Onyeka Okongwu's Draft Scouting Report: Pro Comparison, Updated Hawks Roster
USC forward Onyeka Okongwu was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft Wednesday.
Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report
Player: Onyeka Okongwu
Position: C
Height: 6'9"
Weight: 245
Pro Comparison: Derrick Favors
Scouting Report: It only took a few games in November to proclaim Onyeka Okongwu the class' No. 1 center. An explosive finisher, he's also developed into a skilled scorer inside 15 feet, equipped with footwork to separate and touch using both hands. He'll work as a target around the basket and featured option, as well as a defensive anchor in the paint, capable of switching and sliding his feet around the perimeter.
Let's take an early look at where Okongwu will slot in on the team's depth chart:
Clint Capela, C: $18M (2023)
De'Andre Hunter, SF: $7.2M (2023)
Cam Reddish, SF: $4.4M (2023)
Dewayne Dedmon, C: $13.3M (2022)
Trae Young, PG: $6.1M (2022)
Kevin Huerter, SG: $2.5M (2022)
Bruno Fernando, C: $1.6M (2022)
John Collins, PF: $2.8M (2021)
Brandon Goodwin, PG: $1.1M (2021)
Onyeka Okongwu, C: Rookie scale contract (2024)
Jeff Teague, PG: UFA
Vince Carter, SG: UFA
DeAndre' Bembry, SF: RFA
Skal Labissiere, PF: RFA
Damian Jones, C: RFA
Treveon Graham, SG: UFA
Charlie Brown Jr., F: RFA
Okongwu is coming off a strong freshman season at USC. He averaged 16.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks while shooting 61.6 percent from the field across 28 appearances.
"I'm just now used to big matchups," he told Nathan Ackerman of the Daily Trojan in March. "I'm used to being in the limelight. I'm used to being in a big atmosphere, you know, all the attention. So it transferred over here to college ball, so I'm not really afraid or tame or nervous like I would be or any other incoming freshman would be."
The 19-year-old Los Angeles native earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors in his only collegiate campaign.
Now the question becomes where he'll fit in at the NBA level.
Okongwu doesn't possesses the prototypical center frame at 6'9" and 245 pounds, but his offensive game hasn't yet evolved to fill the stretch 4 role more associated with modern power forwards. He attempted only four three-pointers during his time with the Trojans.
With that said, his athleticism may help him overcame his lack of size while playing center in small-ball lineups, and Atlanta can play more traditional two-big basketball while he's at power forward.
Okongwu can also take matters into his own hands by working on his perimeter game. Being able to step outside and knock down threes, even if it's a secondary element of his skill set, would help improve his long-term upside in the modern NBA.
All told, the USC standout has the raw tools to make an immediate impact in the NBA, and he could eventually craft himself into an All-Star level player for the Hawks. The learning and development curve could take a little longer than his fellow top prospects, though.
He should slot in as frontcourt depth behind Clint Capela, John Collins and Dewayne Dedmon as a rookie in Atlanta.
