Grizzlies’ draft pick
Ga. Tech guard primary focus in Grizzlies’ workout
Grizzlies evaluate Georgia Tech’s Josh Okogie for their No. 32 pick.
The Grizzlies will struggle to get candidates for the fourth overall draft pick to visit Memphis.
But that won’t be the case with regards to prospects considered for their 32nd selection in the June 21 NBA draft.
Georgia Tech’s Josh Okogie was in town Thursday as the most prominent player working out with Braian Angola (Florida State), Justin Bibbs (Virginia Tech), Chris Chiozza (Florida and White Station), Admiral Schofield (Tennessee) and Jonathan Stark (Murray State).
But only Okogie is in the mix for the Grizzlies’ 32nd pick.
“It was important to get him in,” Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace said. “The 32nd pick is extremely important. Look at last year. … We didn’t have a second-round pick going in and we got Ivan Rabb at 35 and Dillon Brooks at 45. We take that pick very seriously. We think this year’s 32nd pick will probably be better than a late 20s pick in the first round next year.”
The workout wasn’t open to media but Okogie believes he carried over the momentum gained from a favorable performance at the NBA’s draft combine in Chicago.
“I know that I’m in a good spot,” Okogie said when asked about his draft status. “My whole mindset is to go out and be the best I can be.”
Okogie, a 6-foot-4 guard, earned third-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in 2017-18 and made the conference all-freshman team in 201617. He ranked fourth in the ACC with 18.2 points per game as a sophomore, and averaged 16.9 points over his two seasons with the Yellow Jackets. Okogie surpassed 1,000 career points – one of six Tech players ever to do so before the end of their sophomore years.
Okogie is an early entry into the NBA draft. The NBA’s deadline for withdrawal from the draft is June 11.
Chiozza, meanwhile, played four years at Florida and is a long shot to be drafted. He is a conventional point guard and play-maker but struggles with outside shooting.
“It’s a dream to get drafted. I don’t look at the draft boards. I just come out here every day and compete and try to be the best I can be,” Chiozza said. “I’ve always played with a chip on my shoulder, playing tough and just feeling like I have something to prove to people.”