Jahlil Okafor Declares for 2015 NBA Draft: Latest Details and Reaction

Duke standout Jahlil Okafor has decided to forgo his remaining college eligibility to enter the 2015 NBA draft after one season with the Blue Devils.

Duke announced the news Thursday, via Adam Rowe of 247Sports.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski provided comments in a Duke press release:

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What a great decision! This is a tremendous opportunity for Jahlil and he has earned it. Obviously, he has done an incredible job here at Duke and he will always be a part of our Duke basketball family. We could not be happier for he and his family.

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Okafor immediately stepped into a spotlight role for Duke. Although Kentucky's success in recent years has caused many to become numb to the idea of freshman involvement, it's still notable for a first-year player to dominate the way Okafor did on many nights.

In many ways, the Chicago native is a throwback post player. He's at his best when he receives the ball on the block and can go to work. He showcased a variety of moves throughout his freshman campaign and is seemingly adding more to his repertoire.

He's not the type of big man who's going to step outside the arc to knock down jumpers. He doesn't possess high-end athleticism compared to what he'll face in the NBA, and his man defense needs some work. But he's really, really good when it comes to low-post offense.

Luke Winn of Sports Illustrated passed along comments from Duke teammate Tyus Jones, who praised the big man's willingness to accept his role: "Jahlil is one of the few big guys nowadays who takes pride in being a low-post big man. That's what separates him: that he's accepted what his best position is and is trying to perfect that craft."

As for protecting the rim, Okafor told Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times that it's an area he's spent a lot of time working on during his one year in college.

"That is one of my weaknesses," Okafor said. "I wouldn't argue with that. That's something I've been working with the coaches a lot this season, trying to get better at it."

It's something teams drafting early will need to take into account. That said, he's a likely top-three pick because of what he can do on offense. He shot 66.4 percent from the field with Duke because of the ease with which he can create high-percentage looks for himself and then convert on them.

One note in the Sports Illustrated article discusses how Okafor likes to emulate San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan. That's not to say he's going to become one of the best post players in NBA history, but rather, it illustrates the type of game he prefers to play.

He's not overly flashy and doesn't demand attention. Yet when you look at the box score after the game, he's usually pretty close to 20 points and 10 rebounds. Duncan was a far more polished defender coming out of college than the Duke product is, though.

All told, Okafor will hear his name called very early on draft day. His offensive ability should ensure he's able to make an instant impact in the NBA. His development is still far from finished, however. He must continue to improve, especially on the defensive end, to reach his full potential. 

Now, it's just a waiting game to find out where he lands.