PLAYER PROFILE: Fabian Boeke
via media.scout.com
Scouting Report: Boeke is such an unknown quantity for the Cougs. He was supposed to come in last year and provide some much-needed depth up front, but wound up sitting out the year thanks to the NCAA ruling that the club he played for in his native Germany paid him too much for his services the year before paid some other players -- not Boeke -- and determined it was guilt by association. Additionally, the NCAA penalized him a year of eligibility.
The thing is, we probably wouldn't have gotten anything out of Boeke, anyway. He's had a balky back since arriving in Pullman, and he didn't practice much last year. Even now, the injury is keeping him from being a full participant in practices, so my guess is not even the coaching staff really knows what Boeke might be able to really give them.
He's light for a big man, and according to scouting services, he's got the typical Euro big man game: Face-up player, good shooter, light in the post. At 6-foot-11, the guy weighs less than I do, and it's unlikely he's going to put on much more weight -- he's already 22 years old, despite only being a sophomore -- so it's unlikely he'll ever become a true interior force.
If healthy, Boeke definitely could add a different dimension to the offense, especially if he and Baynes can get on the floor together. Their height on defense could be intimidating, and their offensive games could complement each other ... but that's a big "if," given Boeke's nagging injury problems.
Honestly, your guess is as good as anyone else's what the team will get out of Boeke this year. He could be a huge x-factor if he gives the team anything positive ... or he could be a total non-factor.
Best Case Scenario: Boeke's back proves healthy enough to hold up to 15-20 minutes a night. His face up game spreads the floor, giving Baynes more room around the bucket. Boeke ends up averaging 6 points, 3 rebounds and a block.
Worst Case Scenario: The back just can't hold up to the rigors of big time college basketball yet. Bennett and his staff shut Boeke down, redshirting him in the hopes of getting him healthy next year to fill the void left by Baynes. He doesn't see a minute of action this year.
Likely Scenario: Boeke's back is a constant problem. Bennett picks and chooses his spots to use Boeke, based largely on matchups. With his offensive repertoire, he'll have at least one game where he seems to make a big impact, but will too often be a non-factor -- kind of a 15-minutes-one-night, DNP-the-next type of player.
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Fabian Boeke
A couple of things. First, he was never paid anything by his club team. There were players on his team that were paid and the NCAA in it’s wisdom penalizes unpaid innocent players. Somehow the NCAA thinks that if a player plays on a club team with a player that is paid a stipend, it makes it a professional team. Second, just because he is 22 doesn’t mean that he can’t put on weight, in fact it may be easier as his metabolism continues to slow down through age. I graduated from high school and weighed 135. I graduated from WSU at 165. Now, I weigh 202 and I am not fat.
How much he plays and how well he does depends upon if he is able to stay healthy. He has missed a lot of practice time and that has got to hurt his chances. From what I have read from Vince Grippi of the Spokesman, he says that Boeke has a great outside shot and routinely drains the three. It will be interesting how this season plays out.
by Coug1990 on Oct 30, 2008 7:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Re: Boeke
You are right about the club team situation, ‘90. It’s, as you said, what makes the NCAA decision so ridiculous.
Worst case, Boeke ends up like Rodney Edgerson or Chris Henry. I REALLY hope that’s not true, because this guy is the definition of “matchup nightmare” when he’s healthy. A lanky big man (my goodness we recruit a lot of those) with a sweet shot from the perimeter. I think he can put on weight, but I said the same about Cowgill four years ago.
Don’t be shocked if he works his way into “solid contributor” territory.
by Grady. on Oct 30, 2008 7:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're correct about the pay thing
I made an incorrect assumption on that one. As for the weight, I dunno. Yes, it’s possible to add a lot of bulk as you get older, but you’ve got to have the frame for it. A lot of times, lanky guys come into a program with a slight frame at 18 but that frame increases over the years, which allows them to add bulk. I’m not convinced that a guy already on the other side of 20 is going to see too much increase in his frame. Boeke looks to me like a guy whose frame probably is what it is, and expecting him to add 20 pounds of muscle over his career might be wishful thinking.
by Jeff Nusser on Oct 31, 2008 9:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Boeke
You may be right, but not for the reason that you think. I started thinking about this a little more. I go the the gym 4-6 times a week. I don’t think I am an expert by any means, by I have done a fair amount of study on the subject.
I have seen it time and time again where people much older than Boeke have gained muscle and weight. Football coach Paul Wulff had it right when he said you need to eat the correct foods and take the right supplements. I am guessing that the first time that Boeke was ever put on a weight gaining plan was at WSU. Gaining weight is not an overnight thing either. If a person can gain 10 pounds of muscle a year, then they are doing a good job. If they gain more, it is probably not muscle they are gaining.
Now, eating the right foods is just one component, the other is getting into the weight room and lifting heavy weights. With Boeke’s back problems, I am guessing that he is not able to do what he really needs to do in the weight room to put on weight. If he has had back problems from last year that kept him from practicing and so far it is limiting his practice time this year, I am not sure if he will ever totally be over the injury. I think you nailed his overall contribution in your likely scenario.
by Coug1990 on Oct 31, 2008 2:02 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

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