The Celtics were fortunate to have SMU product Semi Ojeleye fall to them in the second round.
Virtually all of the focus throughout the past few weeks has been on the fate of the Boston Celtics’ first round selection obtained via the Brooklyn Nets, and rightfully so. However, the Celtics draft night did not end with the selection of Duke forward Jayson Tatum at No. 3 overall.
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General manager Danny Ainge had the opportunity to make some noise in the second round with three draft picks, and he did so with Boston’s first selection in the final round of the draft at No. 37. Instead of settling for yet another scoring guard with the likes of Oregon’s Tyler Dorsey or Oklahoma State’s Jawun Evans, the Celtics garnered a hot commodity in today’s NBA with the selection of SMU forward Semi Ojeleye.
A multi-talented forward with a varied offensive arsenal, Ojeleye has the ability to make an impact on an NBA franchise from the outset. Rated 20th overall in DraftExpress’ list of the Top 100 prospects, Ojeleye made 42.9 percent of his three-point attempts with the Mustangs last season while posting 19.0 points per game. He showcased his ability to hit spot-up three-point attempts, a skill that translates well into the Celtics’ three-point heavy offensive scheme which is predicated on ball movement.
Additionally, he displayed an impressive capability for shooting off of the dribble both inside and outside the arc. Ojeleye could be seen creating his shot with relative ease on a plethora of occasions while with the Mustangs, a remarkable skill considering his 6’7″, 241-pound frame.
Ojeleye hit nearly 53 percent of his two-point attempts in 2016-17 despite commanding the majority of the attention from AAC opponents, leading to a true shooting percentage of 62.3 percent on 12.2 shots per night. He professed rebounding proficiencies on both ends of the floor, racking up 4.6 boards per game on the defensive end and 2.3 per night offensively. Overall, his 7.7 win shares and 8.1 box plus-minus factored into him being honored as the AAC Player of the Year.
While Ojeleye’s efforts on the floor last season were eye-opening, what makes him a true steal in the second round is his dynamic athleticism. The Kansas native was one of the bright spots of the NBA Draft Combine, recording the fifth-highest vertical leap at the event (40.5 inches). Ojeleye also conveyed his capability of staying with perimeter scorers by notching the third-best mark in the lane agility test (10.58 seconds) while professing his shocking speed with a 3.16-second three-quarter court sprint, the eighth-best number at the combine.
Ojeleye has the intangibles necessary to become a consistent two-way performer in the NBA. The limiting variable for him will be playing time. With Boston containing a crowded lot at the forward position with the likes of Tatum, Jae Crowder, Jaylen Brown, and (you could argue) Al Horford, playing time at the big league level could be hard to come by for Ojeleye.
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Expect Ojeleye to spend the majority of next season with the Maine Red Claws assuming he signs with the team over the next two weeks. However, should the Celtics need reinforcements at the forward spot over the course of the year, his name should be the first called.