Chuma Okeke

Catchall · Post #1 » by **Catchall** » Fri Mar 8, 2019 6:44 am

It's time for Okeke to have his own thread. He's a 6'8" / 230 lb. soph with a 7' ws playing well on both ends at Auburn. Currently averaging 11.5 ppg with nearly 7 rpg, 1.6 spg, and 1.2 bpg.

He's a somewhat plus athlete with good feel, quick defensive reactions and 37% 3-pt shooting, making him compare well with other big wings and combos like OG Anunoby, Stanley Johnson and Jaylen Brown. Right now he's a bit of a sleeper, but when it's said and done I would expect him to be a top 20 or so pick if he enters the draft.

Watch on YouTube

No-Man · Post #2 » by **No-Man** » Fri Mar 8, 2019 10:39 am

He is nowhere similar to those guys, he is big and has measurements but he isn't a super athlete of any kind and can shoot+has feel, he is more in the Jared Dudley/Kenrich Williams mold than anything

top40 100% for me

Stillwater · Post #3 » by **Stillwater** » Fri Mar 8, 2019 4:48 pm

I love the defensive ability of this guy, he hustles on every possession and can shoot it some. Solid NBA role player for sure.

clyde21 · Post #4 » by **clyde21** » Fri Mar 8, 2019 4:57 pm

Fischella wrote:He is nowhere similar to those guys, he is big and has measurements but he isn't a super athlete of any kind and can shoot+has feel, he is more in the Jared Dudley/Kenrich Williams mold than anything

top40 100% for me

i was thinking ceiling somewhere around Trevor Ariza-ish

No-Man · Post #5 » by **No-Man** » Fri Mar 8, 2019 6:16 pm

clyde21 wrote:
Fischella wrote:He is nowhere similar to those guys, he is big and has measurements but he isn't a super athlete of any kind and can shoot+has feel, he is more in the Jared Dudley/Kenrich Williams mold than anything

top40 100% for me

i was thinking ceiling somewhere around Trevor Ariza-ish

He is not that athletic really

Catchall · Post #6 » by **Catchall** » Fri Mar 8, 2019 7:35 pm

He's actually a pretty good athlete. He has a quick first jump and second jump that helps him grab rebounds. He's got good hands and feet. His steal and block rates are great. He just doesn't have an explosive first step.

Watch on YouTube

Stillwater · Post #7 » by **Stillwater** » Sat Mar 9, 2019 4:27 am

Torrey Craig with a better j

Post #8 » by **GimmeDat** » Sat Mar 9, 2019 12:33 pm

Good size, length, frame, I could see him not being a great quick-twitch guy but otherwise looks pretty functionally effective as an athlete. Shooting form and numbers are promising. This guy might be a top 40 guy for sure, will need to watch more.

doordoor123 · Post #9 » by **doordoor123** » Sat Mar 9, 2019 3:11 pm

When you first see him you like him, but when you watch enough games with him you see his limitations. He’s okay, not a lot of upside. Not really a good defender, but he hustles and goes after the ball, he’s strong and long. I see him as a long time rotation player at the next level, but I wouldn’t waste a first round pick on him.

Stillwater · Post #10 » by **Stillwater** » Sat Mar 9, 2019 5:40 pm

His conference play and going forward will definitely get him drafted in the late first if not sooner. Remains an underrated prospect apparently by some of the comments on these boards. Is he worth a top 20 pick? maybe maybe not...but in this draft I wouldn't be surprised at it if he went as high as 20.

RipCity71252 · Post #11 » by **RipCity71252** » Sat Mar 9, 2019 8:00 pm

Okeke vs Hachimura is an interesting discussion. Very similar physically, but impact the game in very different ways.

If I'm trying to build a winning team, it's Okeke for me.

Catchall · Post #12 » by **Catchall** » Sat Mar 9, 2019 9:04 pm

Good game from Okeke today against Tennessee -- 22 pts (9-14, 3-5 from 3-pt) with 5 rebs and 4 stls.

As a prospect, I think he's right there with PJ Washington and might be a more mobile, more switchable defender.

Generic highlights --

Watch on YouTube

doordoor123 · Post #13 » by **doordoor123** » Thu Mar 14, 2019 12:12 am

RipCity71252 wrote:Okeke vs Hachimura is an interesting discussion. Very similar physically, but impact the game in very different ways.

If I'm trying to build a winning team, it's Okeke for me.

I think they’re pretty different. What I like about Okeke is that he belongs in the NBA, he has the offensive game for it. Knows where guys are on the floor, gets to the right spots on the floor, knows when to roll and where to be on the perimeter also good at reading and reacting. He’s a guy who, with time, can be a good starter. Not athletic, kind slow/doesn’t explode off of one foot and isn’t a flashy player. He’s not going to pull-up for a mid range or show some flashy footwork. He plays within the flow of the game. The reason I’m not high on him is because I really liked Keita Bates-Diop and he just seems like a younger Bates-Diop, who just isn’t the same player in the NBA (at least not yet).

I honestly don’t even know what Hachimura is. The only things I like about him are his body, his ability to run the floor and his small flashes in the post. I also think he has the ability to hit that 16 footer consistently and that turnaround midrange shot he has, but I’m not confident he can become a much better 3 point shooter. His arc is ugly and the spin on the ball just looks bad.

Catchall · Post #14 » by **Catchall** » Fri Mar 15, 2019 3:33 am

Watch on YouTube

Catchall · Post #15 » by **Catchall** » Sun Mar 17, 2019 8:28 pm

Another good outing for Okeke in the SEC tournament final. He shot 5/9 from 3pt, and had 13 rebs and 3 stls to go with 18 pts. He outplayed Grant Williams on several possessions.

For people who don't think he's athletic, take a look at Jimmy Butler and see if Okeke doesn't have similar potential.

doordoor123 · Post #16 » by **doordoor123** » Mon Mar 18, 2019 6:41 am

Catchall wrote:Another good outing for Okeke in the SEC tournament final. He shot 5/9 from 3pt, and had 13 rebs and 3 stls to go with 18 pts. He outplayed Grant Williams on several possessions.

For people who don't think he's athletic, take a look at Jimmy Butler and see if Okeke doesn't have similar potential.

He’s really fluid. I still don’t think he’s very athletic, but he’s athletic enough. I have him st the fourth or fifth best power forward in the draft. After Williamson, Hunter and Doumbouya, It’s between him, Hachimura, Windler, Washington and Clarke and I think he’s the safest pick of the bunch.

Stillwater · Post #17 » by **Stillwater** » Mon Mar 18, 2019 12:13 pm

The most versatile forward defensively for a position less league in the draft really,the bbiq is very good by the looks of it and shines in his communication and leadership on the court.
I think he's a better 3-4 forward prospect than Washington who is strictly a 4 or small ball 5.

Catchall · Post #18 » by **Catchall** » Mon Mar 18, 2019 3:31 pm

Stillwater wrote:The most versatile forward defensively for a position less league in the draft really,the bbiq is very good by the looks of it and shines in his communication and leadership on the court.
I think he's a better 3-4 forward prospect than Washington who is strictly a 4 or small ball 5.

I agree. Okeke looks like a more switchable defender and can score more from the perimeter. I'd still like to see if he can play with the ball in his hands though.

Catchall · Post #19 » by **Catchall** » Mon Mar 18, 2019 9:10 pm

Watch on YouTube

Coeur · Post #20 » by **Coeur** » Tue Mar 19, 2019 4:06 pm

Fits around where you put cam Johnson in this draft. Easily a tier or so behind rui or KZ okpala.