The 2015 NBA Draft is an extremely highly touted draft with a number of prospects who look like they could be potential stars in the NBA. One of the top prospects all season has been Duke center, Jahlil Okafor.
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On a day when seven players from the Kentucky Wildcats declared for the draft, Okafor officially declared as well according to Mark Armstrong of ABC 11 WTVD:
Official per #Duke — Jahlil Okafor to the NBA Draft.
— Mark Armstrong (@MarkPArmstrong) April 9, 2015
His head coach at Duke, Mike Kryzyzewski, was extremely happy and proud of Okafor and the decision he made:
K comments about Okafor: pic.twitter.com/HAy1hvv0FD
— Mark Armstrong (@MarkPArmstrong) April 9, 2015
Okafor has been the top prospect according to most draft experts for the vast majority of the season. He averaged 17.3 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting over 66 percent from the field. Many view him as the most polished big man prospect to enter the draft since Tim Duncan.
Some question Okafor’s lack of elite athleticism as a worry. He is also not as good of a defender as fellow top pick possibility Karl-Anthony Towns, but still averaged over a block per game.
In helping Duke to win the National Championship, Okafor was excellent early on in the tournament, especially his 26-point performance on 12-16 from the field against San Diego State. Though he only scored 10 points in the National Championship game against Wisconsin, he came through with two major baskets down the stretch.
Okafor, along with Towns, will almost definitely be one of the first two players taken in the draft. It is still unknown at this time whether his Duke teammates, Tyus Jones and Justise Winslow, will also be entering as well.
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