7-Footer Zisis Sarikopoulos Transfers to OSU
Zisis: Taller than Spike LeeIn a somewhat surprising announcement, Thad Matta revealed today that seven footer Zisis Sarikopoulos has transferred from UAB to Ohio State.
Prior to joining UAB as a freshman last season, the big man led the 2007 Greek Under-18 national team to a second place finish in the Euro Championships.
According to the press release, Michael Jordan selected Zisis as the MVP of Greece inviting him to play in the 2007 Jordan Brand Classic.
Last season at UAB, he averaged just 1.8 points and 1.1 boards in 20 games (4 starts).
The addition surprises me as I thought Thad was okay with potentially sacrificing the last available ‘08 scholarship to the NCAA gods but maybe grabbing a big to help replace BJ Mullens in 2009-10 was too hard to pass up. I’ll be interested to learn how this all came about as I admittedly have no idea.
He’ll have a year to bulk up and polish his skills but I’m still not sure what I think of this just yet. What’s your initial take? Good move or bad move?
15 Responses
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I went to a UAB blog to try and get some opinions on Big Z II. “UAB Grad” offered up the following:
I think Z could be a catch if he will get tough. He was definitely not ready yet last year and he got pushed around a lot, but give him another redshirt year and another year of practice and he should be better. He was just 17 whne he came on campus last year. If nothing else at his height and with his wing span certainly he can become a shot blocker for you guys. I wish him the best. I remember his Mom sitting in front of us at a game last year and she seemed nice too. Go get em Z!
HiddenDragon says:
Z does have great passing skills for a big man and sees the floor pretty well. He needs to improve his offensive game and could always use a little improvement on the defensive end. He can be a good rebounder as well just needs someone to develop him.
Jason says:
I watched Z a lot this past year. I went to practice and I also saw him during the games he got to play. Z has a ton of potential. His biggest problem in our system was that he was so slow getting up and down the court. We also did not have a big man coach worth his weight in salt. The pace of the college game was MUCH faster than what he was used to. The few minutes that he did play, he was the refs favorite player, he picked up quick fouls.
If you guys have coach who can develop him and get him in the gym to gain some upper body strength, I think you might have picked up a steal. On the bright side, he is a great kid with a great attitude. He is also very smart. Best of luck.
In Thad we trust, this kid is going to replace Mullins in ‘09 and he has a year to develop and bang against a potential top 5 NBA draftee.
No wonder this kid transferred, he played 10+ minutes only five times.
Personally, I am tired of the all the Europeans playing for the Buckeyes…. Obrien loved them and now so does Matta… they all seem to play soft, avoid contact, and lack a killer instict. OSU needs some of the hardcore players (African Americans) that know how to dominate a game and finish with a killer instinct.
Nice. White guys can’t bang, is it?
I think the kid is a foul-soaker with some upside developmental potential. Like the authors, I’m curious to know how this sudden transfer came about. I know coaches have communication channels the rest of us don’t know about, but - geez.
Did Bill Robinson’s eligibility expire? :)
Joe - I think Robinson’s eligibility is all used up but I wonder if Alan Kortokrax might have a year left?
I don’t like the sounds of it. It seems to me that he’s a big softie (ie. Bill Robinson). But I guess the potential is there & I do trust Matta. I just hope he can bulk up & learn how to play tough. I care more about big men on the glass & shot blocking than I worry about their offensive skills. We always seem to lack a wide-body who can muscle others & control the paint.
“…I wonder if Alan Kortokrax might have a year left?”
That teaches me to go up against the big boys. There’s a name I haven’t heard for awhile.
One problem I’ve noticed with OSU is the lack of center depth. When we have had an effective center (and that’s been rarely), we’ve had a sort of “patchwork” or “committee” approach toward relieving him - we’ll play three guards and two forwards, or two guard and three forwards - and there’s a drop off. We’re just not deep there. Most good programs have one good center and one foul-sponge.
If the kid can help clean the glass and maybe block a shot here and there, and soak up some fouls, he’ll be fine. I just hope Mullins is around long enough to have The Mad Greek relieve him. I’d hate to see another “one and done” at the center spot.
Now that I think about it, this guy should be great in practice for Mullins. Also, maybe that’ll refine his own skills as well.
This guy won’t start even if Mullens is one and done. Dallas will be the guy down low after next year.
This guy is a project right now and will be a great player. He will be redshirted this year, so he will have time to polish his game and become stronger. UAB never played him. Mike Davis had a stacked roster last year and the kid couldn’t find his way into any games. Has potential to be an NBA player someday. He was teammates with Kosta Koufos a last year in the U-19 European Championships in which Greece came in 2nd. He just one the U-21 European Championships this past summer. He has big game experience. Give him a few years and he will be a well known name in college basketball.