NBA Draft 2018: 5 first round prospects on the rise

KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 08: Texas Longhorns forward Mohamed Bamba (4) after hitting a three at the buzzer in the first half of a quarterfinal game in the Big 12 Basketball Championship between the Texas Longhorns and Texas Tech Red Raiders on March 8, 2018 at Sprint Center in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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Dimitri Kulagin #22 of Russia fights for the ball with France’s Elie Okobo #0 during FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 qualifier match between France and Russia at the Rhenus Hall in Strasbourg, eastern France, on February 23, 2018.(Photo by Elyxandro Cegarra/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /

4. Elie Okobo

Okobo’s agents deserve a lot of credit for keeping their client out of the public eye until just the right time. Of course, it’s easier to do that with international prospects. Even so, Okobo’s late emergence onto the draft scene is paying big dividends for his stock.

The French point guard is also being helped by the lack of depth at his position. Trae Young, Collin Sexton and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander all figure to go in the first 15 selections, but the field is pretty open after that. Okobo has a great chance to move ahead of other lead guards like Jerome Robinson and Aaron Holiday on draft night.

NBA teams are particularly intrigued about Okobo’s ability to play off the ball as well. Teams with ball dominant point guards are always on the lookout for guards who can keep the floor spaced with their shooting ability. The fact that Okobo first burst onto the scene as a shooting guard makes him a perfect fit for that sort of backcourt.

Okobo’s versatility and his ability to make shots are going to make him a lock to hear his name called in the first round. Exactly how far up the board he can shoot is still up in the air. Don’t be surprised to hear his name called well before some more familiar prospects on draft night.

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