NBA Draft 2020: Big Board 2.0
9. ONYEKA OKONGWU, Big, USC
Onyeka Okongwu was the surprise of this year’s draft cycle. He went from a relative unknown to a potential top-five pick. He’s arguably the top big in 2020, and he’ll battle Wiseman for that title up until the final whistle blows. For my money, the title is his.
At first glance, Okongwu is a shade undersized for his position at 6-foot-9. He makes up for it, however, with elite athleticism and supreme efficiency around the basket. He converted on 61.6 percent of his shots from the field this season, and he’s already a vaunted lob threat in the middle.
The other side of the ball is what cements Okongwu’s status as a top-10 prospect. He’s a monster defensively, devouring shots at the rim and using his springboard athleticism to his advantage. He’s well equipped to defend in space, and he has all the makings of a premier modern center. He will make a team very happy.