Jontay Porter, Chuma Okeke are risks worth taking for the Pacers

Chuma Okeke’s feel for the game will take him far

Chuma Okeke’s main selling point is preternatural feel for the game, one of the traits I value most in a prospect. Almost every good, playoff worthy non-superstar is smart and makes good decisions. Okeke is smart, a good decision maker and a legitimate playmaker off of the ball on defense.

Likely 6’7 with a near 7’0 wingspan, Okeke uses his length, size and feel to dominate as a team defender. This dominance is reflected on the stat sheet, where his absurd 5.5 block percentage and 3.7 steal percentage stand out. Along with Zion Williamson and Matisse Thybulle, he’s one of three players this season to reach those marks in a college season and one of 23 to do it since 2008.

A natural born defensive playmaker, Okeke reads the pick and roll and trails to block Ja Morant from behind on this play. Go ahead, follow the links to see it in action.

Patrolling the baseline, Okeke is early in help, sniffing out the backdoor cut and meeting Kira Lewis before he catches the ball. When Lewis makes his move, Okeke is patient and blocks this shot.

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Here’s an excellent look at Okeke’s elite instincts and anticipation on the weak side. Admiral Schofield drives middle and Horace Spencer inches off of Kyle Alexander to clog up the penetration. Okeke is always scanning–look at his eyes, glued to the weak side before the drive even happens — predicts Schofield’s pass and peels off of Grant Williams to steal the pass.

Athleticism is Okeke’s main weakness, as he isn’t twitching, has sluggish feet and, rather than having pogo sticks for legs, he has, well, legs. Due to his lack of lateral burst, Okeke struggles as a man defender, especially against guards, susceptible to blowbys.

Team defense is more valuable to me than man defense and Okeke should be fine against most wings and fours due to his length and size. His feel for the game is special and it is reflected in his off-ball defense.

On offense, the aforementioned feel for the game manifests itself in Okeke’s passing. For Auburn, most of Okeke’s impressive passes came out of the post, but it is easy to see it translating to the perimeter, via the short roll and attacking closeouts.

Okeke’s drop step sucks in the weak side corner defender and Anfernee McLemore wisely cuts behind him. Hanging in the air, Okeke waits for the help to collapse and feeds the diving McLemore for the slam.

Okeke’s shooting should make him a threat on pick and pops, where he has the handle to attack lumbering bigs closing out. He beats Kyle Alexander here, whizzing the ball to the opposite wing.

Another handle flash, Okeke gets by Admiral Schofield and kicks out to the strong side corner shooter.

Okeke has even flashed some shot versatility, here coming off of movement:

Okeke’s feel for the game and probably shooting gives him a high floor as an NBA role player and a good chance to hit star role player status. He doesn’t have an exact fit on the Pacers’ roster, but he could act as a capable replacement for Thaddeus Young if he were to leave in free agency. Indiana will almost surely not consider Okeke at 18, so they’d have to hope the injury scares teams off and he falls to the late second round.