University of North Carolina Tar Heels look like they are returning most of their core from last year’s team. UNC made a little run in the NCAA tournament with a team full of potential first round talent for next years draft.
They will be losing one wing scorer though, who knows that he isn’t a first round talent. Over the year, UNC has consistently seen their players go in the first round. Guys like P.J. Hairston, Reggie Bullock, Harrison Barnes, Kendall Marshall, John Henson, Tyler Zeller and Ed Davis have all gone in the first round of the NBA draft since Danny Green went in the second round in 2009.
It appears that J.P. Tokoto might be following Green in his footsteps.
Following from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
North Carolina Tar Heels junior J.P. Tokoto will enter the 2015 NBA draft, he told Yahoo Sports on Wednesday.
“Going in, I know I’m not a first-round pick,” Tokoto told Yahoo Sports. “I know my jumper needs work, and I’m putting in that work now – and will keep doing it. My jumper is something that has me as a second-round pick right now, but I have a mindset of work to improve the form and range of my shot.”
Tokoto, who is 6-foot-6, is considered to be solidly in the second round of the draft, several NBA executives told Yahoo Sports.
“I want to focus on my game, working with trainers and pro coaches over the summer and next year. I think that’ll give me the best chance to grow than staying in school and being that player that fit into the mold of my first three years [at Carolina].”
Tokoto, 21, won’t initially sign with an agent, he said, which would give him the freedom to withdraw from the June draft prior to the April 26 early entry deadline. Even so, Tokoto’s intentions are to play in the NBA next season.
Tokoto is an excellent athlete with who could become a lockdown perimeter defender if he wanted to. He’s quick on his feet, though he has to be, because he’s not particularly long despite standing at 6’6″. He is right about his draft stock, but he’s clearly willing to take his chances without a guaranteed contract, unless something comes up last-minute, then he will be able to return to Carolina.
As Tokoto himself stated, his jumper is a problem, but he’s not a complete struggle offensively. He passes well, and his defense could help get him on the court for a team with that need. Still, with the ‘pace and space’ league we see everyday a better spot-up game from Tokoto would be ideal to match his athleticism.
After three years at UNC, it’s unlikely Tokoto’s stock would improve by returning and he’d also run the risk of scouts just using the extra time to pick apart his game even more.
He’s unlikely to go in the first round, but that hardly makes this the wrong decision.
