Full NBA Draft scouting report for Isaac Okoro: Finding his strengths, weaknesses, and potential fit on the Atlanta Hawks.
The 2020 NBA Draft may be one of the weaker ones in recent years, but it does not lack youth and potential. Even if they didn’t see success in college, there are several young players who were stars in high school or enjoyed brief stints overseas that will intrigue teams like the Atlanta Hawks.
Auburn’s Isaac Okoro embodies youth and potential. The 19-year-old exceeded expectations in the SEC as a freshman. He entered college as a probable four-year player and quickly emerged as one of the top prospects of this draft.
Isaac Okoro Scouting Report:
Isaac Okoro’s Strengths:
Disruptive Defense
Okoro is easily one of the best defenders in this draft class, if not the best. He was one of the best defenders in college basketball this past year and can interchangeably guard four positions- all five in a small-ball lineup. He averaged just under a steal and a block per game, but those statistics alone are not indicative of the impact he has on the defensive side of the ball.
He uses his speed and strength to disrupt opposing players with the ball. His on-ball defense is exceptional for his age; his defensive potential is through the roof.
Physicality
At 6’6” and 225 lbs, Okoro already has an NBA ready body. He uses his strength and physicality excellently to position himself for rebounds and to execute on the defensive side of the ball.
He is a high-flyer who brings energy on both ends of the floor. Motor and effort are not an issue with this prospect.
Youth/Potential
Okoro turned just 19 in January. He was an elite defender at the collegiate level as a freshman and has the potential to be one of the best defenders in the NBA. His youth and effort level help make up for any weaknesses he shows on offense.
There is time to develop Okoro into a more polished player. He is already a great defender. If he is put into the right situation, his athleticism and motor should be used to help develop his offensive skill set.
Inside Scoring
Another strength thanks to his physicality and effort level, Okoro scores well inside the paint. He uses his strength and build to position himself to finish inside. He flashed serious athletic ability and attacked the rim with ferocity at Auburn.
Isaac Okoro’s Weaknesses:
Perimeter Scoring
Shooting and spacing is something that is pivotal in the NBA. Okoro shot just 29% from deep in his lone season at Auburn. He did show some flashes of hitting shots in transitions, but Okoro is just not known for being a spot-up shooter.
Shooting has taken over the league and Okoro will need to develop a more consistent outside shot to have a better chance at succeeding in the NBA.
Ball-Handling/Playmaking
Coming out of high school, Okoro was known to have shaky ball-handling. He definitely made improvements to his ball control in his lone season at Auburn, but he still needs to get better if he will ever create his own offense against NBA defenders.
Okoro only averaged 2 assists per game last season. While he wasn’t necessarily asked to do that much in the passing game for Auburn, pro teams will need him to develop a greater offensive skill set, and this includes setting up his teammates.
Free Throw Shooting
Games are often won at the free-throw line. Okoro hit just 67.2% of his free throws from a small sample size.
Okoro is excellent at getting to the rim and drawing contact, but to bring that part of his game to the next level, he needs to bring up his free throw percentages. He is going to get fouled a lot driving to the hoop, and the team that drafts him will need him to capitalize off of trips to the charity stripe.
Film Session:
Defensive Highlights
What to watch for:
- How quickly he gets to the ball/closeouts.
- Athleticism.
- How he keeps the ball handler in front of him.
Offensive Highlights
What to watch for:
- Inside scoring.
- Transition shooting.
- Needs to improve as a creator.
Fit with the Atlanta Hawks:
Okoro makes a lot of sense for the Hawks. He can come in and be a part of the wing rotation immediately. On the other hand, Atlanta drafted De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish last year. All three of them have similar roles on the defensive side of the ball and play similar positions. Okoro would immediately be the best defender out of the three of them and would compete for starting minutes.
Where he doesn’t fit perfectly is offensively. Having shooters alongside Trae Young is important for spacing and scoring. Okoro is not a great shooter. Coach Pierce and the rest of the staff would be pressed to develop his offensive abilities in order for him to excel in Atlanta’s system. If the Hawks do not land in the top three picks when the NBA lottery takes place, Okoro should be at or near the top of their board.
The Bottom Line:
Isaac Okoro wasn’t projected to be a one-and-done prospect coming out of high school. He played his way into being one of the top ten prospects in what is considered a weak draft class. His defensive potential is maybe the highest out of any player in the class: he can be an All-NBA defender if he reaches that potential. His youth and athleticism may just be enough for a rebuilding team to take a chance on him in the top ten picks.
Should the Atlanta Hawks draft Isaac Okoro?