Dan Oturu had a massive breakout sophomore season at Minnesota, where he averaged 20 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.5 SPG, 2.5 BPG, and 2.8 TOPG on shooting splits of 56/36.5/71. Below is his full scouting report:
Height/Weight: 6’10/ 240
Wingspan/ standing reach: 7’4/ 9’2
Hand size: 9
Position: C
College/ country: Minnesota
Tools: Rebounding, athleticism, shooting
Pros:
- Excellent rebounder
- Possesses modern power forward traits
- Jump shooting upside
- Good finisher at the rim
- Very good athlete that plays above the rim
- Good lateral quickness
- Good individual P&R defender
- Quick first step out of the post; capable of putting the ball on the floor
- Adept at drawing fouls
Cons:
- Needs to defend without fouling
- Bites on up-fakes too often
- Awareness comes and goes
- Must improve team defense and reading offenses
- Should add strength, particularly in lower body
- Struggles against stronger post-oriented bigs
- Needs to improve ball security and reduce turnovers
Overall:
Oturu had incredible production as a sophomore, but still is raw as a prospect. To be blunt, he has to overcome his inconsistent awareness of the peripherals on the court when the play isn’t centered around him or his man. His lack of awareness is also shown when he bites on ball-fakes too often, which can neutralize his strong second jump. Lastly, he also needs to better understand offenses and how offenses are attacking weaknesses on the court.
However, it isn’t all bad defensively for Oturu. He has excellent athleticism, which benefits him on the defensive end. He is capable of switching onto wings due to his lateral quickness, which allows him to be efficient in the pick & roll defensively. He also has a good frame, and with the combination of agility, athleticism, and length, Oturu should be able to inch towards a positive defender as he continues to develop. The challenge for Oturu as he continues to refine his game is to learn how to effectively use his athleticism on the defensive end.
Offensively, Oturu is a modern big man. He has a good first step with long strides, allowing for him to take other big men off the dribble to the basket with ease. He also was dominant in the post, shooting 72% at the rim. Maybe most importantly, he has a growing jump shot that is consistent from mid range with the chance to be a 3 point shooter in the NBA. He will need to speed up his shot, but the shot could be a legitimate threat in the NBA. The other area where he has shown flashes in his offense is in passing. Again, playing to his awareness, he needs to refine his passing decision making, but he still has made a healthy amount of advanced reads, which gives me hope in Oturu being able to make quick reads out of contests to find an open teammate.
NBA Comparison: Floor: Justin Patton; ceiling: DeAndre Ayton
Projected draft range: 18-41
Fit with Mavs:
As a client of BDA sports, Oturu has a leg up in the sweepstakes for Dallas’ 18th pick. There have been rumors that Oturu could be picked around the 20s, and Dallas scouted Oturu excessively during the regular season. Oturu’s on-court fit is also a plus with Dallas. He fits the bill as a high upside play that Dallas has traditionally been chased in the middle of the draft. As a magnificent rebounder, dirty work big man with shooting upside, and potential to switch on the perimeter, the upside is almost too good to pass up on, even as the league continues to go small. The biggest challenge for the Mavericks’ coaching staff will be to develop Oturu’s raw talent and to develop his raw feel for the game.
Shot chart:
