Los Angeles Lakers land their dream prospect in 2017 NBA Mock Draft
By Nick Ziegler
20. . Center. UCLA. Ike Anigbogu. 28. player
After grabbing point guard Lonzo Ball with the second overall pick in the mock draft, the Lakers will be selecting another UCLA product with their second pick in the first round.
One of the reasons for the turnaround at UCLA last season was because of the talented freshman that they were able to bring in. Both Ball and T.J. Leaf will be first round picks, and so will backup center Ike Anigbogu.
As one of the youngest college basketball players in the country, Anigbogu played behind Leaf and center Thomas Welsh. Even though Anigbogu has a lot of raw talent, he wasn’t going to be taking over for Welsh, who was constantly praised by Bill Walton as being one of the best shooters in the country.
In 13 minutes per game last season, Anigbogu averaged 4.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. Per 40 minutes, Anigbogu would have averaged 3.7 blocks per game and a double-double.
At 6’10” with a wingspan of 7’6”, Anigbogu has the ideal size and strength that you would want in a center. While he might be raw, Anigbogu could be a very good player with a few years of seasoning. Because the Lakers aren’t in a rush to be a title contender, waiting a few years for Anigbogu to develop could pay off big time.