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New York Knicks: Top 5 shooting guards in 2018 NBA Draft

By Maxwell Ogden

MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 17: Lonnie Walker IV #4, Anthony Lawrence II #3 and Dejan Vasiljevic #1 of the Miami Hurricanes of the Miami Hurricanes wear a t-shirt to honor the students and administrators that lost their lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida earlier this week during pregame of the game against the Syracuse Orange at The Watsco Center on February 17, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 17: Lonnie Walker IV #4, Anthony Lawrence II #3 and Dejan Vasiljevic #1 of the Miami Hurricanes of the Miami Hurricanes wear a t-shirt to honor the students and administrators that lost their lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida earlier this week during pregame of the game against the Syracuse Orange at The Watsco Center on February 17, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – FEBRUARY 26: Josh Okogie #5 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets is seen during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion on February 26, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – FEBRUARY 26: Josh Okogie #5 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets is seen during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion on February 26, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Age: 19 (9/1/1998)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’4.5″, 211 pounds, 7’0″
Slash Line: .416/.380/.821
Season Averages: 36.4 MPG, 18.2 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 1.6 3PM

Whether or not they’re already on the roster, the New York Knicks need a shooting guard who can defend their position and space the floor. Anything else would be a bonus, but the foundational needs are defense and three-point shooting.

Josh Okogie has the tools to be a 3-and-D wing, but the reason he deserves consideration at No. 9 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft are the additional traits.

Okogie stands at just under 6’5″, but he boasts a 7’0″ wingspan and has a powerful 211-pound frame with just 5.20 percent body fat. Okogie also posted the highest vertical in this class at 42.0 inches, as well as the fastest three quarter sprint at 3.03 seconds.

For perspective: The only player in the 2017 NBA Draft who ran the three quarter sprint in fewer than 3.05 seconds and posted a 40.0″ vertical was Donovan Mitchell.

On the court, Okogie is an explosive finisher who can shoot with efficiency and create for his teammates. He’s more of a true 2 than a combo guard, but he can be plugged into a positionless system and contribute across the board.

Okogie has intriguing upside and the combination of skill and athleticism to at least be a high-quality two-way player for the Knicks.

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