Pre-Draft Stats

PTS REB AST STL BLK FG% 3P% FT% EFG% PER
16.2 8.6 1.1 1.2 2.7 61.6 25.0 72.0 61.8 31.1
Sales Pitch
Energetic big that has developed an all-around game that should transition smoothly to the NBA level.
Background
It didn't take long for Onyeka Okongwu to gain the attention of NBA personnel during the college basketball year. The explosive big man was an imposing force the University of Southern California this year, and offers an intriguing skill set at the next level. Okongwu was known for his play at the high school level, notably during his freshman year at Chino Hills playing alongside LaMelo Ball. But now, Okongwu has positioned himself as one of the top big man prospects in the 2020 class. A high energy big, who doesn't shy away from the moment...Okongwu looks to be a shoo-in to be a top 10 selection in this year's draft and is trending upwards.
Pro Comparison
A mad scientists experiment of combining Bam Adebayo with sprinkles of Alonzo Mourning
Positives

HANDS

  • Slightly convinced he might have pillows for hands. Catches laser passes with ease and shows great touch around the rim, finishing with both hands. Has shown the ability to catch difficult passes and adjust to mid-air finishes. 

POST THREAT

  • Promising footwork for a player of his size. Does a great job of feeling out defenders and setting them up with spins and counters. His combination of hands and footwork should help him early on during his development. Ranked in the 94th percentile when it came to post-up opportunities. 

P&R VERSATILITY

  •  Shows the potential to be an all-around asset in the P&R game on both sides of the ball. Has a great combination of quickness, agility, and timing on the defensive side of the ball. Offensively, he is a constant lob threat that sets good screens.
Negatives

OUTSIDE SHOOTING

  • Shooting mechanics need a cleanup. He has the potential to turn into a promising pick and pop threat but needs repetition to get more consistent. Developing his outside shot could take his game to another level. 

DEFENSIVE PATIENCE

  • While he projects to become a defensive anchor who shows great anticipation as a rim protector, he gets too excited about going for blocks. Needs to stress some patience on the defensive side of the ball to prevent foul problems.

SIZE

  • Undersized at 6'9" for a center, despite his 7'1" wingspan. His explosiveness and footwork should help, but most likely will need to get stronger to deal with traditional NBA centers. 
Overall
With Memphis big man James Wiseman leaving after only 3 games this season, NBA personnel turned their attention to USC freshman Onyeka Okongwu who steadily climbed up boards throughout the year. Okongwu has the potential to do a bit of everything at the NBA level while becoming an impactful defender. Possessing a combination of explosive leaping ability and soft hands, Onyeka projects to make an immediate impact as a lob threat and rim-protecting big. He will draw plenty of comparisons to Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo, based on their similarities when it comes to frame and measurables. If Okongwu lands with the right team and can develop his outside shot, he could take a big leap forward towards his ability as an NBA player.
Birthplace

Chino Hills, CA
United States

NBA Team
Atlanta Hawks
Draft Selection
6
Twitter
BigO21_
Contract
Yearly Salary

Onyeka Okongwu

Onyeka Okongwu
Do we need to start paying serious attention to the freshman big man out of USC?
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