PROSPECT PROFILE:
OCHAI AGBAJI
Overview
The Cavaliers front office has proven that when it comes to scouring for young talent, they have no problem with four-year guys.
Dean Wade, Lamar Stevens, Dylan Windler and even Brandon Goodwin all contributed for Cleveland one season ago – and all four put in all four years of college, a recent rarity for players at this level.
Last year, the top-drafted senior was Oregon’s Chris Duarte, who went No. 13 to the Pacers and had a solid rookie season. The year before that, it was his Quack Attack teammate, Payton Pritchard, who went No. 26 to the Celtics and is still playing in the NBA Finals. Cameron Johnson, who went No. 11 in the season before that out of North Carolina, also played a role in his squad’s Finals run.
Four-year guys usually know how to win. Their game is more polished and pro-ready. They may not have the flash of a freshman phenom, but they’re usually a solid investment for teams who do their homework.
Unquestionably the top senior entering the 2022 NBA Draft is Kansas guard Ochai Agbaji, who got better in every collegiate season – culminating with the Jayhawks’ coronation as National Champions in an NCAA Tournament which he was named Most Outstanding Player.
The Tourney MOP honor was the final accolade of his decorated senior season in Lawrence, but Agbaji racked up plenty of hardware during the year – including consensus first-team All-American and All-Big 12 honors, along with being named the Conference’s Player of the Year.
The 22-year-old Agbaji, whose older sister played volleyball for Texas, grew up in Kansas City and played both soccer and basketball as a kid. But after a nine-inch growth spurt between his freshman and junior years of high school, Agbaji turned his focus solely to hoops.
He was lightly recruited until his final year of high school, but after averaging 27.6 points per as a senior at Kansas City Oak Park, choose to play his college ball at Kansas, eschewing offers from Texas A&M and Wisconsin.
Agbaji hit the ground running with the Jayhawks, netting 25 points in his first career start and doubling-up in his very next game, a double-OT win over the Aggies – two of his 16 games as a freshman.
Agbaji continued to get better – being named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention as a sophomore and, after averaging 14.1ppg as a junior, declared for the NBA Draft while still maintaining his college eligibility.
As a senior, the high-flying guard began his season in style – dropping 29 points on Michigan State in the Champions Classic to start the year and capping it with his incredible run through the Tournament.
On the year, Agbaji shot 48 percent from the floor overall, including 41 percent from beyond the arc and 74 percent from the stripe, adding 5.1rpg and 1.6apg.
To start his senior season, Agbaji scored at least 20 points in seven of his first nine games and, over a midseason two-game span in victories over Kansas State and Texas Tech, combined for 66 points on 23-of-41 shooting.
The durable 6-6, 215-pounder also started in each of his final 100 games at Kansas.
Ochai Agbaji might not be among the first handful of names selected on June 23 – (the last time a college senior went with the top overall pick was Kenyon Martin back in 2000) – but if he’s still around late in the Lottery, a team like the Wine & Gold might just make their move for the seasoned star.
Strengths
For starters, Agbaji passes the NBA eye-test – he looks the part of an NBA shooting guard, with a sturdy frame and grown man’s game.
The shooting percentages also jump out to NBA scouts, consistent that his overall game should translate seamlessly at the next level. He didn’t shoot below 42 percent in any of his four years at Lawrence and improved from long-distance in each. A highlight-level dunker who excels at finishing above the rim, Agbaji also has a slick mid-range game, shooting better than 52 percent from inside the arc in three of his four seasons.
| Wingspan | Body Fat | Hand Length | Hand Width | Height | Standing Reach |
| 6.10.25" | 5.4% | 8.75 | 9.50 | 6'575" | 8'8" |
At Kansas, the rugged guard was always asked to defend the opposition’s top perimeter player and did so with tenacity. He’s switchable all over the floor on that end and has the willingness, size and athleticism to be a top-level NBA defender.
Agbaji saved his best for the toughest competition and excelled in the biggest Conference games – throughout the year and eventually winning the Conference Tourney’s MVP – and excelled under the brightest lights in the NCAA Tournament.
Weaknesses
Agbaji will not be mistaken for a combo guard at the NBA level. He’s not a playmaker – averaging 1.6 assists per game as a senior, a career-best 2.0 as a sophomore.
In terms of guard play overall, he’ll also have to improve his ball-handling skills – having averaged 2.1 turnovers per in 2021-22.
And although Agbaji shoots a good percentage from the free throw line – including a career-best .743 as a senior – he only averaged 2.5 attempts per game over his four-year career.
How He'd Fit
NBA teams are always interested in 3-and-D wing players, and the Wine & Gold are no different.
After making a 22-game jump from the previous season, the Cavaliers have far fewer holes to fill than on previous recent Draft days. But at No. 14, if a mature player like Agbaji fell to them, he might fit in nicely with a backcourt that – after last year’s midseason deal to acquire Caris LeVert – is still somewhat in flux.
The Cavaliers are still one of the younger squads in the league and the only winning team in the Eastern Conference with its three leading scorers all under the age of 24.
The 22-year-old Agbaji, who’s already won at college’s highest level, could carry on that young veteran mentality.