^st team.

• Go To Move:Alexander has been steadily improving his offensive game throughout his junior season. He does not stray far from the paint and uses his wide wing span to establish a strong post presence. Using his athleticism, Alexander likes to turn right to shoot over his defender from the paint.

Game Time:

In the last match-up, both big men were just sophomores and did not demand the ball when the contest turned into a guard oriented game. Last year Curie brought help on defense when Okafor caught the ball, but hopefully this year both coaches let the stars face off against one another. While Okafor is now the top rated junior in the country, this match-up is one that NBA scouts will look to when analyzing Okafor’s pro prospects. While Okafor might have the higher skill level at this point in time, Alexander presents the length and athleticism that is evident on a nightly basis in the NBA. As for Alexander, he will finally get to test his improved offensive game against a player his size and caliber. Hopefully the Big Man battle of Chicago Part 2 will turn into a classic that never materialized the first time.