PSO Scouting Report: C/F Onyeka Okongwu

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: PF/C

Hometown: Chino Hills, California

Team: USC

Class: Freshman

DOB (Age): 12/11/00 (Age 19)

Height: 6’9″

Weight: 245 lbs.

Facts to Know

Played at Chino Hills HS alongside the Ball brothers on the #1 ranked team in the nation in 2016
Onyeka’s brother died after a brain injury in a skateboarding accident in 2014. He wears number 21 in his honor
1st USC player since Taj Gibson to record a double-double in debut. Also had 8 blocks (a school record) in that game

Athleticism

Pros

Slightly undersized in height for a center but makes up for it in length; plays bigger than his measurements
Can leap off one or two feet either straight up or moving through the air; highly active around the rim
Quick feet for someone his size, has potential to guard the perimeter & blow by bigger/stiffer defenders
High energy which leads to freaky athletic plays; highlights on both ends
Runs the floor well with long strides, can maneuver his body well through tight spaces
Displays great coordination when catching and finishing around the rim

Cons

Athleticism leads to out of control and rushed plays from time to time
Lack of size and lower body strength will be an issue against the better bigs in the NBA (Embiid, Davis, etc.)

Grade: A-

NBA Skills

Pros

Elite defensive read-and-react ability and can protect the rim from all angles; prototypical shot blocker
Great rim runner in transition and will finish his own plays as well as clean up teammates misses on put-backs
Is a pick and roll threat on offense and can defend it well when switching or recovering
Has a good base of post moves, shows flashes of excellent spins, drop steps, and follow ups

Cons

Jump shot needs to develop, especially from three point range, or it will become his offensive kryptonite
Specific post fundamentals need work; hook shot release points, where back to basket catches are made, etc.
Ball handling skills are limited to a few dribbles in a half-court offense, not a threat in this area
Clogs the paint and can’t space the floor which will hurt many half court offenses
Not a great communicator, often criticized for not being vocal enough which is key for a big man

Grade: B-

Production

Pros

Rebounding (8.6 RPG) & Blocks (2.7 BPG) show Okongwu’s consistency producing in his role
Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 31.1; excellent overall production across the board
Excellent offensive (122.8) and defensive (88.5) ratings; makes an impact on both ends
Great foul numbers for a front court defensive-minded player (3.1 per 36 minutes); will stay in the game
Scored in double figures in 25 out of 28 games this season; frequently finds easy baskets each game
3.3 O-REB shows how often he creates 2nd chances for his team

Cons

Assists are not a part of his arsenal (1.1 per game); needs to do better at facilitating out of the post
Only 4 3PA all season; only make was a forced buzzer beater to end the half

Grade: A-

Risk

Pros

Defensive instincts and skills are already close to an elite NBA level
High-motor player that gives 110% effort and sets the tone on the defensive end
Displays quick moves in the post with back to the basket that can translate to an offensive threat in the post
Free throw form shows there is potential to develop jump shot
Still very young, will begin the season just after his 20th birthday
No history of injuries or character red flags

Cons

Not having an outside shot could be a problem if he is playing alongside another non-shooting big man
Lack of offensive skills (passing, shot creation, handles) could limit his role to being a defensive specialist
Despite high energy, film shows him taking plays off if not directly involved in the offense
Without more lower body strength, it could prevent him from guarding elite power forwards/centers

Grade: B+

Overall

Okongwu was first seen by the national basketball audience in highlight tapes of the #1 nationally-ranked Chino Hills team led by the trio of the Ball brothers. After his sophomore season, the Ball family left town, but Okongwu still had a fantastic high school career, winning a state championship and staying home to play for USC. His defensive skills shined at USC where he became an instant impact player. OO projects to have the same impact in the NBA with his elite defensive prowess and aggressive overall game.

Despite being only 6’9″, Okongwu has the ability to alter any shot thanks to his great timing and vertical leap. In the modern small-ball NBA, he could be an ideal center; locking down the defensive paint while rim-running and feasting on offensive put-backs. He showed some very promising moves in half-court sets, but there are still parts of his game he needs to develop more to become a complete player. Whichever organization ends up with Big O will have a player that can immediately start due to his defense. If his offense develops over the years, he could become a borderline All-Star and All-Defensive team staple with Bam Adebayo’s early success playing a role in Okongwu’s boosted draft stock considering the two’s very similar prospect profiles.

Pro Comp: Bam Adebayo (MIA)

Projected Round/Pick: Early/Mid-lottery

Prime Destinations: CHA (#3), CLE (#5), WAS (#9)

OVERALL Grade: B+