NCAA UNDERGROUND: take note for your team in Europe...Cedric Kuakumensah - Brown

WHERE HE PLAYS – Center - can also play with another big man on offense thanks to his ability to hit outside shot

PHYSICAL SKILLS – strong body, good size, good strength, good length; very physical and doesn’t back off from contact, decent leaping ability; has to improve explosiveness off the ground and speed

WHERE HE RECEIVES THE BALL AND HOW HE FINISHES – Kuakumensah’s offensive strength at 6-9 is his ability to hit outside shots from catch and shoot situations – this season he is shooting 43% from behind the 3pt line. He has quick release off the catch and will shoot every time if his defender is late on closeouts. Kuakumensah’s game is also effective around the basket (low post) where he uses his strong body to establish good position and to back down his defender in order to finish around the basket. He’s got good footwork and knows how to use his body to create his scoring opportunities. Around the basket, he prefers to finish with his right hand. He runs the floor well, looking to go straight to the basket, post up, and finish around the rim. One of his main strengths is his rebounding game (on both ends) – he has good sense for the ball, he is physical player who goes hard on the glass (2 off reb +7 def reb per game).
Weaknesses: ability to finish with his left hand (has to improve this significantly); ability to finish consistently through contact around the basket, especially vs more stronger and more athletic bigs; speed and explosiveness off the ground;

WHERE AND HOW HE DEFEND – reliable defender – (2 times defensive player of the year in his conference). Strong and physical player who uses his length very well in order to contest and block shots (2.7 blocks per game; conference all-time leading shot blocker). Even though he can improve his lateral quickness, Kuakumensah takes full advantage of his length in order to block shots. In the low post, he uses his strength to wall up and stay next to his player. As mentioned, has to improve lateral movement, especially when playing at the next level vs players who can stretch the floor and attack of the dribble (for this reason he is at his best when defending the 5 man). He is very good defensive rebounder - always present on the glass.

HOW HE PLAYS PICK AND ROLL – offense & defense – most of the time after setting the pick, Kuakumensah rolls to the basket, looking to get the ball around the low post and then go to work; also because of his good shooting ability, he is capable of popping out to the 3pt line and knocking down shots from behind the 3pt line; also he likes to slip ball screens. Defensively he is often in drop position, protecting the drive – not a good option to switch on ball screens, because he would have tough time containing ball handlers and keeping them in front (needs to improve lateral movement)

RIGHT FIT FOR HIM – Slow pace team with more half court sets allowing him to get touches

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