A torn ACL kept Indiana forward OG Anunoby out for much of his sophomore season. Despite this draft-stock-lowering injury, Anunoby will hire an agent and declare for the draft, per Jon Rothstein:
Indiana's OG Anunoby will sign with an agent and enter the 2017 NBA Draft, per a source. #iubb
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 10, 2017
Anunoby was having an impressive season for Indiana prior to his injury and likely would have been drafted in the lottery. Unfortunately, Anunoby appeared in just 16 games for Indiana this season. In those 16 games, Anunoby averaged 11.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game on 55.7 percent shooting. Those numbers may not jump off the stat sheet, but Anunoby showcased mouthwatering NBA potential; with an NBA-ready body and high-flying athleticism, the 19-year-old drew Kawhi Leonard comparisons.
While those comparisons may have been slightly unfair (how is he supposed to live up to them?), the potential was there.
Then, the injury. A torn ACL held out Anunoby for the remainder of the season. Knee injuries often affect athletes’ athleticism and mobility, and both of those things are large parts of Anunoby’s game. Thus, a player who was likely to be a top-10 pick will now probably be selected in the mid-to-late first round.
In Def Pen’s most recent mock draft, Anunoby went 26th, just after Baylor’s Jonathan Motley and just before Duke’s Harry Giles.
