Welcome back to this year’s NBA Draft preview series. To see other prospects, be sure to check out the other previews here.
Today’s prospect is Ebuka Okorie, who is likely to slide in as my top choice of the available guards in the Raptors’ draft range. We haven’t really seen a college guard carry this much of an offensive load since Trae Young’s days as an Oklahoma Sooner, and Okorie is doing it with impressive efficiency and control as a lead ball handler. The Raptors really need to hit on some talent in this draft, and Ebuka Okorie looks like the next clear-cut all-star guard who could fall into the Raptors’ lap at the 19th selection.
Ebuka Okorie
Height: 6’1.25 | Wingspan: 6’7.75 | Weight: 186 lbs | Age on Draft Day: 19
College: Stanford | NBA Position: PG | Role: Shot Creator
Stats provided by tankathon.com
Ebuka is simply an explosive athlete. Capable of some serious speed in a straight line while being one of the best in the draft at directional changes and deceleration, Ebuka’s speed is dizzying for those watching him, let alone those foolish enough to try and defend him on his drives. His explosive first step helped him become one of the best rim finishers in college basketball.
Ebuka averaged 8 rim attempts per game, converting at a rate of 54.5%. Not an outlandish number on its own, but the insanely high volume of attempts while converting an above average efficiency for a smaller guard speaks volumes about his talent at generating touches and finishing effectively.
Ebuka is simply the best guard in the class at controlling his body and verticality. Combined with his ridiculously tight handles, he possesses all the tools to remain an effective slasher and rim-scoring guard at the NBA level, his height simply doesn’t matter when he has the skill and athleticism to nullify any defensive presence.
89% of his makes at the rim were unassisted, speaking to his supernatural shot creating abilities. Even if he didn’t make his shots, Ebuka generated 7.3 free throw attempts per game and made 83% of them. He lets the game come to him and knows how to use his body to generate contact and get calls.
Ebuka is a Moreyball dream, shooting 80% of his jumpshots from beyond the arc, and converting at a 35% rate. He also converted 34% of 108 off-the-dribble three point attempts, so there are very encouraging signs of his ability to generate offence off-the-dribble away from the basket. It’s difficult to see him as anything other than an effective scorer from range and inside. He generated efficient looks both in isolation and as a P&R ball handler, so he’s not a one-trick pony either.
oTS provided by draftballr.com
The assist numbers are low, but Ebuka is a positive playmaker with a 23.9% AST rate and a 1.9 AST/TO ratio. Having a sky high usage of 30.1% while only averaging 1.9 TOs show just how well he takes care of the ball.
oTOV provided by draftballr.com
His explosive athleticism translates to the defensive side of the ball where he plays actively and with effort. A 2.7% STL rate combined with the rakes that he has for arms means that he should at least be able to be a solid guard defender in the NBA. Raptors fans should know not to judge smaller guards on their height alone when it comes to defensive prowess. He competes on the defensive end without ever really fouling that much either.
At 6’1.25 barefoot, Ebuka likely will top out around 6’3 in shoes on an NBA court. I understand the size concerns in a league that is becoming more obsessed with height, but with a near 6’8 wingspan, I don’t think he’ll be as big of a liability on defence as some might believe.
I don’t think you want Ebuka to put on too much weight, lest you impact his speed, but he could probably afford to top out in the 190-200lb range and be comfortable with his length and strength aiding him on the defensive end.
I’d like to see Ebuka evolve a bit more as a playmaker. It’s difficult to project a floor general here, but he shows encouraging signs with his ability to take care of the ball. He tended to hunt his own shot a lot at Stanford, which was fine due to how effective he was as an offensive option, but he’ll need to get used to involving his teammates more and especially stepping up his drive-and-kick game at the NBA level against bigger defenders.
I don’t have many concerns about his long term outlook as a shooter, but the release point on his show is low which is something to monitor in his early NBA career.
I think we’ve come to realize that Immanuel Quickley isn’t the long-term solution at point if the goal is to win another championship. Ebuka can slot in as a backup in the short term with the eventual goal of taking over the reigns at the starting point guard position. With his ability to generate rim pressue, this will create more space for guys like Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes to operate. It will also allow the team to slow down the game in key moments when Ebuka generates fouls. On the defensive end, I don’t really see any evidence to suggest Ebuka couldn’t at least hold his own against opposing guards due to his incredibly long wingspan and active defensive effort that he plays with.
The Raptors haven’t really had a guard as offensively gifted as Ebuka Okorie in the modern era, and I really struggle to see how he would be anything other than a seamless fit beside Scottie Barnes.
I’m really not concerned about a player’s size if they possess the skills to succeed at the next level. Ebuka is arguably the most explosive guard in the draft and easily the best at changing speeds and direction to generate offence at the rim. With a USG rate above 30%, Ebuka showed that he can handle heavy offensive loads while maintaining his impressive efficiency and control over the basketball.
If Ebuka Okorie is available at 19, I really think he’s a no-brainer selection.
Statistical profile provided by draftballr.com
Consensus NBA Draft Range: 15-25
Brendan’s Ranking: 14th
Floor Projection: Microwave scoring guard in limited situational minutes off the bench.
Ceiling Projection: All-star capable of carrying a team’s offensive load with positive defensive flashes (Tyrese Maxey-esque).