04-09-2026, 11:40 AM
Okorie declares for NBA draft
04-09-2026, 11:58 AM
Per Jonathan Givorny @DraftExpress: "[Okorie] has 'two feet in the Draft,' but if he returns, it will be to Stanford."
If there's one thing people have learned in Berkeley, it's that you can't put "Cal football" and "Rose Bowl" in the same sentence. The words just don't fit. You'd be better off linking "covered wagons" with "Mars travel." (Bruce Jenkins, Cal '70, SF Chronicle, Nov. 11, 2017)
Per Jonathan Givorny @DraftExpress: "[Okorie] has 'two feet in the Draft,' but if he returns, it will be to Stanford."
If there's one thing people have learned in Berkeley, it's that you can't put "Cal football" and "Rose Bowl" in the same sentence. The words just don't fit. You'd be better off linking "covered wagons" with "Mars travel." (Bruce Jenkins, Cal '70, SF Chronicle, Nov. 11, 2017)
04-09-2026, 12:22 PM
Tough for Coach Smith next season, but I can't fault Ebuka for betting on himself. I hope he finds success and remembers Stanford fondly!
04-09-2026, 03:24 PM
What an absolute pleasure it was to root for him this year. Hope he tears it up in the league!
What an absolute pleasure it was to root for him this year. Hope he tears it up in the league!
04-09-2026, 04:14 PM
(04-09-2026, 11:58 AM)Papa John Wrote: Per Jonathan Givorny @DraftExpress: "[Okorie] has 'two feet in the Draft,' but if he returns, it will be to Stanford."
Nothing but love for Ebuka. I was hoping he'd stay another year because watching him was the most fun I've had watching Stanford basketball ever. However, he's a level-headed kid with mad skills, so I can't fault his decision to take his shot at the NBA. It's awesome that he's already said he'll return to Stanford if the NBA doesn't work out for him. He'll always be a Stanford man in my book as long as he doesn't transfer to another school.
(04-09-2026, 11:58 AM)Papa John Wrote: Per Jonathan Givorny @DraftExpress: "[Okorie] has 'two feet in the Draft,' but if he returns, it will be to Stanford."
Nothing but love for Ebuka. I was hoping he'd stay another year because watching him was the most fun I've had watching Stanford basketball ever. However, he's a level-headed kid with mad skills, so I can't fault his decision to take his shot at the NBA. It's awesome that he's already said he'll return to Stanford if the NBA doesn't work out for him. He'll always be a Stanford man in my book as long as he doesn't transfer to another school.
04-09-2026, 11:38 PM
This year's draft is very deep, and projections for Okorie have been late 1st round to early 2nd round. Now, maybe he improves his stock in workouts or a team takes a chance on him earlier than projected, but next year's draft is said to be quite weak in comparison. It might make a lot of sense to come back for another year, take some NIL money and try to get a better rookie contract next year.
At least that's MY dream.
At least that's MY dream.
This year's draft is very deep, and projections for Okorie have been late 1st round to early 2nd round. Now, maybe he improves his stock in workouts or a team takes a chance on him earlier than projected, but next year's draft is said to be quite weak in comparison. It might make a lot of sense to come back for another year, take some NIL money and try to get a better rookie contract next year.
At least that's MY dream.
At least that's MY dream.
The future has never looked bleaker for all major Stanford sports (bball, especially football, baseball). NIL and transfers admissions has forever changed the landscape for stanford. Good luck to Okorie. He has that it factor when the game is on the line and hopefully succeeds in the NBA.
The future has never looked bleaker for all major Stanford sports (bball, especially football, baseball). NIL and transfers admissions has forever changed the landscape for stanford. Good luck to Okorie. He has that it factor when the game is on the line and hopefully succeeds in the NBA.
The only surprise would have been if he hadn't declared for the draft.
04-10-2026, 07:18 AM
(04-09-2026, 11:38 PM)scorecard Wrote: This year's draft is very deep, and projections for Okorie have been late 1st round to early 2nd round. Now, maybe he improves his stock in workouts or a team takes a chance on him earlier than projected, but next year's draft is said to be quite weak in comparison. It might make a lot of sense to come back for another year, take some NIL money and try to get a better rookie contract next year.
At least that's MY dream.
I agree. Also, I think that Okorie could use another year at Stanford to work on his defense (it certainly wasn't bad this year but it wasn't great either) and his finishing on all those layup attempts (he was 56% on "close" FG attempts, which is near average in the NCAA). Another year of polishing, and he could surely be a lottery pick instead of a fringe first-rounder at best.
(04-09-2026, 11:38 PM)scorecard Wrote: This year's draft is very deep, and projections for Okorie have been late 1st round to early 2nd round. Now, maybe he improves his stock in workouts or a team takes a chance on him earlier than projected, but next year's draft is said to be quite weak in comparison. It might make a lot of sense to come back for another year, take some NIL money and try to get a better rookie contract next year.
At least that's MY dream.
I agree. Also, I think that Okorie could use another year at Stanford to work on his defense (it certainly wasn't bad this year but it wasn't great either) and his finishing on all those layup attempts (he was 56% on "close" FG attempts, which is near average in the NCAA). Another year of polishing, and he could surely be a lottery pick instead of a fringe first-rounder at best.
04-12-2026, 08:59 PM
This is where not dropping the West Virginia game on the floor would have helped. WVU resurrected their postseason at the end of that game and ended up winning the College Basketball Crown. We could have been there in their place, and procured the $300,000 that goes with it. Does Okorie still declare for the draft if we win the CBC and he could look forward to getting his hands on that money?
“You often hear in chess and other sports that ‘this player is more talented’ but ‘that player works harder.’ This is a fallacy. Hard work is a talent. The ability to keep trying when others quit is a talent.” --- Garry Kasparov
This is where not dropping the West Virginia game on the floor would have helped. WVU resurrected their postseason at the end of that game and ended up winning the College Basketball Crown. We could have been there in their place, and procured the $300,000 that goes with it. Does Okorie still declare for the draft if we win the CBC and he could look forward to getting his hands on that money?
“You often hear in chess and other sports that ‘this player is more talented’ but ‘that player works harder.’ This is a fallacy. Hard work is a talent. The ability to keep trying when others quit is a talent.” --- Garry Kasparov
04-12-2026, 09:39 PM
(04-12-2026, 08:59 PM)Sam Leopold Wrote: This is where not dropping the West Virginia game on the floor would have helped. WVU resurrected their postseason at the end of that game and ended up winning the College Basketball Crown. We could have been there in their place, and procured the $300,000 that goes with it. Does Okorie still declare for the draft if we win the CBC and he could look forward to getting his hands on that money?
My guess is the difference didn’t come down to $300k given the millions at stake in the Stanford vs. NBA decision. And I’d hope we would have gotten someone to pony up if it came down to that amount.
(04-12-2026, 08:59 PM)Sam Leopold Wrote: This is where not dropping the West Virginia game on the floor would have helped. WVU resurrected their postseason at the end of that game and ended up winning the College Basketball Crown. We could have been there in their place, and procured the $300,000 that goes with it. Does Okorie still declare for the draft if we win the CBC and he could look forward to getting his hands on that money?
My guess is the difference didn’t come down to $300k given the millions at stake in the Stanford vs. NBA decision. And I’d hope we would have gotten someone to pony up if it came down to that amount.
04-13-2026, 08:50 AM
I have heard that we did have the funds to compete (within reason) on the NIL front. My hope is that Ebuka is testing the waters and that if he stays one more year, his draft stock will climb significantly higher in a less competitive (as of now) draft class. You can't really go back and get the Stanford undergraduate experience (academics, friendships, growth) once you leave. The NBA looks like it will be an option for him regardless of timing. I'm very curious to see what the delta is between NIL at Stanford vs what the NBA would pay him for this year based on draft projections.
As for the WVU game, that was just a travesty. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory is always painful.
As for the WVU game, that was just a travesty. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory is always painful.
I have heard that we did have the funds to compete (within reason) on the NIL front. My hope is that Ebuka is testing the waters and that if he stays one more year, his draft stock will climb significantly higher in a less competitive (as of now) draft class. You can't really go back and get the Stanford undergraduate experience (academics, friendships, growth) once you leave. The NBA looks like it will be an option for him regardless of timing. I'm very curious to see what the delta is between NIL at Stanford vs what the NBA would pay him for this year based on draft projections.
As for the WVU game, that was just a travesty. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory is always painful.
As for the WVU game, that was just a travesty. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory is always painful.
04-13-2026, 09:17 AM
Not wild about very young, very inexperienced players declaring early for the draft. I just don't think it works out much. Allen Graves, redshirt frosh at SCU started four games during the regular season and declared for the draft. He's a 6'9" forward, decent skills, strikes me as a TJD type of player, except TJD had an NBA pedigree and didn't come out early and still was taken 57th overall. My guess is Graves back half of the second round, if he's drafted at all. Probably better than whatever NIL SCU pays him, so what do I know.
Audaces fortuna iuvat
Not wild about very young, very inexperienced players declaring early for the draft. I just don't think it works out much. Allen Graves, redshirt frosh at SCU started four games during the regular season and declared for the draft. He's a 6'9" forward, decent skills, strikes me as a TJD type of player, except TJD had an NBA pedigree and didn't come out early and still was taken 57th overall. My guess is Graves back half of the second round, if he's drafted at all. Probably better than whatever NIL SCU pays him, so what do I know.
Audaces fortuna iuvat
04-13-2026, 11:05 AM
Another painful result of the WVU loss is that Okorie did not have a chance to set a Stanford season record for most points. He scored 719 points this season, 3rd best all time. Another game and he almost certainly would have passed Chasson Randle (724 points in 2014-15) and Adam Keefe (734 points in 1991-92).
"We have an unwritten rule around here not to do anything stupid."
-Casey Jacobsen, Feb 3, 2000
Another painful result of the WVU loss is that Okorie did not have a chance to set a Stanford season record for most points. He scored 719 points this season, 3rd best all time. Another game and he almost certainly would have passed Chasson Randle (724 points in 2014-15) and Adam Keefe (734 points in 1991-92).
"We have an unwritten rule around here not to do anything stupid."
-Casey Jacobsen, Feb 3, 2000
04-13-2026, 03:25 PM
(04-10-2026, 12:11 AM)norcard10 Wrote: The future has never looked bleaker for all major Stanford sports (bball, especially football, baseball). NIL and transfers admissions has forever changed the landscape for stanford. Good luck to Okorie. He has that it factor when the game is on the line and hopefully succeeds in the NBA.
It's so sad, but I must agree with you. Our revenue sports are doomed because we are unwilling to adapt to the transfer era. There is no way to work around that without confronting it directly and decisively, and we simply aren't. The proof is in the clear mediocrity of our transfers in. It's not subtle and there is no way to hide it. It's obvious.
I still hope we can someday see the light and make the real changes necessary to compete in the transfer era, but even if we never do, I'll still cheer for the Card through thick and thin anyway. At least we still have the best band...
(04-10-2026, 12:11 AM)norcard10 Wrote: The future has never looked bleaker for all major Stanford sports (bball, especially football, baseball). NIL and transfers admissions has forever changed the landscape for stanford. Good luck to Okorie. He has that it factor when the game is on the line and hopefully succeeds in the NBA.
It's so sad, but I must agree with you. Our revenue sports are doomed because we are unwilling to adapt to the transfer era. There is no way to work around that without confronting it directly and decisively, and we simply aren't. The proof is in the clear mediocrity of our transfers in. It's not subtle and there is no way to hide it. It's obvious.
I still hope we can someday see the light and make the real changes necessary to compete in the transfer era, but even if we never do, I'll still cheer for the Card through thick and thin anyway. At least we still have the best band...
04-13-2026, 05:38 PM
A lot will depend on whether he is projected for the first round or second round of the draft. Looking at last year's draft, first-round picks receive guaranteed contracts based on the rookie wage scale (part of the CBA). Last year's 30th pick, Baylor Scheierman, signed a four-year contract totally $14 million with the first two hears guaranteed. The guaranteed contract was on the order of $6 million. (We can rebuild him....) I doubt there is a sane NIL package that can compete with that.
Second round picks are negotiated on a case-by-case basis, and many end up on two-way deals. If that's where he is headed, Stanford can possibly put a competitive "no regrets" package together for him. Would still need to be seven figures.
I don't think losing to West Virginia in a scrub tournament changed any of this.
Second round picks are negotiated on a case-by-case basis, and many end up on two-way deals. If that's where he is headed, Stanford can possibly put a competitive "no regrets" package together for him. Would still need to be seven figures.
I don't think losing to West Virginia in a scrub tournament changed any of this.
A lot will depend on whether he is projected for the first round or second round of the draft. Looking at last year's draft, first-round picks receive guaranteed contracts based on the rookie wage scale (part of the CBA). Last year's 30th pick, Baylor Scheierman, signed a four-year contract totally $14 million with the first two hears guaranteed. The guaranteed contract was on the order of $6 million. (We can rebuild him....) I doubt there is a sane NIL package that can compete with that.
Second round picks are negotiated on a case-by-case basis, and many end up on two-way deals. If that's where he is headed, Stanford can possibly put a competitive "no regrets" package together for him. Would still need to be seven figures.
I don't think losing to West Virginia in a scrub tournament changed any of this.
Second round picks are negotiated on a case-by-case basis, and many end up on two-way deals. If that's where he is headed, Stanford can possibly put a competitive "no regrets" package together for him. Would still need to be seven figures.
I don't think losing to West Virginia in a scrub tournament changed any of this.
05-11-2026, 11:16 AM
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4871...a-peterson
Post lottery ESPN mock has Okorie going 28th to Minnesota.
Now for the teams in that range, does Okorie have a path to a rotation spot or would he likely be in the G-league for most of next season? Because the latter might tip the scales in favor of a return to Stanford. . .maybe.
Post lottery ESPN mock has Okorie going 28th to Minnesota.
Now for the teams in that range, does Okorie have a path to a rotation spot or would he likely be in the G-league for most of next season? Because the latter might tip the scales in favor of a return to Stanford. . .maybe.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4871...a-peterson
Post lottery ESPN mock has Okorie going 28th to Minnesota.
Now for the teams in that range, does Okorie have a path to a rotation spot or would he likely be in the G-league for most of next season? Because the latter might tip the scales in favor of a return to Stanford. . .maybe.
Post lottery ESPN mock has Okorie going 28th to Minnesota.
Now for the teams in that range, does Okorie have a path to a rotation spot or would he likely be in the G-league for most of next season? Because the latter might tip the scales in favor of a return to Stanford. . .maybe.
05-11-2026, 03:07 PM
(05-11-2026, 11:16 AM)northathertonutd Wrote: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4871...a-peterson
Post lottery ESPN mock has Okorie going 28th to Minnesota.
Now for the teams in that range, does Okorie have a path to a rotation spot or would he likely be in the G-league for most of next season? Because the latter might tip the scales in favor of a return to Stanford. . .maybe.
The Ringer has him 16th: https://www.theringer.com/nba-draft/2026...ft#content
You're not helping, Ringer!
(05-11-2026, 11:16 AM)northathertonutd Wrote: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4871...a-peterson
Post lottery ESPN mock has Okorie going 28th to Minnesota.
Now for the teams in that range, does Okorie have a path to a rotation spot or would he likely be in the G-league for most of next season? Because the latter might tip the scales in favor of a return to Stanford. . .maybe.
The Ringer has him 16th: https://www.theringer.com/nba-draft/2026...ft#content
You're not helping, Ringer!
05-11-2026, 03:36 PM
I've already accepted that Okorie is gone.
As I think it's for sure he's drafted in some round.
And I just can't imagine any realistic scenario where's drafted and yet decides to reject it and return to LSJU.
As I think it's for sure he's drafted in some round.
And I just can't imagine any realistic scenario where's drafted and yet decides to reject it and return to LSJU.
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