Instead of preparing for a deep playoff run, the Golden State Warriors are lining up for a top pick in the 2020 NBA draft.
With the NBA schedule on pause and the college basketball season over due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Warriors’ front office, it’s time for Steve Kerr and Bob Myers to turn their attention to the upcoming draft class.
While James Wiseman, LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards might lead many mock drafts, the 2020 prospect pool has a bit of mystery to it. With there being no consensus top pick, Golden State scouts in the front office will need to do their homework.
A prospect that is quickly rising up draft boards is USC big man Onyeka Okongwu. The 6-foot-9 freshman was a teammate of the Ball brothers at Chino Hills high school and is now making a name for himself at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.
Could Onyeka fit with Golden State at the top of the draft? Warriors Wire looked at how the Trojan freshman could fit in the Bay Area.
Onyeka Okongwu
Height: 6-9
Weight: 245
College: University of Southern California
Class: Freshman
Position: Center
Stats: 28 G, 30.6 MPG, 16.2 PPG, 61.6 FG%, 72.0 FT%, 1-4 3PT FG, 8.6 REB, 2.7 BLK, 1.2 STL
In just 28 games, Okongwu quickly turned into one of the best finishers around the rim in the country. Okongwu is a high flyer that would immediately provide another lob-threat next to Marquese Chriss on Golden State’s frontline.
In his freshman season, Okongwu was one of the powerful players in the Pac-12 conference. The 245 pound 19-year-old brought a sense of physicality around the rim for the trojans.
Okongwu’s strength, anticipation and feel projects him as an immediate factor on the defensive end of the floor. With only one season of college basketball under his belt, Okongwu plays like a veteran on defense. The young center consistently uses his 7-foot-1 wingspan to not only block shots, but clog the passing lane with deflections.
Placing Okongwu next to Golden State’s former Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green would give the Warriors a formidable group against pick and roll offenses.
While Okongwu has immense potential, he is still a working project. The USC freshman plays like a true center underneath but doesn’t have overwhelming size at 6-foot-9.
Although the Trojan flashed soft touch at the rim while shooting 72% from the free-throw line in his freshman season. To be more of a threat in modern offenses, Okongwu will need to develop a consistent jumper.
However, if he lands in Golden State, playing around Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins will take some pressure off the rookie to contribute on offense.
Okongwu could give Golden State a high upside big that could quickly contribute on both sides of the game as a rim runner and protector.
