Chuma Okeke Declares, Next Season Uncertainty Mounts

Auburn fans can’t help but be excited for the future of Auburn basketball, but as sophomore Chuma Okeke declares for the NBA Draft uncertainty mounts about the dynamics of next season’s team.

Although Auburn’s crazy loss to Virginia in the final seconds of the game in the Final Four may have left a bad taste in many of our mouth’s, many of the Auburn faithful, including myself, can’t help but swell up with pride when remembering this past season and team.

Coming off the best season in their program’s history, Auburn basketball’s magical run to the final four included wins against New Mexico State and blue blood basketball program’s such as Kansas, North Carolina, and Kentucky. Will Auburn continue their hot streak next season?

With seniors Bryce Brown, Horace Spencer, and Malik Dunbar graduating, the team is definitely taking a hit in terms of leadership, experience, and scoring. In addition to losing three key seniors, junior point guard Jared Harper has declared for the NBA draft. Losing these four really adds a lot of questions to Auburn’s team for next year considering they were Auburn’s biggest leaders and scoring options.

And then there’s also sophomore phenom Chuma Okeke.

Chuma Okeke makes NBA Draft announcement via Instagram

Chuma Okeke is a standout talent that can do most anything on the floor. He had a great year, but really came into his own towards the end of the season. Okeke helped lead Auburn to its first SEC Championship since 1985, dominating in each game he played.

Okeke continued his dominant performance in Auburn’s NCAA Tournament run and was on pace for the best game of his career when he went down with what would be diagnosed later as a torn ACL. Okeke went down with around 8 minutes left in the second half and finished his night with 20 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 8-11 from the field.

Auburn Basketball: Auburn signee Chuma Okeke named Georgia’s Mr. Basketball

Before his injury, Okeke was being put on NBA draft projection boards left and right. Many of those projections even had Okeke going late in the first round.

With his injury however, it is unclear how his draft stock will be affected. A new rule in the NCAA this year, allows college basketball players to declare for the NBA draft as well as sign an agent to represent them and still be able to come back to play college if they do not get drafted or withdraw from the draft before June 10.

Chuma’s mother, Renee Okeke informed the Opelika-Auburn News that Chuma declared to the draft to “test the waters.” There is still a good opportunity and high percentage that Chuma returns to Auburn for his junior year.

Jared Harper also has the opportunity to return if he so chooses, but many believe that the chances of this are highly unlikely.

If Okeke doesn’t return to Auburn who would fill his gap?

More than likely we would see returning players Anfernee McLemore and Danjel Purifoy split time in the 4 spot. Both players have good size, athleticism, and the ability to stretch the floor with their shooting abilities when needed. I also would expect to see incoming four star freshman Jaylin Williams to get a lot of playing time at Okeke’s spot.

Williams is one of the most underrated four star players in the nation in my opinion and provides a plethora of skills that will help him be successful in college. He is a physical 6’8 power forward who can shoot well and drive really well too. I am expecting him to come in and challenge for playing time early, especially if Okeke does not return.

I however, still believe that Okeke will return to school for another year and have a breakout season for the Tigers. I believe that if he decides to come back and can pick up where he left off then he has a good chance at being a top 15 pick in the 2020 NBA draft.  Will he return though?

Only time will tell.