By 
Kansas University of America’s fast-rising guard, Ochai Agbaji is finally setting himself up for a shot at selection in the 2022 draft in USA’s National Basketball Association (NBA), megasportsarena.com reports.
The Nigerian-born lad has now emerged among the top-30 prospects in the 2022 Draft, after voluntarily opting out of the cut last time out, in order to concentrate on his final year at college.
With that now done and dusted, Agbaji is rating high among the lot, six months away from the 2022 draft, but a new kid on the block and latest youngster to flaunt has entered the conversation for No. 1 overall pick.
That happens to be Auburn’s Jabari Smith, who has been phenomenal early in the season and is a serious contender for the top spot.
Also rated ahead of Agbaji are Duke’s Paolo Banchero and Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, who both continue to impress NBA scouts in the first two months of the season.
Iowa’s Keegan Murray and Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis have also started to fly up NBA draft boards with their versatile scoring ability and consistency, but Agbaji’s name has also cropped in among the prospects.
He is listed in No.17 spot among the 2022 NBA Draft prospects, on the fringes of Washington Wizards with status of ‘Ht./Wt.: 6-5, 215 pounds | Class: Senior | Kansas: 22 ppg, 4.2 rpg.’
The youngster, who was born on April 20, 2000 in Kansas City and already rated high among guards for the future, is now primed to eventually enter the paid ranks, after returning to The Jayhawks for his senior season.
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony noted: “Agbaji was projected as a potential second-round pick before opting to return for another year of college basketball.
“The 21-year-old Wisconsin native has made steady progress across three years at KU. He averaged 14.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals across 30 appearances during the 2020-21 season while also typically garnering the assignment of defending the opponent’s top wing scorer.
“Agbaji (6’6”, 214 lbs) made significant strides as an outside shooter. He shot just 30.7 percent from three-point range as a freshman in 2018-19.
“He knocked down 37.7 percent of his outside shots last season while pouring in 2.6 threes per contest. His overall shooting percentage (42.0 last season) still needs work, though.”
Givony further predicted that Agbaji could establish himself as a first-round pick next year if he continues his upward trend in his final season with The Jayhawks.
Agbaji enthused: “I will be keeping my NCAA eligibility throughout this process and look forward to hearing from NBA professionals on ways I can improve my game.
“This is a great opportunity as I work towards my goal of being a professional basketball player.”
Comments