Little forward Auburn Isaac Okoro is reportedly one of the highly regarded prospects for the New York Knicks with the No. 8 in the 2020 NBA draft on October 16.
Marc Berman of the New York Post reported Monday that there is “support among the Knicks” for Okoro, and Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl confirmed that the team’s front office has contacted to discuss it.
“They did his homework,” Pearl told Berman. “I haven’t read it, but they did their due diligence.”
Okoro was a strong contributor across the board during his only college season. He averaged 12.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 51.4% from the field in 28 games. The biggest concern was his fights from the outside of the bow, as he only shot down 28.6 percent of his three-point attempts.
However, an NBA director of personnel is unsure whether the striker will still be available for the Knicks with the eighth pick.
“This draft [Okoro] gets a consideration up to number 4,” the source told Berman. “He’s an NBA size, he’s a tough athlete, and he plays D. So he can get out on the pitch pretty fast. Coaches like that. After the top three, you can defend a lot of players.”
The Knicks remain in the market for a point guard, so they have often been linked to the likes of Killian Hayes and Tyrese Haliburton during the early stages of the mock draft season. It is far from the team’s only need as it rebuilds itself under the new president Leon Rose.