NCAA UNDERGROUND: take note for your team in Europe...Teddy Okereafor - RIDER U.

WHERE HE PLAYS – 6-4 point guard; could be also used as a combo and play off the ball, but he is the most effective when has ball in his hands and creating for others

PHYSICAL SKILLS – decent athlete; good body strength; change of speed, decent explosiveness; average leaping ability.

WHERE HE RECEIVES THE BALL AND HOW HE FINISHES – Okereafor is PG who likes to create off the dribble, get his teammates involved and create for everybody on the floor. He is a pass first PG who has very good floor vision and passing skills. He likes to push the ball in transition and use his speed to get up the court. In half court possessions, Okereafor likes using ball screens; creating off the pick for others is his strength and what he does the best. He has good handles and ability to control the ball in the half court. As mentioned, because of his size and athleticism in some teams he can also play off the ball as 2 guard, but his strength is creation coming off the ball screens and improve his team shooting percentage and offensive efficiency. Scoring wise Okereafor can hit perimeter jumper, mostly from spot up situations (has to improve in this segment), he is not straight shooter but can make open shot. Okereafor is good PG who can run his team and distribute the ball well to his teammates.

NEGATIVES - he can improve his three point shot to be more dangerous, especially off the dribble, since he uses ball screens a lot. get better in finishing around the rim – he could be even bigger scoring threat offensively since he possesses necessary skills but doesn’t utilize them to his full potential yet. there's room for improvement.

WHERE AND HOW HE DEFEND – considering his athleticism and speed he has to be better on-ball defender. His lateral movement needs work since he has tendencies to open up his hips and first lateral step instead of covering ground and trying to keep ball handler in front. On the other side he has quick hands and likes to reach in order to get steal. Because of his size he can also (and probably is more effective) defend players at positions 2 and sometimes at 3. 

HOW HE PLAYS PICK AND ROLL – offense & defense –  this is his main strength. Coming off the pick his first option is to pass the ball and create for others – when using ball screens, he looks to involve big man who rolls to the basket, but also he has above average floor vision and sees the guard/shooter who moves up on the ball side and likes to hit him for a jumper. Could be bigger scoring threat when in ball screens situations. Defensively, he has to be tougher, more aggressive and fight to get through screens – he is definitely capable of switching because of his size.

RIGHT FIT FOR HIM – fast pace team with a lot of ball screens in the half court.

(SCOUTING BY NIKOLA KNEZEVIC)

Sportando PRO is your personal assistant in scouting the next undrafted players ready to have impact in FIBA leagues around the globe. For info and subscription: sportandopro@gmail.com