Kingston Flemings is the main topic of discussion regarding the Atlanta Hawks' 2026 rookie class, and understandably so.
He's a veteran trapped in the body of a rookie. His maturity, playmaking and feel of the court are all beyond his years, giving him the perfect opportunity for an incredible first NBA season.
In all of this conversation, though, it shouldn't be forgotten that Zuby Ejiofor - the 22-year-old big man out of St. John's - landed with the same ball club just 15 picks later.
With an untraditional skillset for a modern big, Ejiofor is looking to make his mark early. If his recent comments at media day are any indicator, he won't have much trouble doing so.
Ejiofor is ready to help his team in any way - even if it means let it fly
While not expected to see the nightly rotation immediately, he's likely just one frontcourt injury or poor early-season stretch from being inserted. The organization is high on his ability to get accustomed quickly.
Maybe they wouldn't be if he didn't already show it. It's not the largest sample size, but in the games he suited up for in summer league, he looked like the squad's best, most impactful player.
His paint presence was top-notch, forcing opponents into uncomfortable looks and always out-rebounding the center on the opposite side. It was what he contributed offensively, however, that stood out the most.
Ejiofor was letting it fly from beyond the arc. As someone who didn't display any sort of high three-point volume in college, his confidence from outside was a huge development towards a potential year one lineup insertion. He talked about it at media day:
"Being able to just get out there and step up with confidence, the coaching staff has a great amount of support in me being able to take the shot and make the shot."
Zuby Ejiofor told me he expects his three-ball to come naturally
— Zach Langley (@ZachLangleyNBA) September 28, 2026
He's not going to force it but made sure to relay that the staff has a lot of confidence in him to let it fly when needed pic.twitter.com/fLG9dLB7UX
He continued, "Whenever I'm out there, just being able to find my flow within the offense, whatever it is, staying in the corner, offensive-rebounding, setting good screens, and finding my way."
His willingness to contribute in a variety of roles gives him a chance
He's not going to force anything.
"I know I'm not going to be hunting a lot of shots during the game, but whenever it's presented to me, I feel comfortable enough to be able to make it," Ejiofor said.
He doesn't sound like a rookie. At all. This is something both he and Flemings have in common, and it's why the organization has as much confidence in them as they do.
If he enters the season shooting like he did in summer league, though, maybe he would be better off hunting for looks. A smart offense feeds the hot hand, after all.
Add us as a preferred source on Google