A gold medalist in the 2018 FIBA U17 tournament, Isaac Okoro is one of the most unique prospects in the draft class. As a 5 star freshman, Okoro averaged 13 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2 APG, 1 SPG, 1 BPG, and 2 TOPG on shooting splits of 51/29/67. Below is his full scouting report:
Name: Isaac Okoro
Height/Weight: 6’6/ 225
Wingspan/ standing reach: N/A
Hand size: N/A
Position: Wing
College: Auburn
Tools: Athleticism, defense, slashing
Pros:
- Good vision and passing instincts
- Plus in the drive & kick
- Excellent athleticism
- Quick first step
- Elite defensive upside
- High IQ and makes his teammates better
- Good finisher at the rim
- Reliable rebounder
- Excellent cutter and moves well off-ball
- NBA ready body
Cons:
- Low release on jumper
- Jump shot is an entire work in progress
Overall:
Isaac Okoro has a rare combination of defensive ability, slashing, and playmaking. As a wing, he offers coveted skills, even without a threatening jump shot. His upside is limitless if he can put together his jump shot. Okoro’s footwork is quick and sound from a stand-still on jump shots, but he still needs to improve his release and overall touch on his shot, indicated by his free throw percentage.
The obvious knock on Okoro is his jump shot, which is warranted. However, despite not having immediate shooting value, he offers value offensively in other areas. Okoro’s intelligence makes it natural for him to thrive as a cutter thanks to his off-ball movement and impeccable timing on cuts. With the ball, he has playmaking abilities as well as a strong first step and outstanding finishing ability. While his slashing may be more limited in the NBA due to the lack of a threatening jump shot, his first step and strength make him someone defenses can’t easily sag off of without consequences.
Defensively, it’s hard to find a hole of any size in Okoro’s game. He’s versatile due to size, strength, athleticism and length, and is intelligent enough to know what mismatches offensive players will try to expose. Okoro is good enough to make a noticeable positive impact defensively in his first year, making him a strong target for a team looking to boost a winning core. This makes Okoro a top target for teams looking to trade up in the draft.
NBA Comparison: Floor: Bruce Brown/ Lu Dort; ceiling: Andre Iguodala
Projected draft range: 4-11
Fit with Mavs:
As I mentioned previously, Okoro fits best on a team looking to make noise in the playoffs immediately. Dallas is likely his best overall fit simply due to his dynamic cutting in the motion offense next to an elite passer in Luka Doncic, and the defensive holes the Mavs have on the perimeter. If Okoro slips beyond the 9th pick, Dallas should be on the phones doing whatever they can to get a deal done to select him. Okoro is the glue-guy type that every championship team needs, and his timeline is similar to the rest of the young Dallas core. As a player that has only taken 4 losses in the last 2 years across all levels of competition, Okoro brings a winning pedigree that Dallas has been searching for to pair next to Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis.
Shot Chart:
