Stanford sophomore forward KZ Okpala has officially declared for the 2019 NBA Draft. The sophomore big man could forgo his final two seasons or he could decide to return to the school after testing the waters. He has not yet made his intentions clear and could be waiting for feedback from teams.
.@kz_okpala_ has declared his eligibility for the NBA Draft, submitting his name to the NBA’s Undergraduate Advisory Committee for evaluation.#GoStanford
— Stanford Men’s Basketball (@StanfordMBB) April 11, 2019
The sophomore had this to say about his declaration. “I am truly blessed to continue to learn from so many people here at Stanford as I grow as a person and a player. It’s exciting to apply what I have learned so far as I begin this journey and see where it takes me.”
Should he decide to stay in the draft he would be the third player from Stanford to declare before the completion of their junior season. He would be joining Brook and Robin Lopez if he decided to do so.
.@kz_okpala_ did KZ Okpala things and finished with a career-high 30 in the road win. #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/ax7i0UNKc9
— Stanford Men’s Basketball (@StanfordMBB) February 4, 2019
The forward has solid height and size for the NBA being listed at 6’9″ and 215 pounds. He posted 16.8 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per game in his second year with the Cardinals. There are some holes in his game, but he may be ready for the NBA jump.
His decision will depend greatly on his feedback from NBA teams and his likely draft spot. He could decide to stay or go when the time comes. His performance at the combine and in team visits will go a long way in improving his draft stock. The forward is projected to go 29th overall in the fourth edition of the 2019 Def Pen NBA Mock Draft.
