Despite having torn his ACL during Auburn University’s Final Four run in the NCAA Tournament, Chuma Okeke is taking the plunge by entering this year’s NBA Draft.
We see time and time again what a strong individual run in the NCAA Tournament can do for a player looking to make the next step by entering the NBA Draft.
That certainly looked to be the case for one Chuma Okeke, a versatile forward out of Auburn University, until tragedy struck midway through their run to this year’s Final Four.
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The sophomore was a vital contributor all throughout Auburn’s strong season, a year that ended in the Tigers winning the SEC Tournament to bolster their bid for the NCAA Tournament even further.
So much so that his star as a prospect was glowing already heading into the tournament and Okeke’s play under the brighter spotlight didn’t disappoint as the Tigers set the stage for their eventual tourney run.
But as the Tigers were crafting their Sweet 16 upset on the University of North Carolina, Okeke went down near the stanchion following a drive to the bucket and it proved to be the worst-case scenario: a torn ACL. Even after such a monumental win, the loss left Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl visibly distraught and he later explained what he was feeling to ESPN after the game:
"“It’s a bittersweet accomplishment because of Chuma getting hurt late in the game. Nobody works harder, nobody gives us more courage,” Pearl said after the win."
Now, even with plenty of uncertainty in the wake of his injury and in terms of where he’ll fall in the draft, Okeke’s going forward with taking the next step of his career and will certainly be eager to show that this is just a mere bump in the road in his basketball journey.
So without further ado, let’s break down Chuma Okeke’s game by looking at his strengths, the skills and areas he needs to work, how draft experts evaluate him and look at his potential fit with the Milwaukee Bucks.