Luke Bamgboye ...says no? Freshman shot-blocker makes name for himself early

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There is a developing story on Broad St. that has flown under the radar early, but is no longer something we can ignore: Luke Bamgboye needs a shot-block chant.

The Rams freshman out of London, England is settling in to Division I basketball and after a career-high 5-block, 21-minute performance last night, is now someone VCU and Atlantic 10 fans must start paying attention to. Bamgboye logged just 30 total minutes over his first four games in the black and gold, but saw an uptick in play in the Charleston Classic, logging 19 minutes against Nevada due to foul trouble from VCU starting big, Christian Fermin. He blocked three shots in the contest, then followed that up with four shots swatted in a 15-minute appearance in a win over Miami and has played at least 15 minutes in his two following games sense.

Bamgboye is blocking 21.3% of opponents shots while on the floor for VCU this season. That currently would lead the nation if the freshman had logged enough minutes to qualify in the stat, but also pushes the pace to outdo recent VCU shot-blocking savants like Mo Alie-Cox and Larry Sanders.

8%+ VCU BLOCKS PERCENTAGE SINGLE-SEASON LEADERS SINCE 2007
Luke Bamgboye (24-25) 21.3%

Larry Sanders (07-08) 19.3%
Hason Ward (20-21) 12.1%
Corey Douglas (18-19) 11.8%
Larry Sanders (08-09) 10.9%
Mo Alie-Cox (13-14) 10.3%
Hason Ward (19-20) 10.1%
Justin Tillman (14-15) 9.5%
DJ Haley (12-13) 9.2%
Larry Sanders (09-10) 9.1%
Corey Douglas (19-20) 8.9%
Mo Alie-Cox (14-15) 8.7%
Hason Ward (21-22) 8.5%
Mo Alie-Cox (16-17) 8.4%

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Noting that Bamgboye's current pace is double that of single-season efforts from VCU shot block legends like Sanders and Alie-Cox should help give Ram fans an idea of just how impressive that particular skill is for the freshman. But can he continue it long enough to earn a chant like the ones Ram fans once sang with "MO SAYS NO" or "LAR-RY SAN-DERS...clap clap, clap clap clap"? And if so, how would it go?

The Ram Radio team pondered this on air last night while interviewing Bamgboye postgame, but ultimately Ram fans (or let's be honest, the VCU "Peppas" pep band) will decide what that is and even if one exists at all. Regardless, Bamgboye's presence around the rim should continue to earn him minutes as he looks to continue growing his overall skill set on the court.
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Natty
Licensed Virginia Realtor and part-time basketball writer. Co-founder of VCURamNation.com and A10Talk.com.

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Mat Shelton-Eide
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