Big East shot-blocking leader Obekpa granted release, considering transfer or NBA

Chris Obekpa will not be back with St. John's for the 2014-15 season, having been granted his release by the Red Storm this week.

Where Obekpa may end up, however, is still a very big question. According to ESPN New York, the sophomore center is deciding whether to pursue a transfer or turn pro and enter the NBA draft.

The decision must be a tough one for the 20-year-old Nigerian. His offensive game is still incredibly raw - he averaged just 3.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in 20.1 minutes this season - but he's one of the best shot-blockers on the planet.

Not only has Obekpa led the Big East in blocked shots for two straight seasons, he'll leave St. John's as their all-time leading shot-blocker after just two years.

Having one elite skill like that will get you noticed by scouts, and even though he stands just 6-foot-9, Obekpa boasts a 7-foot-4 wingspan. It's enough that DraftExpress ranks him as the No. 23 sophomore prospect and ESPN lists him as a possible second-round bubble pick. He'd be a project, in short, and it will be a bit surprising if he turns pro.

Should he stay in college, several teams would likely line up for his rim-protecting services..

This is a bad sign for Steve Lavin and the Red Storm, who have now lost three players voluntarily in the past two weeks - Jakarr Sampson is surprisingly entering the NBA draft and Max Hooper will seek a transfer.