F: AK Okereke (JR)
Height/Weight: 6’7”/235 lbs.
Previous School: Cornell
2024-25 Stats: 13.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.1 BPG, 1.1 SPG, 59.5% FG
Offensive Impact
Okereke is a physical wing/forward who gave Ivy League competition all kinds of problems when getting downhill or in the post. His physicality will almost certainly translate to the SEC level and he may even be known as one of the stronger frontcourt players in all of college basketball.
Okereke’s 89th percentile rim scoring efficiency and 49% free throw rate further show how tough it was for smaller Ivy League frontcourts to handle him.
Not the greatest vertical athlete, but his upper half strength allows him to fight through contact with relative ease at times.
Was more of a point forward during his days at Cornell. 25.3% usage rate to go along with a 28.6% assist rate last season.
Would grab a defensive rebound and be the initiator in transition. He is tough to handle with a full head of steam.
Above average ball handler for his labeled power forward position.
His usage rate will almost certainly be lower at Vanderbilt, and this means Okereke will need to find ways to create value playing off the ball.
He is oddly a below average rebounder for his size (5.6% OREB rate). Part of the reason could be from the amount of the on-ball usage he had at Cornell limiting his chances at creating second chances, but he was also poor on the glass with a lower usage in 2023-24 (4.2% OREB with a 17.5% usage rate).
Okereke’s spot up game may become more frequent, and he graded out in the 95th percentile in this play type last season (on very low volume however).
He isn’t a liability as a 3-point shooter (17-52 last season), but his slower release doesn’t project to translate well to SEC basketball. However, if he can garner some respect on the perimeter from opposing defenses, he can attack closeouts at a high level and use his strength to score at the rim.
The faster paced Vanderbilt offense will allow Okereke to fit in right away, even if he is going to play a lesser role this season. His combination of physicality, passing, and ball handling will allow him to play a few different roles within this offense, whether that is playing through him in the post or as a point forward at times, or using him as more of a secondary piece and tapping into his offensive rebounding and rim running.
Defensive Impact
Could be more active on the defensive glass for his size. 14.6% DREB rate
Creates his value on the defensive end as a weak side rim protector and recovery defender.
Doesn’t guard the ball on the perimeter particularly well due to being a below average lateral mover, but his length allows him to recover and block shots around the rim (4.6% block rate).
Struggles closing out to shooters and is often blown by in these situations.
Will be matchup dependent when it comes to his impact defensively. Okereke will struggle with more perimeter oriented 4’s but will more than hold his own against non-floor spacers/post up oriented 4’s.