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2020 NBA Draft thread

Finishing: Athletic finisher – does not have bad touch, but it’s not special either. Right hand a good deal better than left. Quick load athlete who can get high with minimal space / time – much better two foot leaper than one, but loads quickly so this is not a major issue (and he still is athletic off 1). Good dunker with very high level body control (~15% of his made shots in the halfcourt were dunks). Solid cutter who understands spacing – can cut and if the ballhandler drives, Bey does a nice job re-positioning himself to open himself up for a pass or clear more room for the drive. Does not do a good job dislodging defenders in the paint. Does not finish over length that well (or through contact because of frame, 8 and 1s). Quick second jump and third jump (and very good vertical pop in general; vertical gets lower with more jumps, but still quick to get up which can help eliminate some need for major pop on second/third jump attempt finishes) helps him crash the offensive glass for putbacks – also does a nice job staying active on the offensive glass and finding holes to attack. Shows some potential attacking off the catch, but he is a straight line-driver.



Post Up: Very basic post up game. He tries to outmuscle players, which works better against similarly sized players and smaller players, but he has the same aggressiveness / physicality against bigs, which I like seeing. Loves going over his left shoulder, and tries going over his right but it’s usually a jumper with little space created. Has likes baseline drop steps (and actually uses his lower leg properly getting the defender on his back) and baby hooks over his left shoulder going middle, but his moves are simple. Has flashed a faceup jumper on occasion. He has a pretty solid first step for his college position, but he pretty much never faces up and tries to attack off the bounce. Does a nice job being physical in the post. He is prone to forcing looks if he cannot overpower players / if the double team comes, and he’s pretty easy to guard in that he’s either going over his left shoulder, facing up for a turnaround, or when he goes over his right shoulder he’s taking a jumper (fadeaway). When the double team comes and he’s already begun his move, he usually forces the shot up or turns the ball over (usually no kickouts) – does not adjust well to the extra help. He’s had some solid passes out of the post, but when his aim is to score / defenses commit to him, his vision fades and blinders come on…leading to bad looks. The good passes that come out of the post are mostly when he is able to remain calm and survey the floor (no double or “soft doubles”), but when teams send double teams once he’s begun his move or “hard” double teams, Bey is prone to turnovers. Does not feel comfortable dribbling out of the post.



Shooting: Not much of a shooter, but there is reason to buy the shot. On a very small sample size, he is 21/44 on all jumpers (62.5% adjusted FG%), 9/22 on all no dribble jumpers (52.3% adjusted FG%), and is a career 75% FT shooter on 372 attempts. On top of this, Colorado has occasionally used Bey off screens on BLOBs and he has looked pretty comfortable and hit some of these, which is great to see. Form wise, Bey can make some adjustments – his off hand starts a little bit too high on the ball, he is prone to “thumbing” the ball with his left hand, and it looks like he blocks his vision on the way up. In terms of lower body set, he has an inconsistent set – some shots he’s really nicely balanced and squared (or at least having his right leg facing the basket), but on other ones his knees are caving in or turning away from the rim entirely. His form doesn’t have any really bad moving pieces / isn’t too mechanically wrong to the point where he has to change his entire shot, but the mechanics can be improved (at least improve his consistency in the lower body, if he does not want to tinker with his upper body form – the knees caving in could lead to injuries)

 
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Shot Versatility: Not much shot versatility here. Though, as mentioned above, he has shown some ability shooting off flex BLOBs, he is not a movement shooter, as in someone who will run off multiple screens to get an open look. His comfortability shooting jumpers, even open ones, is not there (yet). Off the bounce jumpers are not there, either – only 4 on the season (2 last year). He hit a nice baseline baby fadeaway off the bounce, but badly missed a pull up jumper off a pump fake from 3 and had two bad misses with the defense right on him. He does not have the handle or space-creation skillset to be an off the bounce shooter, beyond a pullup jumper…but even there needs work, circling back to his lack of comfort taking jumpers in general. Basically, if his jumper does develop, it will be C&S (some low-key relocation shooting) and maybe pullup jumpers off of closeouts.

Self-Shot Creation: N/A. Does not have an off the bounce jumper to create space for; handle needs work in general, and it is not one that exhibits advanced moves in terms of space-creation ability; and while his first step is good, teams can play him for the drive because of the limiting jumper. Isolation game is non-existent and will likely not be a part of his game going forward in role or skillset.

Shot IQ: Good shot IQ – plays to his extreme strengths, almost to a fault. Lives in / around the paint and only takes open jumpers. Breaking it down by segment, of the 189 attempts he’s had in the halfcourt, 145 came in/around the paint area (rim, post ups, baby jumpers). 44 attempts have been from jumpers outside of the paint, where he has 13/23 from 3 and 8/21 from midrange. Bey’s jumper location is not ideal for his future role (probably as a paint finisher or 3&D F), but it is him playing to his strengths and inside comfort zone in college – aside from a few faceup jumpers aren’t the best looks, almost all of Bey’s looks on jumpers are clean – he does not force jumpers he is not comfortable taking, or with better looks available. 38 of his 44 attempts are C&S (19/38, 67.1 adjFG%), including 22 no dribble jumpers (9/22, 52.3 adjFG%). Bey loves playing in the post (especially going over his left shoulder), but he is not advanced nor efficient here – he beats players by being more physical with them (more efficient against smaller players, though he also tries using strength against bigs) and with faceup jumpers on occasion. He is prone to forcing shots in the post.

As mentioned above, Bey plays to his strengths, almost to a fault – what I mean by this is he turns down open looks he can make, and should be taking, to keep the ball swinging. While moving the ball is good, if you are a non-threat on offense, your offensive impact becomes somewhat diminished. So while it is fair to say he has a good shot IQ in college (unselfish, takes shots he’s comfortable taking, etc), at the next level, he will have to be a bit more aggressive with volume from 3 – he can make the shots, it’s just a question of taking more (and getting more reps in to smooth out the form).

*NOTE: some of the around basket shots Synergy classified are jumpers, but because they are in the paint, were classified as around paint shots – according to another tracking site, Bey has taken 79 jumpers (including those in the paint and has shot 34/79 on those.

 
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Handle: Poor handle and pretty limited to straight line drives from the perimeter (on the rare occasion he handles from out there) – not someone who can pull off dribble moves creating for himself or others. Limited repertoire and really does not look comfortable handling the ball move than for a few dribbles. High handle with either hand when pressured and does not look tight / in control…especially when he’s trying to pick up speed (neither hand really looks good here). Does not dribble well in traffic or adjust well to moving defenses (prone to turnovers here). Has flashed a spin move and crossover here and there, but he rarely goes to them…which goes back to his complete lack of comfort handling the ball, in addition to him being being a “play-finisher” not a “playmaker.”

Passing: Reactive, not instinctual passer…but not a good passer in general. Not a fan of his vision or decision-making. Does not process changing defenses / closing passing lanes well or pressure well, leading to forced passes. Bey can make stationary passes out of the post when the defense is off of him, but when the defense commits to stopping (with a double / sending help, playing physically, etc), he is prone to turnovers trying to find the open man – he does not react well to help, and coupling this with his lack of comfort even dribbling out of the post, Bey’s post passing often leads to turnovers because he will force a pass instead of dribbling away from the double team. When Bey is able to stay calm and read the court (no double, very soft double, face-up and survey, etc), he can make nice interior passes. The few times he has put the ball on the court from the perimeter, he flashed the ability to drive and kick (and hit drop-offs) – if his shot develops, this might be his best avenue to passing “success” by attacking defenses that close out, dribbling a few times, and hitting an open corner.

PnR: Small sample size, but he has shown some promise here. Does a nice job releasing after setting the screen with proper footwork, opening to the pass. Bey has shown nice flashes in the PnP out to three – does a nice job setting his base, staying balanced, and shooting quickly (but smoothly) after the catch. Bey also does a nice job reading the paint to see if there is room to roll and pulling back out if there isn’t and simply finding an open area on the court to be an easier outlet for the ballhandler. Can attack in a straight line off the catch / pump fake, though does not do a great job seeing the court on drives / adjusting to the moving defense. On the roll, Bey shows the ability to stop if the paint if clogged and pull for a baby 10 foot jumper (he has shown the ability to hit these off the catch in other situations in the halfcourt). He has vertical gravity, but playing with a non-spacing big clogs some opportunities. Shows solid hands on the catch on the roll. His vertical pop should really help him in the PnR with a spaced floor – coupling that with his quick release on the screen (and nice footwork opening to the pass) will get him into the paint quickly, which will get him good looks at the rim or force the help, opening up looks for his teammates. Can make some decisions on the short roll (including stopping short of the full roll, as mentioned above), but he’s not a passer out of the short roll
 
Awareness / Team Defense: Very high-level team defender and defensive playmaker. Stunts, tags and recovers, nice job keeping hands out on and off ball for the most part, and he talks on defense. Great defensive playmaker who can make anticipatory reads, has very reactions off ball, and excellent timing protecting the rim and shooting the gap. Has a high defensive IQ, but his reaction time on the court is what really sets him apart – he processes things quickly on defense and is able to react immediately upon seeing what is happening. Covers ground very quickly. He’s always looking to help without losing his man – does a great job keeping his head on a swivel tracking of his man and the rest of the players / actions on the court. Nice job playing the middle / positional defense when he is off ball. Rotates well both along the perimeter / to the perimeter from the interior and making interior rotations.



Rim Protection: High-level rim protector who makes smart reads off ball – you can constantly see him turning his head to his man / action to make sure he doesn’t let his man cut free, and when the time is right, moves to make the block. He might be a bit too reliant on his athleticism in that he waits until the last second to rotate, but it does not negatively impact his rim protection ability because he is not out of place to begin with and his reactions are just so quick to the ball / area he has to rotate to. Does a really nice job jumping with his hands straight up, avoiding the swipe down (most of the time) and the foul – in addition, his excellent body control helps him avoid fouls, as does his ability to move his arms in air to make the shot attempt difficult. Does not bite for many pump fakes, though occasional ones do get him. Uses his wingspan and standing reach well. His quick vertical pop and reaction time allow him to transition from moving laterally to protecting the rim against the ballhandler as he’s defending the drive. Really explodes vertically to protect the rim off two feet (full extension when necessary with his arms) from the weak side, and his quick load time lets him react and jump when under pressure from an incoming driver. However, Bey has to get stronger – he can get dislodged by players a bit and bigger players will be able to take advantage of him despite Bey being pretty physical around the basket. He should be able to add good weight without having athleticism diminished and he does not appear to have a high center of gravity, which will help with his ability to withstand bumps and attempted dislodges as he gets stronger.



Post Up Defense: Has to improve here. Poor technique, poor strength, and easy to dislodge. Bey stays too upright and does a really bad job using any lower body strength or leverage – he gets pushed around really easily in the post. He keeps his hands straight up or to the side instead of using them to help push the post up defender higher – does not use his hands at all. He almost always keeps his chest out / forward on post up defense, taking a hit there as the post up players begins his move…and he gets bounced back on the contact, making it not useful at all (in addition to not being good post up defense technique). His lower body positioning is also poor – he does not use his quads underneath the post up player’s hamstrings or glutes, which also makes him very easy to move. There are flashes of him using his inside quad (one going to the middle of the paint) a little, but the flashes are very few and far between. However, Bey does do a good job contesting the shot (when he’s still in the play / not dislodged) with his quick vertical pop, good use of length, and ability to contort his body and arms to contest shots. Bey also does a nice job moving his feet on the moves, but he really has to learn how to use lower body leverage and his hands better. Bey does a nice job swimming under the post up seal to go for the steal – it’s a bit opportunistic, but he shows really good timing here and a knack for the ball

PnR Defense: Colorado used Bey mostly in drop coverage and switching. As I go into more detail below, Bey will likely be switchable going down positions (starting as the big defender / one defending the screener) because of his quickness, body control, and quick twitch reaction. He will have to focus on not resting on his heels, as he is prone to doing, but there is legitimate high-potential switchability onto the ballhandler. The few times Bey was tasked with defending the point of attack, Bey was able to show a few things that could translate. He did a nice job getting over the top of the screen – he didn’t “get skinny” by cutting the airspace between the ballhandler and the screener, but he did a nice job staying with the ballhandler. If he had to go under the screens and the ballhandler drove downhill, Bey did a nice job getting back to his man and affecting the shot at the rim. If Bey defended the PnR and switched, he did a nice job trying to get in front on the pass for the steal. When defending the big, Bey does a nice job getting back to his man after the hedge – both on the roll and on the pop.
 
Shot Contests / Closeouts: Good closeouts / shot contests. He does a nice job closing out under control and his super quick hip turns allow him to recover if the receiver is able to drive off the catch. Does a nice job contesting with the correct high hand. Can overhelp at times, but does a nice job recovering to his man anyway. There are some shots he does not get out to, but they are usually when he is too far away – does not happen often.



Off Ball Defense: *Small sample size through screens* Needs to work on technique a bit getting through screens – he is prone to staying too upright, does not dip his shoulder, and does not do a good job reading the screen (and taking an optimal angle). However, Bey does show the ability to close well with his athleticism and reaction time, so even if he’s caught out of place, he can recover in time to contest. Bey does an awesome job keeping his head on a swivel – does a good job not losing his man off ball and tracking both his man and the action.



Man (ISO) Defense: Good ISO defender. He has quick and fluid hip turns, quick feet, and quick reactions and excellent anticipation. Mirrors well. When in ISO situations, he does a nice job trying to cut off the ballhandler forcing the ballhandler to pick up the dribble or change direction, but he is prone to resting on his heels and being beaten off the bounce by quicker guards – however, Bey does a nice job closing the ground quickly and using his vertical pop + wingspan to protect the rim. Bey does a good job controlling his weight / body distribution moving laterally, making it easier to stop on a dime and change direction. For the most part, he does a nice job not giving up easy driving lanes and is quick to react / contest jumpers (but, as mentioned above, he can be beaten off the bounce by quicker guards or when he’s resting on his heels). If the ballhandler drives to the rim, Bey is able to shift from moving laterally and downhill to jumping to protect the rim – his quick load and leading ability, coupled with his body control and ability to contort his hands to find the ball makes him very difficult to score upon in ISO drives. Bey’s ability to close the space if beaten off the bounce and get back to the ballhandler / protect the rim is super impressive.



Footwork: Good footwork with quick hips, quick feet, quick hands, and quick reactions. Very good anticipation reading where the ballhandler is going to go, sometimes beating the defender to the spot forcing a turnover (including charges or loose balls). Does a nice job keeping his arms out too moving laterally, taking away passing lanes and making shot attempts difficult. Stays in his stance and actually slides instead of hopping. Can cross his feet occasion upon flipping his hip, but it is not common. Can stop and go and change direction well. Does a nice job staying off of his heels.


Potential Switchability: Bey should be switchable going down and up to 4s. His switchability going up will be dependent on his ability to add weight – as mentioned above, Bey should be able to add “good” weight to his frame without hindering his athleticism. However, in order to fully be able to be switchable going up, he has to be able to improve his ability to use his lower body as leverage and not simply using his arms. He will also have to improve his footwork on post defense, too. Bey plays physically, so it’s really just a question of whether or not he can make his weight (and added weight) functional and actually use it. Bey should also be able to switch onto smaller players with his quick and fluid hips, quick feet, and quick reactions. He has good instincts, does a nice job stopping and going, can flip his hips and change direction well, and has the ability to correct any mistake giving up driving lanes with his reaction time (and his ability to immediately change body positioning with his body and foot control), elite closing speed, and vertical pop (with great use of his hands to protect shots).
 
Yo @toheeb27 @#1hiphopjunki3 @south4life

What yall think about this kid. Heard KOC and Vernon talking him up in their podcast. Kind of got some Manu in his game.



Theres a lot of interesting Euros in this draft class. I think thats part of the reason its being slept on. Deni and Killian stock rising due to them coming off strong seasons. Both could go top 5 now.
 
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New top-10 picks, risers and fallers

Onyeka Okongwu | Fr. | C | USC

Mock draft: No. 7

Okongwu recently passed two significant tests, posting 23 points, 14 rebounds and 6 blocks at Oregon and then 23 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks at Arizona -- arguably the best competition he'll face in the regular season. Okongwu's impact was felt well beyond the numbers, as he has developed into a devastating force on the defensive end with his ability to cover ground, alter shots around the rim and switch onto anyone. His instincts, timing and mobility give him game-changing potential.

While Okongwu's defense is what makes him special, he has also been quite a force offensively without having any plays run for him. He catches everything thrown his way, displays phenomenal body control and brings soft touch with either hand.

Although not much of a creator or floor-spacer, Okongwu has a high ceiling thanks to his feel and improvement trajectory, leading some scouts to ponder his candidacy as the top big man in this draft (perhaps ahead of James Wiseman). He has moved firmly

 
USC’s Onyeka Okongwu Is The 2020 NBA Draft’s Biggest Game-Wrecker

Looking at this year’s draft class, USC’s Onyeka Okongwu is the player that stands out amongst the rest of the big men. At 6-foot-9, with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, Okongwu has turned in a historic season for the Trojans thus far. On the year, Okongwu is averaging 16.4 points per game, 8.9 rebounds per game, 3 blocks per game and 1.1 steals per game. There hasn’t been a freshman that reached all those marks since the 1993-94 season. On top of that, Okongwu’s 8.1 defensive box plus/minus and 13.9 overall box plus/minus put him in elite company. The only other freshmen that have played significant minutes (300+) and managed to clear those benchmarks are Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jaren Jackson Jr., Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel.

Okongwu is a near-elite shot blocker in general. Nobody in this freshman class that plays at least 20 minutes per game has a higher block rate than his 10.8. It’s his combination of athleticism, length and timing that make him so good around the basket, and those tools should allow him to play the five at the next level, despite the fact that he’s a bit short for a center.

Offensively, Okongwu should be good as a rim runner immediately. According to Synergy Sports, he’s scoring 1.162 points per possession as a pick-and-roll roll man, which puts him in the 75th percentile in the country. That alone will make him good enough to help a team early in his career.

To sum things up, Okongwu checks a lot of the boxes that you’re looking for in a modern center. Given his defensive ability, opposing teams are unlikely to find ways to play him off the floor. Targeting him in the pick and roll simply won’t be effective enough. And offensively, Okongwu does enough to help take pressure off the rest of his teammates.

 
Onyeka Okongwu Scouting Report

Onyeka Okongwu Scouting Report

I. Offense
Pluses
  • With his free throw, gets great wrist action on his shot, producing particularly high amounts of spin on the ball. Has especially high arc and a noticeably wide-set base. Above head release. Also shows nice touch around the hoop with the ability to go to either hand and involve the bank as needed (note: tendency to not follow-through on the jump-hook, often involving a floater-esque pushing motion)
  • Despite his limitations as a passer, Onyeka has shown some flashes in terms of awareness and generosity: turning his head before he’s even secured the ball to survey available options on the weakside, distributing carefully-played lobs in a high-low set, and kicking out with left. Has shown flashes of interior shovel pass ability
  • High rolling/finishing potential. This is catalyzed by his particularly quick and explosive leap, advanced torso flexibility, quick and reliable hands, a plus-differential wingspan, and standout energy levels
  • Superior effort and speed in transition–is going to have flexibility to play in a variety of offensive systems
  • Well-practiced and potent scorer in the post when he can get established. Occupies the left block with higher frequency but can comfortably play from both sides, and spin over either shoulder with no issues. Throws in a little craft while finishing around the basket, particularly with his left. Demonstrates nice patience to utilize pumpfake and shed shotblockers, keeps ball high and out of danger. Whether facing up, rolling, or with his back to the basket, the vast majority of his attempts fall in a range of 0-2 dribbles–largely a product of athletic advantages, a strong spin, and jump-hook ambidexterity featuring nice range (note: extended arm reaches well above rim)
  • On occasion has shown repertoire of advanced moves: can lace together a spin into an up-and-under scoop with nice fluidity, can access reverse pivots and drop-step feints without problem. Has thrown in a couple euro-steps this year. Gets great speed and balance on the spin while keeping the ball tight, which he periodically brings out multiple times in a sequence
  • Face-up equity: terrific speed and power with a rip through into a quick single dribble and high finish. This advantage can be especially apparent versus “big man” archetypes

 
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Minuses

  • C&S technique is not terrible but remains a work in progress. Comfort level is not convincing: visible fluctuations in width of base and speed of hoist; can rush stabilizer alignment, and can neglect to follow through. Gets minimal dip with ball. Hop into motion is oftentimes late, disallowing for fluid rhythm
  • Does not reliably space the floor with reliable ball-handling or shooting
  • Passing touch is not a plus. His motion involves a lot of rigid “push” activity in which his movements appear highly mechanical. Isn’t comfortable in a live-dribble setting especially away from the paint and looks to immediately defer. Absent-mindedly throws slow and transparent passes. Developing comfort and fluidity in this facet will be a point of emphasis going forward
  • Can get lost versus large/physical defenders–generates a large chunk of his touches in these games via receiving penetration dish-offs and crashing the boards. Will need to work on carving out the seal versus larger counterparts at the next level, capitalizing with cuts, and throwing in spacing
  • Would like to see better execution versus the double team in recognizing the rotation earlier, avoiding pass turnovers, and hitting the open man
  • Onyeka has a habit of leaving his feet. This manifests in a few ways: this can negate any potential progress with a seal as he leaps for the entry pass; he can hastily commit to a double-clutch FGA from the mid-key area; he can take off prematurely in the face of an open lane
  • Succumbs to the box-out or fronted post too easily at times, taking himself out of the play
Questions to Consider

  • How does his handling and passing function in the “short roll”?
  • Can he develop enough comfort on the perimeter to start consistently providing some space?
  • How much are his shortcomings as a passer are purely a product of him being big at a young age and learning perimeter fundamentals late in his career?
  • Can he develop the strength to make himself a reliable post-up option versus NBA bigs? How much will a four-out setup help his openings into post-up action?
 
II. Defense
Pluses

  • Plus-level defensive rebounder with a high motor. Has the ability to snatch the ball one-handed. Does not require much loading time or space. Extended reach and strong hands allow him to pull the ball down from behind a crowd. Has the core strength and flexibility to arch way back to retrieve long overhead bounces
  • Real shot-blocking potential catalyzed by instincts, length, and vertical pop. Limited loading time. Onyeka builds upon this with instincts that show him pre-jumping before the oppositions gathers into the motion–allowing for the maximum window to alter the shot
  • Legitimate E-W / N-S speed when engaged in one-one-one scenario and can promptly swap directions and angles
  • Versatility: Onyeka fills the role of a rim protector and for his archetype, boasts plus-level acceleration, top speed, and a vertical leap. While he does have some areas to address, Onyeka could realistically guard up to three to four positions (a decent variety of archetypes) at the next level
  • Generates loose balls by being proactive in the perimeter passing lanes
  • Has demonstrated proper execution with verticality to alter shot trajectory
  • Reflexes are on the quicker side
  • Legitimate closeout speed and contesting ability when keyed in on shooters
  • Stays under control–low foul rate given activity levels and age
Minuses

  • In the spirit of maintaining rhythm and propelling with momentum, Onyeka often employs a “rocking” motion as he transitions to a backpedal or SE/SW slide. This is likely to spell trouble at the next level with dynamic guards attacking his lead foot and/or employing shifty maneuvers into the paint. Ideally, Onyeka can remain in a sliding stance with his weight towards his toes utilizing hip-swaps as needed
  • Onyeka will sometimes neglect to remain competitive with the slide/bump purely effort to land the block from behind
  • Double teams and top-down help lack verve and desirable activity levels
  • Trigger-happy versus pump-fakes, too often caught airborne
  • Doesn’t trust himself to defend in space yet: too often self-relegates by readily entering “retreat” mode, involving flat feet. In a one-versus-two situation is more often affecting zero than two. Does not get in the space of the defender until a shot is imminent. Footwork is iffy in the pick-and-roll, often pre-committing to shading hard one direction or hedging hard versus ghosts
  • Lightness on feet and speed of acceleration masks Onyeka’s relatively inefficient movement patterns when he is guarding outside of the post–note propensity to load before a shot-block attempt which he can sometimes insert multiple times versus a drive. His footwork could use clean-up to maximize his potential
  • Relents too much space by not bodying up the ball-handler, especially in the post–needs to utilize chest bump and would benefit from proactively lowering center of gravity
  • Semi-consistently late to close out on shooters as he can be late in processing potential kick-out threats
Questions to Consider

  • A few instances this season of late processing speed on reading bounce angles off the defensive glass. Is this fatigue-related or does he struggle when not seeing full shot trajectory?
  • How easily can he clean up pathing/footwork inefficiencies given that he is a high level athlete?

 
III. Statistical Profile
Courtesy of Basketball-Reference and Synergy Sports Technology:

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Key notes:

  • No glaring weaknesses statistically
  • Getting to the line at a solid rate, evidenced by a Free Throw Rate of .524
  • Conducts almost all of his shooting activities deep in the key
  • Scoring efficiency worthy of praise: 64.3% TS; 74.1% conversion rate from 0-3 feet (not pictured)
  • Desirable point production and rebounding numbers
  • Generating a poor number of assists per TOV
  • Averaging an outstanding rate of 5.4 Stocks per 40 minutes with only 3.3 PF
IV. Physical Profile & Miscellaneous
  • December 12, 2000 DOB (19.16 years)
  • B-plus overall athlete for archetype
  • Estimated 6’9.5″ with a 7’1″ wingspan
  • Appears to be on the quieter side, but has assumed a leadership role defensively
  • Excellent leaper for size in regards to both speed of ascension and vertical height (36.5-37.5″?)
  • Forward-leaning neck
  • Highly powerful above-the-rim finisher, unblockable tomahawk
  • Full-fledged sprint hints at flat-footed running form, not easing in and out of impact
  • May have a particularly flexible groin that allow for instantaneous “wide coverage”–cutting off the baseline drive, recovering into a contest near the rim, extending outward for a contest
  • Excellent motor and true transition threat, but could look to reproduce same high-energy tendencies while playing perimeter defense and finishing out possessions
  • Quick load time but does prefer re-calibrating leading into two-footed explosion
  • Uninspiring coordination/fluidity in perimeter-oriented skills: ball-handling, passing, shooting
  • Airborne: habitually inserts a hop step and/or forward-back rocking motion when showing/hedging/zoning the pick-and-roll; can leave feet often and early on both sides of ball
  • Could utilize strength better in post defensively (chest bump, lower center of gravity). As it stands, overall strength and positioning tactics remain relative non-factors. Can get boxed out by smaller guys, go quiet versus physical defenders
V. Archetypal Diagnosis
Offense: Play Finisher

Defense: Rim Protector-plus

 
VI. Gradient Score vs. Same-Archetype Prospects
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VII. Overall Outlook

Evidenced by the high number of “twos” in his Gradient Score and by checking off a lot of the main categories you look for in a big prospect, Onyeka Okongwu certainly brings a lot to the table in the Play Finisher/Rim Protector role. There is a sense, however, that a lot of his production pulls from benefiting from athletic/energy advantages versus his current counterparts–it appears unconvincing that his IQ and skills will harmonize in a way to promote for high improvement levels going forth. Furthermore, a few of the areas where there are question marks–P&R defense, post-up potency versus physical/aggressive defenses, perimeter-oriented skills–are indeed areas that are especially relevant at the next level due to prototypical NBA schemes. Onyeka presents an option as a relatively “safe” pick with bankable rotation player equity, and his rim protection is certainly some of the best you’ll find in the draft, but it seems unlikely that he is deserving of a top-10 selection


 
Yo @toheeb27 @#1hiphopjunki3 @south4life

What yall think about this kid. Heard KOC and Vernon talking him up in their podcast. Kind of got some Manu in his game.



Theres a lot of interesting Euros in this draft class. I think thats part of the reason its being slept on. Deni and Killian stock rising due to them coming off strong seasons. Both could go top 5 now.


Being a Spurs fan I've seen his name mentioned alot of the many Spurs sites I frequent from time to time. Of course him being an Argentine wing player automatically has folks thinking of Manu but I truly haven't watched any videos of him or read extensively any draft reports YET. Lol. I will check around a few places and such and post some more info on him though.

Thanks for hitting me up about him and asking my opinion though. Much appreciated
 
Athleticism / Frame Overview: Good athlete, who can load quickly in tight spaces – has nice pop off one and two, good straight line athlete (though needs to hustle more out to shooters). Quick reflexes and hands. Strong, though needs to get stronger. Quick hips and feet.



Mentality Overview
: Energy player – does not take plays off entirely, though also sometimes doesn’t finish out plays. If he’s not involved on offense, he does a nice job crashing the offensive glass. Not going to force shots on offense – plays within himself. Defensively, he’s versatile and up for the challenge of defending anywhere on the court – had some of the biggest defensive stops this year from any prospect with the game on the line.

Offensive Role: PnR / energy big who puts immense pressure on the rim on dives. Some potential faceup driving (and driving and kicking) and short roll passing, if it develops. But, all in all, PnR big with D&K potential. Some basic spacing

Defensive Role: Versatile defender who can fit in a variety of PnR schemes – drop, switch, hedge & recover, etc. Rim protecting + good team defense.

Rebounding: High level rebounder and very active on the offensive glass and is a good defensive rebounder too, though would like to see him put a body on players a bit more – can sometimes give up offensive rebounds. Increasing strength should help improve defensive rebounding rate, as it will make it more difficult for offensive rebounders to move him / get off of his boxout. One of only 12 players in the high majors that have played 65%+ of minutes and have a 20%+ defensive rebound rate + 12%+ offensive rebound rate – a list that only includes two freshman. Nice swim move on the offensive glass, and just does a nice job putting pressure there by staying in motion / staying off of boxouts.

 
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