Any team that is looking for a big man to be a cornerstone of their franchise in the 2020 NBA Draft should look no further than the 6-foot-9 and 245 pound power forward/center Onyeka Okongwo. This standout freshman from the USC Trojans basketball program had a true breakthrough 2019-20 season in nearly every per game stat.
Okongwo averaged 16.2 points per game, 8.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.7 blocks, while shooting 61.6 percent from the field and 72.0 percent from the free-throw line. He was fairly effective in getting to the charity stripe, averaging more than five free-throw attempts per game. And getting it done once he gets there is key.
Moreover, Okongwo is an absolute stud on both ends of the floor, evident in his 122.8 offensive rating and 88.5 defensive rating. A lot of that awesome production should translate right away to the next level too.
In most draft classes, the former top high school prospect in the nation and the Georgia Bulldogs superstar 6-foot-5 freshman shooting guard Anthony Edwards would fall as a top 10 pick. But maybe not in the top five.
Edwards is a polished prospect that still has a long way to go. A high ceiling is partially redeeming to his faults in his skill set. Edwards shot less than 30 percent from three-point range and averaged nearly three turnovers per game. But Edwards is also one of the most athletic guards in this draft class, can guard almost anyone on the perimeter, and create off the dribble from anywhere within 25-feet of the rim.
An 18 percent assist rate, two percent steal and block rates, showed the effectiveness of Edwards at times. But he has to get more consistent across the board at the next level.