PSO Scouting Report: F/G Isaac Okoro

PSO’s original Scouting Reports strive to be uniquely valuable in evaluating a player’s future outlook by focusing on the four main subjects that summarize a player’s likelihood of succeeding at the next level including: Natural Athleticism, developed NBA-Caliber Skills, proven Production, and overall Risk that each individual player presents to a team drafting him. For a full breakdown of PSO’s Scouting Reports, click here.

Bio

Pos: SF/SG

Hometown: Powder Springs, Georgia

Team: Auburn

Class: Freshman

DOB (Age): 1/26/01 (Age 19)

Height: 6’6″

Weight: 225 lbs.

Facts to Know

Okoro was the 2nd highest ranked recruit to commit to Auburn ever behind only Mustafa Heron (2016)
Won a Georgia HS State championship alongside 2020 5-star Auburn commit Sharife Cooper
Was selected to both the All-SEC 2nd Team and SEC All-Defensive Team as a Freshman

Athleticism

Pros

Great frame for a wing defender, long wingspan (6’9” unofficial) and strong throughout the body, no need to add weight
Very quick laterally; can stay with any man in isolation and great at playing help defense
Fast hip rotations and quick feet help him navigate his way around screens on the perimeter
Very balanced when in defensive stance and rarely gets knocked off his spot; low center of gravity is evident
Excellent at using his physicality on offense, plays strong through contact and gets physical with defenders
Second bounce is very solid, will win most rebound battles against players of similar stature

Cons

Initial vertical leap is average; can do just about everything on defense except for block shots around the rim
A little stiff when making quick movements with his feet

Grade: A-

NBA Skills

Pros

Great all-around defender who makes an immediate impact, can guard 1-4 and some smaller 5s
High IQ, not the most skilled offensive player, but makes the right decision and will not force bad shots
Showed no hesitation on the floor. Knows what he can do, is confident, and rarely makes a bad decision
Contact does not effect finishing (18 and-1’s in 2019-20); embraces the challenge of contested finishes
Put a good amount of step-back 3’s on film, showing the potential to hit those consistently
Underrated passer, was not a creator at Auburn but he possesses all the intangibles to make an excellent wing passer
Understands defensive schemes, constantly disrupting offensive flow, communication skills are solid also

Cons

Not an outside shooting threat, defenders were going under screens and sagging off throughout the year
Mechanics are a major issues, form is stiff and elbow dips low while loading up for shot
Not a great shot creator, mainly uses athleticism to overpower people instead of advanced skill moves
Handle is solid, but needs improvement in some areas, only utilized on the run during freshman year

Grade: B+

Production

Pros

Excellent free throw rate (4.7 FTA on 8.7 FGA); gets to the line with ease
2P% above 60 is good for a wing, means that he gets most of his buckets in the paint on high-percentage shots
Fouls are low (2.7 pg) for a top-tier defender; Doesn’t bite on pump fakes and defends with proper technique
True shooting percentage is still high (58.7%) despite the bad 3P%, better on offense than some numbers suggest

Cons

28.6% from behind the arc is the product of poor mechanics, this needs to be his #1 priority going into rookie season
Very low usage rate (19.6); Was not highly involved in the offense
FT% is very low (67%) for someone who gets to the line so much, he needs to convert those opportunities
Assist and rebound numbers were not impressive, both should go up since he is a “jack of all trades” type of player
Advanced defensive metrics were low, defensive rating: 101, defensive win shares .05

Grade: B-

Risk

Pros

Already physically ready for the NBA, no necessary changes need to be made to body
Great energy while on the court, plays all out, does not back down from anyone, and embraces physical play
Showed a knack for hitting big shots and delivering in the clutch
Defensive potential is very high, can be a perennial all-defensive team player
Very high floor as a lockdown defender who plays 30+ MPG
No major weaknesses on the court & has the potential to contribute in all facets of the game
Still very young, will turn 20 in January so lots of time to develop in various areas (shooting, handles, etc.)

Cons

Outside shooting issues are very concerning, worst case could be a Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scenario
Production was not great at Auburn, scoring potential is there but needs to be unearthed
If he cannot fix his free throw woes, he will become an overall offensive liability
Lackluster shot-creating and shot-making skills don’t bode well for his potential offensive contributions
Not a player that will fit in a system based on spacing the floor

Grade: B+

Overall

Despite being only 19 years old, Isaac Okoro is one of the most physically ready players in the NBA draft. He possesses an impressive basketball IQ and will to win along with his great frame. He came to Auburn as a highly touted recruit and immediately showed why by dominating on the defensive end of the floor. Both his on-ball skills and team defense instincts are main reasons why NBA scouts are high on Okoro. No one is more confident than Isaac himself, who recently said he “deserves to be the #1 pick” in the upcoming draft.

At the next level, the Georgia native will look to make an immediate impact on the defensive end. He has all the skills to guard the majority of NBA wings from day one. His intangibles on offense are exactly what teams want from a wing, and he shows good promise as a passer and creator for others. The major questions all revolve around his jump shot. His form and mechanics are not great and he did not shoot well from behind the arc or the free throw line during his freshman season. Even with offensive improvement to be made, Okoro will still be a high draft pick due to his defensive ability and work ethic.

Pro Comp: Jaylen Brown

Projected Round/Pick: Mid/Late lottery

Prime Destinations: WAS (#9), SAS (#11), NOP (#13)

OVERALL Grade: B+