Pelicans NBA Draft: 3 mid-major sleepers to stash in G-League

New Orleans Pelicans NBA Draft: Mid-major sleepers, Osasumwen Osaghae

Osasumwen Osaghae: Forward, Florida International

Osasumwen Osaghae is one of the most intriguing players entering the NBA draft this year.

He is a four-year senior, which obviously won’t help his draft standing, but he is also an explosive athlete and the best shot-blocker in the country.

Osaghae led the nation in blocked shots, averaging an insane 3.7 per game for Florida International.

He was a latecomer to basketball and didn’t even start playing until he was 16, so he has made drastic improvements in a very short time.

Osaghae is 6-foot-9 but has an impressive 7-foot-3 wingspan that allows him to block shots all over the floor. He is adept at swatting shots near the rim, but can also step out onto the perimeter on switches.

He shoots nearly 70 percent from the floor, mostly on dunks, lobs and putbacks. He’ll probably never be a great scorer, but projects as a rim runner who will block shots, defend all over the floor and bring energy off the bench.

With defensive wings emerging as possibly the league’s most valuable asset, a forward who can block shots like Osasumwen Osaghae will eventually have a job in the NBA. He could end up being a late bloomer in the G-League who comes out of nowhere and becomes the next Bam Adebayo.

Player Comparison: Bam Adebayo

The New Orleans Pelicans should get creative this offseason, especially in the NBA Draft, where some of the best talent may be lurking in the mid-major schools, just waiting to be found.