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With the NBA draft approaching, FantasyPros will be rolling out draft profiles for some of the big-name prospects available. We will be breaking down their talents while examining the likely landing spots and expectations for their future in the NBA and fantasy. Without further ado, here is our look at Jahlil Okafor of Duke.
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Coming out of Chicago, Okafor entered his freshman year at Duke with high expectations. After all, he was co-MVP of the 2014 McDonalds All-American game and earned recognition as National Player of the Year from Parade, USA Today and McDonald’s. He even earned preseason Collegiate National Player of the Year honors.
Okafor’s one and only season in college was a widespread success. The center averaged 17.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, as he earned USBWA National Freshman of the Year and ACC Player of the year honors. Despite finishing second to Frank Kaminsky for the National Player of the Year Award, Okafor, and his fellow Blue Devils ultimately got the best of the Badgers’ center. Duke defeated Wisconsin to win the 2014-15 NCAA National Title.
Since declaring for the NBA Draft, Okafor has been projected as a top 3 pick with a high possibility of being taken No. 1 overall. At 6’11” and 272 pounds, he possesses the size to thrive as a center at the NBA level. Okafor has shown excellent quickness and agility for a player of his stature.
On the offensive end, he excels with his back to the basket where he can show off his strength, nimble footwork, and finesse. On the rare occasion he got the ball outside of the paint, Okafor did well facing the basket and creating offense off his dribble. As with most big men, Okafor struggles at the free throw line, as he only hit 51 percent from the charity stripe in college.
Okafor’s defense is a part of his game that needs improvement. At times, he did not show the energy on the defensive end of the floor, especially on the glass. While his offensive rebound rate was one of the best in college, his 18.2% defensive rebound percentage was disappointing. The tools are there to be a plus defender, but Okafor needs to stay motivated without the ball in his hands.
Okafor’s likely destinations in the draft will be either Minnesota at No. 1 or the Lakers at No. 2. If selected by either team, Okafor will immediately become the most talented big man on the roster and will find himself as the starting center. In Minnesota, he would find more competition for minutes, as Nikola Pekovic, when healthy, and Gorgui Dieng have proven to be reliable options at the five. With the Lakers, though, there is no real threat for minutes, as most of the players Los Angeles used at center last season are undersized. Also, the Lakers appear to be Okafor’s preferred destination. So there may be some extra hustle in his game if he finds himself wearing the purple and gold instead of the Timberwolves’ blue.
Whichever team Okafor finds himself on next season, he will be their most dynamic scoring big man. He should, with ease, average double-digit points, six-plus rebounds and about a block per game. With numbers like those as his floor, Okafor will find himself ranked in the top 10 of centers. He would be a top 75 overall pick in fantasy drafts due to scarcity at the position and his enormous upside.
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Dale Redman is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Dale, check out his archive and follow him @fantasytool.