Jahlil Okafor
Birthdate: Dec. 15, 1995 (Fort Smith, Ark.)
School: Whitney Young (Chicago, Ill.) Class: 2015 (PROJECTED) Height: 6'11" Weight: 270 NBA Position: C |
Scouting Report 1.0 — 04.22.2015 (Joseph Fafinski)
Jahlil Okafor loves Tim Duncan.
In a detailed profile of “Jah” in Sports Illustrated in March, it was brought to our attention that the Duke big man studies tapes of Duncan from nearly a score ago, yearning to effectively understand what made the legendary big man so successful around the rim. The secret of Duncan is, as we all now know, his ability to fly under the radar while maintaining a wildly successful and consistent career.
The changes in technology and scouting since Timmy D’s Wake Forest days make it harder for a big time college athlete to fly under the radar. It’s true; heading into the month prior to the NBA Draft, we know more about Jahlil Okafor than anyone else in this draft class. He dazzled in his lone season in Durham under Coach K, playing the role of effective Duke big man.
Okafor muscled his way inside and out swiftly in college because of his fantastic frame (6’11, 270 lbs.) and ability to score in an abundance of ways down low for the Blue Devils. Okafor’s .664 field goal percentage clip is a testimony to the smarts he has a player; in college, he knew the high percentage shots were easily attainable, and in the bigs he’ll have to fend off guys his size practically every night.
Teams have made clear Okafor is a top-tier player, a can’t miss in a draft full of question marks. I believe Okafor will be a stout performer in the post in the pros. He possesses the bulking frame, physical tools, defensive potential, and all-around advantageous intangibles necessary to mesh with the biggest of NBA players. There are no players in this draft class who possess the offensive versatility in the paint Okafor sports. He can drop buckets in a hurry, and is one of the best prospects to handle the paint in recent memory.
There is no question Okafor will have demons in the pros, but just about every area of weakness isn’t unteachable. His free throw shooting was atrocious this past season. That’s an easy fix with practice—just look at what Blake Griffin, who has improved from a .521 clip in the ’12 NBA season to a .728 number this winter, has done. Okafor is not athletic enough to maintain perimeter defense, but it’s not like this can’t be fixed with a little practice.
Okafor is a brute, strong force in the paint. Some believe he’ll be the number one pick in June’s draft. Some go a step further and say he’ll resemble a young Tim Duncan. I’m sure Jah would love the latter.
Jahlil Okafor loves Tim Duncan.
In a detailed profile of “Jah” in Sports Illustrated in March, it was brought to our attention that the Duke big man studies tapes of Duncan from nearly a score ago, yearning to effectively understand what made the legendary big man so successful around the rim. The secret of Duncan is, as we all now know, his ability to fly under the radar while maintaining a wildly successful and consistent career.
The changes in technology and scouting since Timmy D’s Wake Forest days make it harder for a big time college athlete to fly under the radar. It’s true; heading into the month prior to the NBA Draft, we know more about Jahlil Okafor than anyone else in this draft class. He dazzled in his lone season in Durham under Coach K, playing the role of effective Duke big man.
Okafor muscled his way inside and out swiftly in college because of his fantastic frame (6’11, 270 lbs.) and ability to score in an abundance of ways down low for the Blue Devils. Okafor’s .664 field goal percentage clip is a testimony to the smarts he has a player; in college, he knew the high percentage shots were easily attainable, and in the bigs he’ll have to fend off guys his size practically every night.
Teams have made clear Okafor is a top-tier player, a can’t miss in a draft full of question marks. I believe Okafor will be a stout performer in the post in the pros. He possesses the bulking frame, physical tools, defensive potential, and all-around advantageous intangibles necessary to mesh with the biggest of NBA players. There are no players in this draft class who possess the offensive versatility in the paint Okafor sports. He can drop buckets in a hurry, and is one of the best prospects to handle the paint in recent memory.
There is no question Okafor will have demons in the pros, but just about every area of weakness isn’t unteachable. His free throw shooting was atrocious this past season. That’s an easy fix with practice—just look at what Blake Griffin, who has improved from a .521 clip in the ’12 NBA season to a .728 number this winter, has done. Okafor is not athletic enough to maintain perimeter defense, but it’s not like this can’t be fixed with a little practice.
Okafor is a brute, strong force in the paint. Some believe he’ll be the number one pick in June’s draft. Some go a step further and say he’ll resemble a young Tim Duncan. I’m sure Jah would love the latter.