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Detroit Pistons 2020 Draft Profile: USC’s Onyeka Okongwu

By Brendan Triola

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 19: USC Trojans forward Onyeka Okongwu (21) drives to the basket during a college basketball game between the Pepperdine Waves and the USC Trojans on November 19, 2019 at Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 19: USC Trojans forward Onyeka Okongwu (21) drives to the basket during a college basketball game between the Pepperdine Waves and the USC Trojans on November 19, 2019 at Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 12: Onyeka Okongwu #21 of the USC Trojans goes to the hoop against Baylor Scheierman #3 and Noah Freidel #11 of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits in hte second half at Galen Center on November 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. USC won 84-66. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 12: Onyeka Okongwu #21 of the USC Trojans goes to the hoop against Baylor Scheierman #3 and Noah Freidel #11 of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits in hte second half at Galen Center on November 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. USC won 84-66. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

Weaknesses

Okongwu averages 1.9 turnovers per game, which makes sense for a player with high usage like Okongwu, who has a usage rate of 25.6%.

However, he has not shown to be a great passer so far, only averaging 0.9 assists, which brings his assist-to-turnover ratio to 0.48. Okongwu will need to do a better job at seeing open passing lanes when he has the ball in his hand, and especially when he gets double teamed.

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Okongwu does not shoot the three, and fits the mold of a traditional center in a lot of ways. With the NBA relying so heavily on floor spacing, he will more than likely be a non-shooter for the length of his NBA career.

Lastly, Okongwu finally struggled against Washington, who has one of the toughest front courts in basketball with Jaden McDaniels and Isaiah Stewart, both standing at 6-9. He was only 4-of-13 from the field, in his first matchup against another NBA prospect this season.