![Acquiring Osobor was no easy feat for UW Acquiring Osobor was no easy feat for UW](https://i0.wp.com/images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2483,h_1396,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/inside_the_huskies/01hzsyeepcxh0ntdg2ex.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1)
Competition was so fierce for the services of Great Osobor, the talented power forward who played for Danny Sprinkle at Montana State and Utah State, that the new Husky basketball coach wasn’t entirely sure Osobor would join him. in Seattle.
On this week’s The Field of 68 podcast, Sprinkle shared how Osobor’s recruiting was so good that he assumed the Mountain West Player of the Year was headed elsewhere for his final season of college basketball.
“To be honest, I didn’t think we were going to get it,” Sprinkle said. “When he called me, I was a little shocked.”
Media reports suggested that Osobor, who averaged 17.7 points and 9 rebounds per game for Utah State, ultimately chose UW over Louisville and Texas Tech.
“I didn’t know if I wanted to try something new,” Sprinkle said.
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) June 6, 2024
To help him make his decision, Osobor, of course, received $2 million in name, image and likeness money to play next season for Washington. This payout was reportedly larger than any other college basketball player received, all of which Osobor’s agent shared publicly much to the dismay of those who allocated the funds.
However, the podcasters did not ask Sprinkle about this development, as the monetary aspect of the game is not yet regulated or typically discussed in open forums.
Returning to Osobor, Sprinkle acknowledged that his previous relationship contributed to his commitment and the signing of a national letter of intent.
“He’s a comfort guy,” the coach said. “He knows our style and he knows how we’re going to coach him.”
Sprinkle went on to say that Osobor is currently working on his 3-point shot, the notable weakness of his game, and will be a strong locker room presence for a team with 10 new players and only three holdovers.
The new Husky coach said Osobor will pair well with the equally physical Franck Kepnang, the 6-foot-11, 250-pound center who suffered season-ending knee injuries at UW each of the last two years. , and highlighted how Kepnang played just one Pac-12 Conference game in that entire time.
“They would have won a lot more games with Franck on the court,” Sprinkle said of Mike Hopkins’ last two teams.
One would think that UW’s potential for basketball success increases even more with a healthy Kepnang joining forces with Osobor, who has a unique skill set, according to his coach.
“He’s a 6-8, 250-pound guy who can bring the ball up the court, break pressures and throw lobs,” Sprinkle said. “Not many guys can do that.”
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