New Orleans Pelicans: Two 2nd Round Projects from U of Illinois

Ayo Dosunmu: Shooting Guard, University of Illinois

Strengths: Getting to the rim and finishing, length, motor, defensive potential

Weaknesses: 3-point shooting

Key Statistic: 29.6 percent from 3-point range on 3.3 attempts

How he fits on the New Orleans Pelicans:

Ayo Dosunmu is another intriguing prospect out of the University of Illinois. Though he has not officially declared for the draft, he is expected to do so soon.

He made first-team All-Big Ten after averaging 16.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game for the Illini.

Like Cockburn, Dosunmu has many of the physical traits teams are looking for. He has good height at 6-foot-5 but more importantly, has a 6-foot-9 wingspan.

This gives him the length to potentially guard multiple positions in the NBA, which is something all teams are looking for in a shooting guard or wing.

Dosunmu even played point guard at times for the Illini, so he has decent handles and isn’t afraid to be the go-to guy.

Dosunmu has a strange, herky jerky offensive game, but seems to find a way to slither to the rim and has the ability to finish with either hand.

Dosunmu is particularly good at running off of screens for dribble handoffs and has the speed to just keep going to the rim.

His plus-length makes his shot hard to block and a times Dosunmu would look like the best player on the floor for either team.

Dosunmu was considered a first round prospect coming into the season and with all of these strengths it seems like a no-brainer.

But then you see him shoot.

Dosunmu shot 35.2 percent from 3-point range on 4.4 attempts his freshman season, numbers that had NBA scouts excited.

He was never going to be a top shooter, but with his length and potential on the defensive end, league average would work just fine.

Something happened between his freshman and sophomore seasons because Dosunmu forgot how to shoot.

His 3-point average dipped to 29.6 percent on just 3.3 attempts per game, numbers which sunk his potential draft position from sure-fire first rounder to might not be drafted.

If you’ve seen Dosunmu shoot a 3-pointer you know what I mean. He has an awkward release and terrible footwork, kicking out the foot on his shooting foot, which causes an off-balance release and landing.

However, the New Orleans Pelicans’ assistant coach Fred Vinson has had good results with guys who had broken shots.

Ask Lonzo Ball, who now shoots over 38 percent from 3-point range after working with Vinson and we all know how bad Lonzo’s shooting form was.

If Dosunmu could ever develop even an average long-range shot, he could be a very nice 3-and-D type for someone.

With some time with the shot doctor and the G-League, Dosunmu could be an NBA rotation player for a long time.

Neither of these players are going to make an impact in the league right away, but the New Orleans Pelicans have the luxury of time.

They can draft players in the second round who might fit in years down the road, when they will need more youth and cheap players to fill out a rotation.

Both Cockburn and Dosunmu offer intriguing upside for developmental projects and will likely be available when the Pelicans pick in the second round.

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