Film Room: Jahlil Okafor’s passing

Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

A big reason why Jahlil Okafor is expected to be the top pick in the 2015 Draft is because he’s already an incredible offensive talent. The Chicago native is a traditional back-to-the-basket big who eats up possessions on the low block, which the Blue Devils maximize by running their offense through him. Thanks in large part to his prowess on that end of the court, Duke has the sixth most efficient offense in the nation. They’re scoring an incredible 1.3 points per possession when Okafor gets a post touch, as opposed to 0.993 points per possession in total half court sets, according to Draft Express.

At a tender age of 19, Okafor already possess an array of high-level post moves. Standing at 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-5 wingspan, he is a physical nightmare for opposing teams at the collegiate level. His ability to seamlessly combine strength and a silky soft touch, however, is what sets him apart from other players in his class and makes him the most sought-after prospect in America.

Naturally, because of his dominance, teams have attempted to limit Okafor’s touches on offense as the season has progressed by doubling him as soon as he catches the ball. While there have been some growing pains — Okafor has committed four or more turnovers in four games — he has progressively become more comfortable operating under pressure, further adding to an already impressive offensive repertoire.

Okafor’s 1.6 assists per game fail to paint the picture of his ability to change the game through his passing. He’s carved up numerous teams by making the right play once defenses aggressively trap him. With Duke being one of the top three-point shooting teams in the nation, his development has made a tremendous overall impact, as it forces the opposition to make a tough decision: Let Okafor play one-on-one and he’ll walk all over them; double him and he’ll find a number of deadeye shooters open on the perimeter.

In a blowout win over Pittsburgh on Jan. 19, in which Okafor had one of his lowest scoring games of the season (14 points), the Blue Devil put his playmaking ability on display.

Film Room

What’s most evident on these plays is Okafor’s patience in the post.

On a scrambled play in transition, the Blue Devils slow down the pace and feed Okafor the ball on the left block. Instead of making a quick move to take advantage of his mismatch, though, he holds his position and waits for the inevitable double to come his way — Pittsburgh doesn’t have the size nor length to contain Okafor in isolation. Once it does, he opens up to the basket and uses his 9-foot-3 standing reach to keep the ball away.

Amile Jefferson, initially at the left elbow, cuts to the basket as soon as his defender leaves him and Okafor makes the simple pass for an easy two.

Even with the shot clock whittling down, Okafor knows he can get a quality shot in two or three dribbles against Pittsburgh’s defense. However, instead of forcing the issue, he patiently surveys the floor for the open man.

Once Okafor begins to make a move, the defense clamps down into the paint and quickly doubles him. Unfazed, Okafor elevates in the air to make a pin-point bullet pass over the two defenders to Quinn Cook on the opposite wing.

Cook catches the ball in rhythm and knocks it down with ease.

The next possession is nearly identical with Okafor catching the ball on the left block and keeping his dribble in anticipation of the double.

Okafor starts to attack his defender but keeps his eyes on Cook, who is open on the opposite wing. As soon as the Panthers crash the ball, Okafor finds the sharpshooter in his sweet spot. With the defense closing out on him, Cook makes the extra pass to Rasheed Sulaimon for an open look.

Notice how Okafor palms the ball like a tennis ball when the double comes and how quickly he finds Cook off of a one-handed pass. His ability to react to the defense on the fly and make the right play — the result of him posting up with his back to the baseline and keeping his head on a swivel — is just another example of his on-court awareness.

With Okafor picking the Panthers apart in the first half, they changed their coverage slightly down the stretch by doubling even quicker in an attempt to fluster him.

As soon as Justise Winslow enters the ball to Okafor, Pittsburgh’s wing defender drops down to double him. With no immediate pass available, Okafor is forced to put the ball on the floor and find an opening. He calmly dribbles away, weaves his way in between two defenders and is met by all five Pittsburgh defenders in the paint. Okafor picks up his dribble to avoid getting stripped and finds Winslow open in the corner with a simple pass.

Winslow knocks it down and sparks a run that would eventually put the game out of reach.

None of Okafor’s five assists on the night were particularly eye-popping, but that in itself is a microcosm of his game. He plays the right way and is always under control, two rare qualities for a highly touted freshman with unruly public expectations.

Okafor still has strides to make before he makes his way up to the podium and shakes Adam Silver’s hand in June, but he seems fit for the task. Even through the Blue Devils’ first 21 games of the season, the big man has already made major improvements his game. He continues to mature on both ends of the court and adds to an already well developed arsenal. Him being able to read and react to double teams and make the right play out of the post is just another example of that.