Brew Hoop Community Draft Board - Pick #3

It wasn't quite the same level of blowout as for the top spot, but the number two player on our board still captured a comfortable majority of the votes. That player is Duke freshman center Jahlil Okafor, giving our board back-to-back big men at the top.

Okafor entered the college season as the presumptive #1 pick in the draft, riding a wave of recruiting hype out of high school. He was a preseason Player of the Year selection from many publications and earned preseason All-American honors. Players with this kind of hype are often victims of wild expectations, but Okafor was hardly a disappointment in his single college season.

A mild departure from the rim-protecting darling big men of late, Okafor is that rare big man prospect who makes his hay on offense. He sports a mature back-to-the-basket game (a skill with potentially hidden value) and can work well in the half court, whether on pick and rolls, face-ups, or otherwise. He's also an excellent offensive rebounder. He's not a great shooter, either on jumpers or at the foul line, but he could be the sort of player who creates space for shooters by drawing defenders in, perhaps a rarer commodity these days than the floor-stretching shooters every team covets.

Unfortunately his defense isn't on the same level, and there are concerns about his dedication on that end to go with poor recognition and instincts. He doesn't show the same grace on defense as on offense, and his defensive rebounding and shot blocking are disappointing given his size. The Bucks are perhaps uniquely equipped to compensate for a poor-defending center, though, and Okafor's offensive talent would be a welcome addition.

Brew Hoop Draft Board 2015

1. Karl-Anthony Towns - PF/C, Kentucky, Freshman - DraftExpress Profile
2. Jahlil Okafor - C, Duke, Freshman - DraftExpress Profile