Ochai Agbaji 6'6" 217 lbs

Ochai Agbaji catapulted up the NBA Draft boards in his senior year using spectacular shooting and solid defense. Agbaji won BIG 12 POY and Final Four MOP to cap off his huge year. Agbaji projects as a 3 and D player in the NBA that perfectly embodies that role. He should be able to shoot with his perfect form effectively as soon as he steps on an NBA court. Agbaji flys up and down the court and should thrive in transition as well as in a spot up shooting role. While his upside appears limited as a 3 and D without much on ball creation, there is certainly a place for him in the league for years to come. Where Agbaji's ceiling can be raised is if he can become a lockdown defender rather than a competent one like he is at the moment. He has the athletic frame to be switchable but he does better guarding 2 guards rather than quick point guards and time will tell how he fares against NBA level taller wings.

Strengths:

• He has a role in the NBA as a 3 and D wing.

• Shot the cover off the ball in his senior year (41% from 3 as top player for National Champion).

• Agbaji runs the floor like a deer.

• Good NBA athlete.

• Capable of attacking closeouts though not spectacular.

• The ball doesn't stick in his hands.

Concerns:

• Can be passive at times and was forced to be the MAN in year 4 after he could have been prior.

• Not an exceptional defender but a solid one but that limits his ceiling.

• Had a few too many turnovers as a senior. Does not create well for others but is not asked to do so often.

Ochai Agbaji is the perfect example of a player taking NBA feedback and bettering his game according to the feedback. For what it's worth, I wanted my Utah Jazz to look at Agbaji in the mid second round range last year expecxting good defense and solid shooting. Agabaji now projects as a very good shooter who proved he can shoot in more than stand-still situations. He follows the pathway set by older shooters like Cam Johnson and Desmond Bane to be immediately successful shooting the ball and contributing to winning teams off of the bat. Agbaji, in my eyes will be a perennial top 7 or 8 rotation player who can start depending the team and is capable of scoring 12 ppg for a year while playing good defense and if he becomes a better defender, he can make himself a rich rich man because 3 and D's with good speed are very coveted when they reach the free agent market. There's no perfect comp for Agbaji, but he reminds me a little of a slightly worse defensively Reggie Bullock/ Danny Green or a smaller Cam Johnson.

Being 22 at the time of the draft, Agbaji is pretty old. Still, he is as talented as any player in this draft. He has a high motor and plainly, plays winning basketball. He’s a stellar shooter from deep and can score from anywhere on the floor. He’s a good defender and plays solid, versatile, defense. He is a good playmaker and self creator who sees the floor well. His upside isn’t the highest, but he has an extremely high floor. He has a great understanding of the game. He is a threat both in the catch and shoot, and off the dribble. Agbaji is a good decision maker and is great off the ball. He always knows how to get to the right spot at the right time. Though he isn’t the fastest, he plays well in the open floor. You might be wondering why he isn’t higher on my board, and that is because of his age. If he was 3 years younger, he would easily be a top 8 pick.

Comparison: Joe Harris

Projected Draft Range: 15-35

Best Team Fits: Boston, New Orleans, Portland

Height 6'6

Weight 215 lbs

Wingspan 6'10

DOB 4/20/00 (Draft Age: 22)

Pre-Draft Team Kansas Jayhawks

Offense

• Quick release C&S, no wasted motion.

• Has become a flamethrower from deep. Huge development in his game. Has truly become an elite skill.

• Sound spatial awareness for relocation.

• Comfortable off-dribble.

• Lob threat, good verticality.

• Great athlete in transition and with space.

Defense

• Solid defensive effort.

• Great on closeouts, gets the most out of his length.

• Versatile defender. Great athleticism in space.

• Fluid hip mobility.

• Does really well in P&R situations and coming off-screens.

Swing Factors

Role

• LOW:

• HIGH:

Player analysis

Ochai Abadji was a senior at Kansas last year and is the top draft prospect in this year's senior class, he projects to be a reliable player in almost every major skill. Abadji is very versatile but his main strength is his shooting touch and defense. He is good on and off the ball for defense because of his experience playing college ball, Ochai can guard all kinds of wings and forwards at a high level and will fit into NBA defenses as a team defender almost instantaneously. On offense he can shoot from all three levels but will most likely serve as a three point shooter in the league because the ball won’t be in his hands nearly as much as it was in college. I like Ochai’s passing but I can’t see it shining in the NBA because he isn’t a league level ball handler and I don’t see him in that big of role with any winning teams. Abadji will most likely be another quality role player who will plug into a starting lineup as a solid 3 & D wing player, the highest I personally see his ceiling in terms of number production is as a ball handler who is in the 18 ppg range playing for a mediocre team so I would lean towards wings like Johnny Davis over Ochai.

Projection

Draft range: [ 11 - 21 ]

Comp: [ Desmond Bane ]

Strengths: Shooting and Scoring and defense Weaknesses: Older and Playmaking/Creation

High Side Projection: Miles Bridges/De'Andre Hunter Low Side Projection: Cam Reddish/Jae Crowder

Ideal Role: Secondary Scorer with Playmaking Guard

Draft Range: 9-23

Result: 14- CLE

My thoughts:

Athleticism: 7/10 Size: 4/5 Defense: 7/10 Strength: 3/5 Quickness: 6/10 Jumpshot: 9/10 Finishing: 3/5 NBA Ready: 5/5 Ball Handling: 6/10 Passing: 5/10 Intangibles: 4/5 Potential: 7/10 TOTAL: 66/100 = Late Lottery/Mid First

Ochai is a spot up shooter who has the ability to be a three and D player. He also can get to the basket well and shows great upside. His physical though, might not translate to his game in the NBA.

Celling: Star/ RJ Barrett

Floor: Starter/ Garry Trent Jr.

Pros:

• Elite Catch & Shoot ability

• Plus athlete/lob catcher with his high jump off two feet

• Good defender, especially on ball

Cons:

• Lack of in between game: he either shoots 3s or finishes at the rim, ineffective in the midrange

• Can't really create his own shot

• Can disappear for long stretches on the offensive end

Ochai projects as a 3&D wing/role player that can be effective when surrounded by playmakers.

Pros

• Great 3 point shooter especially from the corners

• great cutter especially on backdoors

• lob threat

• great laterally on the perimeter

• switchable defender who has the potential to guard 1-4

Cons

• creates little separation for himself off the bounce

• slow driver, lacks quick first step

• left hand can be a liability at times

• needs to improve his handle