Wichita State Basketball: Breaking down the 2018 recruiting class

SAN DIEGO, CA - MARCH 16: The Wichita State Shockers mascot gestures in the second half against the Marshall Thundering Herd during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena on March 16, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 22: The Wichita State Shockers bench and fans celebrate. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

C Jaime Echenique – Trinity Valley Community College

Another JUCO transfer, Jaime Echenique is a 6-foot-11 big man with plenty of potential to succeed at the Division-I level. Ranked as the No. 42 JUCO transfer in the 2018 class, Echenique brings plenty of size and two-way versatility to the court. Considering the losses suffered in the frontcourt by Wichita State this season, you can be sure that Echenique will compete for minutes. In addition, with two years of JUCO ball under his belt, he will be one of the more experienced players on the roster.

While playing for Trinity Valley this past season, Echenique posted solid numbers. He averaged 9.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game. He may not have been a high-volume scorer but he was efficient when attempting shots. Over the course of the season, he finished on 57.5% of his 200 field goal attempts. With only two of those shots coming from 3-point range (he made one), it is clear that he does most of his offensive damage inside the arc.

Despite this, though, it is important to note that he has decent touch on his jump shot. He can definitely knock down the occasional mid-range jumper and is an effective free throw shooter for a big man. Although certainly not elite from the charity stripe, his 69.7% on 99 total attempts last season are not a liability. With his two-way style of play along with plenty of experience, Echenique could also be a starter for the Shockers during 2018-19. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

Echenique’s head coach at Trinity Valley, Guy Furr, had this to say about his game (Kake News):

"“A lot of upside, tremendous talent as far as soft hands, good touch around the court, around the basket. Like I said he’s an outstanding player but he’s probably a better person.”"