Long Beach State's Defensive-Minded Big Man Fighting Through Injury Setbacks
The 7-foot center has shown flashes of two-way potential at Long Beach State, particularly on the defensive end where he's averaged over 2 blocks per game during his healthier seasons. Irish's 2017-18 campaign highlighted his upside (14.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG), but recurring injuries have limited his availability and impact in recent years. He's a rim protector with solid fundamentals, though durability concerns and reduced offensive production in 2020-21 (3.1 PPG) suggest he's best suited as a depth/developmental piece for programs prioritizing defensive versatility and rebounding over immediate scoring contributions.
