Of all the prospects remaining when the Atlanta Hawks made their second first-round selection at pick 23 - they landed on St. John's' big man Zuby Ejiofor - and while some saw the immediate upside, many were skeptical of the impact he could have on an already deep roster.
Especially Atlanta, where the mold of a center they need has become increasingly clear. The dream, for most, was a stretch big who exceeds seven-feet in height.
While Ejiofor certainly isn't the latter, he may be much more of a stretch big than anyone realized. Through two summer league games, he's not only showing a willingness to let it fly, but consistency has followed.
Ejiofor adding a three-ball would only be a bonus
At the very least, the Hawks knew he wasn't going to be left alone on the perimeter by opposing defenses. While he wasn't a deadeye long-range shooter, he still shot above 30% from downtown in his final year of college.
Now, the biggest question mark regarding him was if he would be able to improve that mark at the next level. Summer league is no certain indicator, but it's clear that he has the confidence to pull - something most bigs of his specific archetype don't possess.
If he can keep it up, even in the slightest, it'll be yet another quality skill added to his arsenal. Ejiofor is one of the best rebounders in his class - both on the offensive and defensive glass - and has an incredible motor that simply can't be taught.
His versatility and adaptability have gotten him this far, and they'll be the biggest reasons he's able to find success in a modern NBA landscape that clearly prioritizes positional size.
Spending several years in college, in this day in age, makes players fall down draft boards. The experience he has, though, could be what ultimately lands him minutes in year one.
He's already gone through his most important development stage
The reason Asa Newell and Mo Gueye - two guys Ejiofor will be competing with for nightly minutes in Atlanta's rotation - have had such inconsistent roles in the league so far, is that they came into the league very young, and incredibly inexperienced.
Ejiofor is a bit of an older prospect, but it's clear to see why it may actually end up benefitting him both in the immediate and down the road.
He matches Atlanta's current timeline, maybe better than some who were already on the roster, and as long as he can shoot at a respectable clip from deep, his case for minutes simply could become undeniable.
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