USC F, Chimezie Metu
Chimezie Metu is someone that the Lakers should be very aware of. He grew up in Lawndale, California before attending USC for college. That is right down the street essentially from the Lakers, and Metu could be on the Lakers radar.
Metu could be in play for Los Angeles with the No. 25 pick. He should be selected near the end of the first round or early second round. His athleticism is what many teams will be drawn to.
At 6’10”, Metu is a strong shot blocker, averaging 1.6 per game at USC. What makes that number so impressive is that he averaged 1.6 in only 18.5 minutes per game in his first season at USC. That shows that he could be a difference maker even if not receiving a heavy amount of minutes right away.
🎥 LA native Chimezie Metu talks about working out for his hometown team, his time at USC, and being around Magic Johnson. pic.twitter.com/AGtPMHBxAu
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 9, 2018
Offensively, Metu has a lot of tools to take his game to the next level. However, he needs some refinement on that end of the court. His athleticism allows him to finish well around the rim, but his jump shot could use some work. He looks like he can develop range on his jumper, as he made 74.1 percent from the charity stripe as a sophomore and 73 percent last season.
Metu’s decision to sit out NIT games after USC didn’t get selected for the NCAA Tournament may rub some people the wrong way. However, he has the tools and skill set to be a late round pick that can develop into a solid rotation player at the next level.