New Creighton student Greg Echenique can’t wait to show up today at Qwest Center Omaha to cheer on the Bluejays against Wichita State.

A year from now, the 6-foot-9, 260-pound Echenique expects to be playing a big role for Creighton’s basketball team. But for now, the transfer from Rutgers is content to provide some off-the-court assistance for his new teammates and coaches.

“I’m so excited,” Echenique said Friday evening. “I came to a game here a few years ago when they were recruiting me, and the fans were crazy. I had not experienced anything like that before. I still haven’t.

“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to be a part of that. This is going to be a big game for the team. Hopefully, it will be a big win, too.”

Friday was a busy day for Echenique (etch-in-NEE-kay). He and his family left Philadelphia early in the morning and, after a layover in Cincinnati, arrived in Omaha midday. He spent the afternoon at Creighton, registering for classes and completing the necessary paperwork to make his transfer official.

“We have everything on track,” he said. “I’m ready to go to school Monday.”

Echenique’s transfer midway through his sophomore season will mean he will have to sit out this semester as well as the first half of the 2010-11 season to comply with NCAA regulations. He will be eligible at the end of the first semester next fall, and will have 2½ seasons of eligibility remaining.

Echenique had strongly considered committing to Creighton in high school at St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, N.J. Considered one of the top high school players in the nation — ESPN ranked him the No. 2 center nationally and the ninth-best prospect overall, while Scout.com had him rated the No. 9 center — Echenique eventually decided to sign with Rutgers.

“At the time, I thought I wanted to stay in New Jersey and play closer to home,” he said. “There were a lot of factors that influenced my decision, but it turned out that Rutgers was not the right fit for me.

“When I decided to transfer, I reached out to Creighton. I’m a little older now, a little more mature, and I just feel this is the best place for me.”

Echenique turned in a strong freshman season for Rutgers in the tough Big East. He averaged 8.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. His rebounding average ranked fourth nationally among freshmen, while he was third in blocked shots per game.

The native of Guatire, Venezuela, was averaging 12.7 points and 7.7 rebounds in his first seven games as a sophomore before being sidelined by a right eye injury. He had been accidentally poked in the eye in preseason practice, and eventually required surgery for a detached retina.

Echenique is still recovering from a second surgery but expects to begin limited physical activity shortly.

“Everything with the eye is good; it’s healthy,” he said. “Right now, the doctor said I should be able to begin some cardio work soon. I can’t run or do anything else with impact for a while but I think in a month or so, I should get the OK to start running and lifting.”

Echenique undoubtedly will have to contend with heavy expectations. Creighton hasn’t had a player who garnered the national acclaim as a high schooler since Benoit Benjamin in the early 1980s.

Asked what he expects to add to the program, Echenique replied: “I think my best qualities are rebounding and blocking shots, although I can score a little, too. I don’t have much of an outside game right now, although I intend to work on that part of it.

“I’m just going to try to do everything I can to help make this program better. I expect to fit in here in the future.”

For now, Echenique just wants to experience the atmosphere that made such an impression on him during his last visit to the Qwest Center.

“I’ll be honest with you, the thing that impressed me the most about Creighton was the fans,” he said. “I never expected the fans to be like that. When I visited, this was the first time I had ever been to this part of the United States. I never expected to see an arena that was so nice and so loud.

“I also had a real connection with the coaches. I felt then that they were people I could trust. I feel the same way now. I’m just glad to be a part of this team.”

Contact the writer:

679-2298, steve.pivovar@owh.com

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