Chicago Bulls NBA Draft: These prospects needed March Madness

Forward Isaac Okoro, Auburn

The Auburn Tigers were set for a tournament run this year, and forward Isaac Okoro is a big reason why they saw so much success. On the surface, Okoro’s box scores wouldn’t necessarily blow you away. But, it’s a lot of the little things that make him one of the better players in this draft.

On the season, Okoro averaged 12.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.9 steals per game. Like I said, it’s nothing mind-blowing.

But, in such a weak class, Okoro is looked at as arguably the best wing player there is. He stands 6-foot-6 and has an impact on games in more way than just one. His presence is felt especially on the defensive end, where he shines the most.

Okoro isn’t going to knock down a tremendous amount of threes, but he does have a favorable jump shot. He’s a smart player who converts defense into offense, and rarely gets into foul trouble. In fact, he averaged just 2.7 fouls per game this past season.

At only 19 years of age, Okoro has plenty of time to grow as a player. Under the right leadership and coaching (obviously not the current Bulls) he could blossom into a stronger two-way player.

Right now, Okoro is projected to go anywhere from the fourth overall pick on down to eight or nine, depending on who you ask. A surging performance in the tournament could have tipped the scales a bit in terms of where he’s drafted, especially if he showed more on the offensive side of things. For now, though, he is still a question mark. How good will he be as a pro?