Josh Okogie to hire agent and stay in NBA Draft

Connell62

Connell62

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Let the sweating begin... All we can do is wish him the best and hope that he makes a sound decision.

My fear is that Josh has enough work ethic and natural ability that some scouts might fall in love with him, or he might blow up at the combine and get enough interest to stay-in.
 
THWG

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This is what I have thought that he would do for a long time now. I think that he gets some feedback and comes back next year, then he probably will leave after next year.
 
ChasonBaller

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not shocking at all....lets run through some +/- of the situation and say Okogie wows them with his wingspan and vertical.

Positives:
•Georgia Tech gets and more importantly Coach Pastner gets a player in the NBA. (obvious help w/ recruiting)
•Opens scholly for GT and then another wing/combo guard in '19(Watson, Brown, King, Smith, etc.)
•Would give Haywood, Moore, Devoe, Phillips, maybe Moses/Sjolund more time on the court. Along with Alston filling in.

Negatives:
•Our chances of making a run at the Tourney goes waaaay down.
•We lose our best player(some would debate but....)
•Leaves a huge hole and leaves us at a decision of taking a '18 wing who went under the radar or Grad transfer and roll over to '19.

Personally, if he doesnt get a 1st round grade, I think he is back for his Jr. season.
 
GTFLETCH

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CharlotteJacket said:
Makes sense for him to go through the process (without hiring an agent) - literally no downside for him. Gets to see an evaluation of his strengths and weaknesses and will be able to come back and focus on those weaknesses. It's a good move for him (and GT as well).
Click to expand...
Spot On!
 
GaTech4ever

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ChasonBaller said:
not shocking at all....lets run through some +/- of the situation and say Okogie wows them with his wingspan and vertical.

Positives:
•Georgia Tech gets and more importantly Coach Pastner gets a player in the NBA. (obvious help w/ recruiting)
•Opens scholly for GT and then another wing/combo guard in '19(Watson, Brown, King, Smith, etc.)
•Would give Haywood, Moore, Devoe, Phillips, maybe Moses/Sjolund more time on the court. Along with Alston filling in.

Negatives:
•Our chances of making a run at the Tourney goes waaaay down.
•We lose our best player(some would debate but....)
•Leaves a huge hole and leaves us at a decision of taking a '18 wing who went under the radar or Grad transfer and roll over to '19.

Personally, if he doesnt get a 1st round grade, I think he is back for his Jr. season.
Click to expand...

Who would debate that he’s our best player? Also, isn’t the rule if he declares but doesn’t hire an agent this year, he has to go next year now? Or am I making that up?
 
GTFLETCH

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RyanS12 said:
For some reason I think he doesn’t return. I thought this since the Ron Bell **** I’m November
Click to expand...
If he doesn't get drafted and he transfers from GT I think he has to sit a year ( Unless the transfer rules change), It seems that He would come back if he is not drafted
 
GTFLETCH

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GaTech4ever said:
Who would debate that he’s our best player? Also, isn’t the rule if he declares but doesn’t hire an agent this year, he has to go next year now? Or am I making that up?
Click to expand...
JO has submitted his application to the NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee and to the NBA ahead of the April 22 early-entry candidate deadline. The application enables Okogie to work out for NBA teams beginning April 24 and attend the NBA Draft Combine (May 16-20), if invited, and receive feedback on his potential draft status. He must remove his name from the draft by May 30 (NCAA withdrawal deadline) in order to maintain his college eligibility.

Link
http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/031518aaa.html
 

CharlotteJacket

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GaTech4ever said:
Who would debate that he’s our best player? Also, isn’t the rule if he declares but doesn’t hire an agent this year, he has to go next year now? Or am I making that up?
Click to expand...
No rule about that. He can declare for the draft multiple times and remain eligible as long as each time he removes his name prior to a certain date (late May I believe). I think Silver has discussed changing that rule, so maybe you heard rumblings about that.
 
smokey_wasp

smokey_wasp

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I know we'd all like reassurance he will be back, but it would make zero sense for him not to do this. Best case scenario for us is that he's evaluated as not quite ready, but gets some excellent feedback about what he needs to do to raise his game to the next level. He comes back here, has a big year and everybody wins. I guess our best case scenario is his worst case scenario. But it makes sense all around.
 

GTbball2016

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RyanS12 said:
For some reason I think he doesn’t return. I thought this since the Ron Bell **** I’m November
Click to expand...

You and me both were worried about a Dion Glover situation. I'm with you, I think he's gone. That would really, really hurt Pastner's chances of succeeding here. No Okogie next year means battling with Pitt for last place in ACC.
 

Jacket Forever

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I wish JO the very best and thank him for all his contributions to Georgia Tech and Tech Basketball. I can definitely envision a scenario in which though he’s not a projected 1st round NBA pick, and not QUITE ready to play ‘grown man basketball’, he could still be better off by taking a path away from Tech. Specifically, I could see a savvy NBA Coach and or GM, who’s not on the hot seat or even a warm seat draft JO in the second round (or even signing him as a UDFA) and stashing him for a minimum salary in the G-League for a year. In the G-League, he’d likely learn fairly fast (faster than at our place) the skills needed to round out his skill set so he makes the ‘big club’ roster in ‘19-‘20. Golden State, San Antonio or Atlanta, who has THREE first round picks in the upcoming draft as well as a Second Round pick with which they could really take a gamble.
 

YlJacket

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I think the concept of the G League as a skills development league is really up for debate. No G League team has the facilities that GT (or most P5 schools) have and their travel schedule precludes a lot of skill development sessions. You can play more games but less "development". That is one of the major reasons the NBA has been throwing around the Academy concept but that would only apply to a much more limited number of kids than the G League as constituted.
 
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