The NBA Combine was a strong showcase event for two former Volunteers projected to the second round of the NBA Draft in June. While Nate Ament will rightfully get much of the buzz as a potential Top 10 pick, don’t sleep on VFLs Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Felix Okpara as they fight for a spot in the association.
Okpara and Gillespie both had nice performances during the multi-day event last week in Chicago. Okpara was praised for his defensive and shot-blocking abilities, while Gillespie shot the lights out during 5-of-5 scrimmages. The showings look to have raised the draft stock for both senior players.
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo put out a mock draft before the combine, with Okpara landing at No. 54 and Gillespie landing at No. 60, but both players are on the rise after the combine. In Woo’s post-NBA Combine mock draft on Tuesday, he’s tagged Okpara at No. 49 to the Denver Nuggets and Gillespie at No. 54 to the Golden State Warriors.
It’s hard not to immediately think of the exciting potential of Okpara playing next to Nikola Jokic and Gillespie playing alongside Steph Curry at a future date, but we’ll cross that bridge when it comes. As for now, it definitely looks like both players elevated their stock last week in the Windy City.
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Okpara was named a standout player by Woo following the combine.
“Okpara has put together a positive predraft process, showing well enough at the Portsmouth Invitational last month to skip the G League combine and earn a spot at the NBA combine,” Woo wrote. “Though not a flashy option at center, Okpara has solid mobility for his size (6-10 barefoot with a plus-4-inch wingspan), measured in the top five in standing reach (9-4). … He has helped his chances of hearing his name called in the second round as a depth option with a good physical profile for his position.”
Similarly, Gillespie had the attention of Bleacher Report NBA Draft analyst Jonathan Wasserman.
“Ja’Kobi Gillespie just hasn’t stopped making shots all week,” Wasserman posted to X last Thursday. “Auditioning for that instant-offense/microwave role.”
Jeremy Woo had Tennessee freshman Nate Ament listed at No. 10 to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, which is the same projection that he had for him last week.
Check out ESPN’s latest two-round NBA Mock Draft here.
