‘He’s definitely elite’: Wichita State’s Jaime Echenique is keeping the post-up alive
Jaime Echenique is doing his best to stave off the growing notion that the post-up game is dying off in modern basketball.
The 6-foot-11 Wichita State senior from Colombia has the ability to step out and shoot three-pointers, but there’s no denying that what Echenique is best at is a lost art in today’s game.
Echenique showed just how effective the post-up game can be when he tied his career-high with 20 points, including a career-best 12-of-14 performance from the foul line, to go along with nine rebounds, four blocks and two steals in the Shockers’ 65-55 victory over South Florida at Koch Arena on Thursday.
“There’s not a lot of teams out there anymore that have a consistent, steady diet of throwing the ball into the post and Wichita State is one of those teams,” USF coach Brian Gregory said.
“When (you play Echenique), you’re forced to make a decision. Are you going to double team him? Are you going to hard dig down on him? Are you going to try to force him out?”
Sometimes it doesn’t matter what defenses decide to do. He’s shown the ability to consistently score guarded one-on-one on the low blocks. He also has an array of quick spin moves that help him evade oncoming double-teams and shoot him to the basket for scores. And his passing has improved his senior year, as he showed Thursday with one of his first off-the-dribble assists of his career on a dump-off pass to Jamarius Burton for a slam dunk.
“I’ve never played with a big man like Jaime,” WSU freshman Tyson Etienne said. “Growing up in high school, big men aren’t as polished as he is. Some of the moves you see him make in the games and make in practice, it’s like, ‘Wow.’ Everybody is saying the traditional five man is going away, but Jaime is going to find his niche because he wants to be good. He’s definitely elite at what he does.”
Echenique has elevated his game for WSU in conference play, as he is averaging 12.3 points and 7.2 rebounds against AAC opponents. According to Synergy, WSU ranks in the top-100 in the country and leads the American in post-up attempts per game. The majority of them go to Echenique, who scores at an efficient mark.
After playing less than 18 minutes per game last season due to stamina issues, Echenique has worked hard his senior year to always be available for the Shockers. He is averaging better than 24 minutes per game in conference games.
“In my mind, I just want to always play,” Echenique said. “I want to play every day, even in practice, I just always want to. stay on the court. I just want to enjoy it as much as I can. I’m just having fun out there and helping my guys.”
Echenique was excellent against USF in doing his work early, sprinting the court to beat his defender to the opposite free throw line and sealing them to open up the over-the-top lobs to him. He earned six free throws alone by this, as he caught the pass over the top and used his leverage against USF to draw a shooting foul.”
“I know how I can affect the game,” Echenique said. “I read the scouting report and knew how they covered. I knew I could attack them fast and they will not have any answer and they will have to foul.”
As impressive as Echenique’s offensive numbers, his defensive play has been equally as good for WSU. He has been the anchor of a top-10 defense, erasing the mistakes of his young teammates on the perimeter with his basket-saving swats at the rim.
Even when Echenique himself gets beat on the rare occasion, he has the length and timing to make up for being out of position.
“He’s been dominant for us and able to score off both shoulders and then he’s always been great at helping us on the defensive end,” Burton said. “When you add up both of those things together, it’s just a luxury to have him.”
WSU coach Gregg Marshall said that perhaps Echenique’s most valuable skill doesn’t show up as a counting stat in the box score.
“He’s been a really good player for us,” Marshall said. “What doesn’t show up on the stat sheet is how many times he protects the middle and helps the guards by protecting the rim on those middle ball screens. He’s always right in there.”
.jpg)