2018 NBA Draft: Josh Okogie is most slept-on in draft class

After two stellar seasons at Georgia Tech, Josh Okogie is a 19-year-old with all the tools. Why is he only projected to be a second round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft?

What does 18.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, 38 percent shooting from the 3-point line, a 6’4″ frame with a 7’0″ wingspan and Third Team All-ACC honors tell you? What does ranking second in steals in the conference, fourth in scoring and top 20 in rebounds tell you?

If you are like me, it should tell you that this player is a do-everything type that should be a top-20 player in whatever draft class he’s.

Yet as it stands, mock drafts have Georgia Tech guard Josh Okogie going in the second round.

That 30-35 range seems to be the popular place to have Okogie, and I honestly don’t really get it. Here, see for yourself:

Of course, highlight tapes are supposed to point out all the positives and none of the negatives, but just to remind you, that tape above was only against ACC competition. Against the ACC this year, Okogie put up 21.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. This included 29 against Duke, 26 against Clemson and 30 against Miami — all ranked teams at the time.

This tells me a few things. One, he’s not afraid of the moment or the opponent. To score on a night-in, night-out basis like this in the toughest conference in college basketball is awesome to see. It also shows he can still score when defenses key in on him. Okogie’s usage rate at GT was high (27.2 percent) and on a team that finished 13-19, he was targeted consistently by opposing defenses.

It’s also the way in which Okogie can score, which seems to be every way. Watch the video below. He can take guys off the dribble and catch them off guard with a pull-up. He can get to the rim. He can back guards down. He can shoot the 3. His handle looks tight, and although it can get loose at times in transition, he can shake off defenders with it.

His versatility on offense shows me his offensive game can translate because he can take on different roles if need be. He won’t be asked to do the things that he did at Tech, but the ways in which he showed he can score are very positive in my eyes moving forward.

Okogie’s knack for getting to the line is also impressive. In 21 games played this year, he shot double-digit free throws seven times. When he was at the line, he shot an impressive 82 percent. Not only does this particular skill of obtaining fouls usually translate into the league, he will be able to convert when he gets there. Plain and simple, Okogie can put the ball in the bucket and has multiple ways of scoring.

Another aspect of Okogie’s game that really struck me is his athleticism. At the NBA Draft Combine this month, he finished tied for first in vertical jump at 42 inches and blew away the rest of the prospects in the three-quarter court sprint (3.04 secs). CBS Sports even named him “Most Impressive Athlete” after the combine. In watching his tapes, this athleticism shows on drives to the baskets and show-stopping dunks. He is able to jump into the bigger man and use his body to either get fouls or buckets.