Cal got his first men’s basketball engagement for the Class of 2022 when ND Okafor, a 6-foot-9 tall man for the NBA Academy Latin America, allegedly pledged to the Bears, according to Jonathan Givorny of Draft Express via ESPN. .
Okafor, 18, averaged 16.1 points, 14.3 rebounds and five blocks for the Ireland Under-16 team at the European Championships three years ago.
According to 247Sports, Okafor chose Cal over offerings from Arizona, Baylor, Georgia, Creighton and TCU, among others. Okafor tweeted that Georgetown also offered him a scholarship last month.
Cal’s purse offer didn’t arrive until Thursday, and Okafor made a commitment to the Golden Bears on the same day.
The Bears are likely to lose their most productive indoor presence, Andre Kelly, after this season, although the 6-foot-9 Kelly would have the option of returning for another season since last season did not count towards eligibility. of a basketball player.
Cal’s other inside player is Lars Thiemann, 7, who is still in development.
Grant Anticevich is 6ft 9in tall, but he’s more of a perimeter player.
Okafor (# 22) blocks a shot in this video.
Here is Okafor throwing one:
And here’s a highlight as a member of the Ireland squad:
Okafor’s first name is Ndonwawanne, and he was born in Nigeria but raised in Ireland.
“The NBA Academy discovered my existence thanks to the European U16 tournaments. [in 2018], “Okafor told Rivals earlier this year. “They invited me to a Basketball Without Borders camp. I declined the offer, but later I continued and transferred from Dallas to the NBA Academy.
“I decided to go to the NBA Academy because of the development that they have done with other players. They take player development very seriously which is the main reason I came to it. academy. They helped me improve my shooting. A lot of coaches ask me if I can shoot. I haven’t had a chance to show it yet, but when I do they will see what I can do .
Here is the scouting report on Okafor from September 2020 by Outlook ID
Okafor has great physical tools for a 17 year old prospect. Standing at 6ft 8in with a +5 wingspan and shaped frame. Okafor has great strength on his upper body, medium width over his shoulders but a very strong and muscular chest and long, very strong arms. His overall size and frame give him the opportunity to get stronger in the future if he works out in the weight room. Her lower body needs more work, especially her legs.
Although Okafor is short for Center, he’s not just an integrated player in the painted area, thanks to his ability to dribble the ball, excellent reverse spin skills, and good body feints. While not a threat as a shooter, he does have other ways of clearing the ground. Plus, his vertical pop, ability to change direction in the air and on the ground, body coordination, and linear speed for his size make him a fluid and explosive athlete.
My concerns about him are more about his approach than his physical tools. I mean, if Okafor fails to dominate his opponent’s offense in one possession, he can force the problem into the next three or four offensive possessions. Of course, there are hits in these situations, but forcing play isn’t something you generally want to see.
It wouldn’t be fair to describe him completely with this label, however – a ‘force the problem’ type player, as he is not usually a selfish player who prioritizes scoring. I think he needs to learn to use his strength and fluidity better. Especially if he wants to be the “one” in four + “one” sets at the NBA level, where he can act as a perimeter driver or dunker scorer thanks to his athleticism and dribbling ability.
The way the NBA is heading towards positionless basketball, the mental aspect will play an important role in its development process. I think this mental shift will determine whether Okafor can become a player in the mold of Pascal Siakam / Sekou Doumbouya / Luc Mbah a Moute. If he can’t learn to use his physical tools, on top of that, if he can’t shoot around 30% on 3 points, he’ll likely become similar to Johnathan Williams.
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