2020 NBA Draft Prospect: Onyeka Okongwu

Coming out of a stacked Chino Hills squad that featured the Ball Brothers, Onyeka Okongwu has broken out of the shadow and caught the eyes of NBA scouts.

The 2020 NBA Draft class hasn’t necessarily caught the hype that previous drafts had, which makes some sense. There aren’t any big-time, ‘next big thing’ players in this draft, such as Zion Williamson, Ja Morant or Luka Doncic. But that’s not saying that this draft is full of duds, in fact, this draft will probably produce some solid players.

You could say that Georgia’s Anthony Edwards is the best in this draft class, considering his elite-level athleticism and sensational potential. Other prospects such as LaMelo Ball, James Wiseman and Obi Toppin have also served as top-talent in this year’s draft, aiming to make massive waves in the NBA. Slowly, the draft prospects further downgrade from there, with some lottery-players not showing the potential that was necessarily expected.

But one top-ten player has become the topic of discussion as the NBA’s next Bam Adebayo, or maybe even better. That player has stepped out of the shadows of his high-school teammates to become one of the most premier big men in the NCAA today. That player is USC’s Onyeka Okongwu.

Okongwu is a 6’9″, 220 pound big out of USC, who’s made massive waves in the NCAA this season. Coming out of Chino Hills high school, Okongwu played alongside the Ball brothers in their dominant 2015 season, where they finished 35-0. After the departure of the Balls, Okongwu snatched the spotlight, dominating and leading the Chino Hills team to further success.

Following his successful senior season, Okongwu committed and joined the USC Trojans. Okongwu immediately entered the starting lineup and was primed for tons of game-time.

Playing a whopping 30.5minutes per game, Onyeka Okongwu has dominated offensively, averaging 16.2points per night. He’s also been a fantastic rebounder, grabbing 8.7rebounds per game. But his most successful trait is his defense. Okongwu has swatted away 2.7shots per game and has plucked the ball away around 1.2 times per game.

Strengths:

Okongwu is one of those defenders that doesn’t need to have a jump shot to succeed. A powerful post player, he’s dominated in the paint offensively, who shows his strength when under the rim. He’s also become a solid pick-and-roll player, certifying himself as a suitable big-man for the right playmaker. One of his main skills is his rebounding ability. Okongwu excels as a dominant rebounder, especially at his height of 6’9. Okongwu’s big, athletic frame is perfect for the NBA and he uses his body to perfection, not afraid to do the dirty work in the paint.

But Okongwu’s best asset is rather his defensive ability. Okongwu has certified himself as an excellent shot-blocker and perfect rim-defender. Okongwu has the great ability to avoid foul trouble, which is needed for most teams in the NBA.

Weaknesses:

Okongwu has some issues with his game, especially with his lack of spacing on the floor. For a power forward in the NBA, it’s almost essential for all players to have some kind of jump shot. Okongwu lacks the floor-spacing ability that almost all NBA big men have nowadays, which can certainly call for some dramatic improvements.

Another issue in Okongwu’s game is his lack of play-making and poor passing ability. Though not a primary asset to have, it’s useful to have a passing ability to become more hybrid in his game.

As we head closer and closer to the 2020 NBA Draft, Onyeka Okongwu is projected to be picked high in this year’s draft, but as March Madness arrives, his projection will solidify. With USC entering March with a 21-9 record, which should just scrape them into the tournament, Okongwu will look to impress in front of more eyes. His draft spot will become clearer eventually.

Some NBA Mock Drafts have Okongwu above James Wiseman, which sounds a bit surreal but it could be true. It’s hard to compare the two, one hasn’t played the whole college season while the other one has.

Over March, Onyeka Okongwu will become a name that’ll soar up the mock drafts as his games become more accessible for the public. It’s likely that Okongwu will make waves in the NBA when drafted, especially if he is drafted to a team such as the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Charlotte Hornets, two teams that are in need of a dominant power forward to boost their roster.

Okongwu has massive potential to be a killer in the NBA, and most casual fans don’t know who he is. He’s looking like a beast already, but as he further develops, he’ll become way better.

Depending on where he’s drafted, Onyeka Okongwu will more than likely become a solid player in the NBA when that time comes.