J.P. Tokoto to Declare for 2015 NBA Draft: Latest Details and Reaction

North Carolina has a chance to be one of the best college basketball teams in the country next season, but it will have to chase a championship without J.P. Tokoto.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported Wednesday that the Tar Heel swingman is heading to the NBA after three seasons in college:

Tokoto averaged 8.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists this season for North Carolina and helped his team reach the Sweet 16 before it ultimately lost to Wisconsin. Although Tokoto rarely lit up the box score with head-turning scoring numbers, he was always one of the most exciting players on the floor because of his explosive athleticism and designation as one of college basketball’s best dunkers.

On paper, he is a 6’5” versatile forward who can play all over the floor. He didn’t shoot much from the outside, but he can attack the basket with that playmaking ability.

Still, Tokoto’s best chance at making an impact at the NBA level is on defense. He routinely guarded the opponent’s best player on a nightly basis for the Tar Heels and used his length and quickness to dart in and out of passing lanes and bother perimeter shooters. 

Despite the defensive prowess, this is a somewhat surprising decision because he is certainly not a lock to be a first-round pick. Sam Vecenie of CBS Sports believes Tokoto still has some work to do:

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I’m not hugely big on Tokoto. He’s a defensive stopper with a below average wingspan for a 3. Probably needs to be a 2, and in that case…

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) April 9, 2015"

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Most interesting part about this though is that Tokoto thinks Coach Williams doesn’t push him to be more than he is at UNC.

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) April 9, 2015"

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I’m not saying he’s right or wrong, I’m just saying it’s interesting that he thinks his best way to get to the NBA is to get away from UNC.

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) April 9, 2015"

Tokoto ultimately has the raw traits to succeed at the NBA level, especially with the game shifting toward athletic forwards who can defend. As is so often the case, his immediate success will likely depend on the situation he gets drafted into and the surrounding pieces.

He has the chance to be an elite defensive stopper at the next level, even if he is never a go-to scorer.