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Potential Top Pick Jahlil Okafor In Phenomenal Shape

By Cody Daniel

Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor (15) drives to the basket defended by Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) during the first half in the 2015 NCAA Men
Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor (15) drives to the basket defended by Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) during the first half in the 2015 NCAA Men /
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The 2015 NBA Draft is still more than a month and a half away from its anticipated arrival, but that won’t do anything to hinder every single piece of available information being analyzed and taken into consideration, and this becomes even more so when discussing the very best NBA prospects in the world.

In this case, I’m referring to Jahlil Okafor, the former Duke freshman stud that led the Blue Devils to a national championship after being named as the ACC Player of the Year and a first-team All-American.

One of the best is the business when it comes to player breakdowns and draft previews, Jonathan Givony, tweeted out Wednesday night that Okafor was on site at P3 Sports Science and was as lean as he had ever seen him.

Of course, someone could blow this off as nothing to make a big deal about, but in reality, this is something well worth noting.

When you look at what the 19-year-old Okafor brings to the table, it’s hard not to be absolutely blown away by his staggeringly limitless potential. At 6-foot-11 and 270 pounds, he’s the most offensively gifted big man I have ever seen step foot on the college hardwood, and it’s not even close.

Granted, I’ve only been covering basketball for a few years now and have only been following college hoops since the early 2000s, but that’s still saying something when you can be considered as the most offensively dominant and polished big man to pass through the NCAA in more than a decade.

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But just as with every NBA player, and especially with those who are only 18 and 19 years old, there’s going to be question marks surrounding weaknesses, regardless of what they may be.

In the case of Okafor, the two knocks on his game are his well-below standard defense, which rightfully raises red flags for any potential franchise-changing center, and the fact that Okafor doesn’t always appear to be in the best shape and looked like he could have benefited from shedding a few pounds throughout the season.

This is what makes what Givony said about Okafor being in phenomenal shape so important. We’re not weighing the pros and cons and a mid- to late first rounder, or even a borderline top 10 guy.

No, we’re talking about a guy who will almost surely go No. 1 or No. 2 overall and be expected to come in and help turn a franchise like the Minnesota Timberwolves or the New York Knicks around.

Additionally, not only is the potential to snag a franchise-altering talent on the board, but several millions of dollars will be expended as a result, which makes every possible detail to consider with these guys up to the very moment of the draft so crucial.

Apr 7, 2015; Durham, NC, USA;Duke Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor watches a highlight video during a welcome home ceremony at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2015; Durham, NC, USA;Duke Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor watches a highlight video during a welcome home ceremony at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /

If Okafor did in fact shed a few pounds and is in phenomenal shape, just as Givony noted, there’s just one more reason to consider taking Okafor with that coveted No. 1 overall pick. But even with his few limitations, Givony said it best on why he’s will be well worth any risk of drafting him:

“Still, he’s such a gifted offensive player that teams will certainly learn to live with his limitations and do their best to surround him with the right type of players to get the most out of him. At age 19, there is certainly time for him to work on his weaknesses, and he’s already shown he can improve his conditioning and appears to be a highly coachable player as well.”

Of course, we still have more than a month for additional reports, updates and workouts to surface surrounding the top prospects in the world, but if I were an NBA general manager, there’s no way I could pass on a talent like Okafor, even with his few limitations.

Next: Our Latest NBA Mock Draft

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