2018 NBA Draft: Elie Okobo Scouting Report and Highlights

Where will Elie Okobo go in the draft? The Crossover’s Front Office breaks down his strengths, weaknesses and more in its in-depth scouting report.
2018 NBA Draft: Elie Okobo Scouting Report and Highlights
2018 NBA Draft: Elie Okobo Scouting Report and Highlights /

Elie Okobo, PG, Pau-Orthez

Height: 6'3" | Weight: 180 | DOB: 10/23/97 (20)
Stats (French Pro A): 13.8 PPG, 4.7 APG, 41.8% 3FG

Bio: Okobo played his way into this year’s draft conversation by putting together a solid season in his native France and leading his club in scoring and assists. He has shown signs of increased maturity and has enough talent to offer some upside as a potentially stashable prospect. He has the benefit of already speaking good English, and offers better physical tools than a number of the point guards expected to be available in the middle of the draft.

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Strengths

• Nice size and athletic profile for a lead guard. Has measured with a 6’8” wingspan. Quick and instinctive with the ball in his hands. Can get himself into the paint. Has the potential to become an above-average-shot creator.

• Improving shooter. Lefty who can score off the dribble. Shot 36.5% on all jumpers this season and 81% from the free throw line. Repeatable mechanics.

• Uses his length defensively. Plays the passing lanes. Averaged 1.3 steals per-36 minutes. Overall consistency is improving.

Weaknesses

• Needs development as a playmaker. Has to learn to slow the game down a bit. Will often barrel into the paint without a plan, or rush a shot without setting himself. Has good vision and averaged 6.2 assists, but also 3.7 turnovers per-36.

• Shot selection leaves something to be desired. More of a natural scorer than playmaker and needs to rein himself in at times. Will face a big initial adjustment in the NBA.

• Needs more polish before being able to contribute at the NBA level. Will make mistakes and has to learn from them. Best route may be to keep him overseas for a year or two with a longer leash.

Highlights

Comparison: Cameron Payne

Okobo has the athleticism and scoring chops to become a useful part of a backcourt rotation down the line, but will have to make major strides as a point guard to do it.

The Crossover’s Front Office breaks down Okobo’s strengths, weaknesses, NBA comparison and more in its in-depth scouting report.


Published
Jeremy Woo
JEREMY WOO

Jeremy Woo has covered basketball for SI since 2014, including the NBA draft and weekly Power Rankings. He is from the South Side of Chicago.