2017 NBA Mock Draft: Fultz to Celtics, Ball to Lakers after lottery
By Chris Stone
Ike Anigbogu
C, UCLA
The Atlanta Hawks drafted a pair of wings last year and have a point guard in Dennis Schroder that they seem committed to for the foreseeable future, so picking up a big man project could be an option for them here at No. 19. UCLA’s Ike Anigbogu could learn under the tutelage of Dwight Howard before ultimately turning into a rotation player himself down the line.
Anigbogu, though, is going to require patience. While he has terrific measureables for the center spot, he’s a raw prospect who is still developing his feel for the game on both ends of the floor. There is potential here, though. Anigbogu averaged 3.7 blocks per 40 minutes this season using his combination of length and athleticism to challenge shots inside the restricted circle. His lack of feel is evidenced by the foul troubles he regularly faced even in limited time.
On offense, Anigbogu is only going to score on the interior. He’s built to be a pick-and-roll dive man because of his leaping ability. At this point, he doesn’t have much in the way of a post up game and he lacks any semblance of a jumper.
Anigbogu is a long ways away from being a finished product, but he has the type of raw skill set that NBA teams love to work with.