The NCAA’s deadline for players to withdraw from the 2019 NBA draft and retain college eligibility passed last night. So, though the NBA allows more time, effectively every American-college player has made his decision.
That includes Stanford sophomore KZ Okpala.
Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports:
Sources: Stanford's KZ Okpala is staying in the 2019 NBA Draft.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 29, 2019
It’s tough to read Okpala draft range. I wouldn’t be surprised if he sneaks into the lottery. I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes late in the first round. I wouldn’t even be totally shocked if he slips into the second round.
Okpala is a versatile forward. He’s 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, and he moves well. That’s the rough outline of a player every team wants.
He’s also inconsistent. And I don’t mean inconsistent as a euphemism for bad. I mean inconsistent. At times, he looks very good as a shooter, as a ball-handler, as a passer, as a defender. At other times, he underwhelms in each of those skills.
There are plenty of avenues for Okpala to become a productive NBA player – maybe even a star in the unlikely event he puts everything together. But there’s also a chance he doesn’t find a niche to stick in the league.