Josh Okogie Drafted 20th Overall by Minnesota Timberwolves

Completing the jump from a three star recruit to a first round NBA draft pick, Josh Okogie was selected 20th overall by Minnesota on Thursday night. With the selection, Okogie became the first Yellow Jacket to be drafted in the first round since Iman Shumpert in 2011.

After deciding to test the NBA draft waters in mid-March, Okogie blew scouts away during his individual workouts and at the NBA combine, where he topped the charts in both the vertical leap and three-quarter court sprint. His performance earned him the title of “most impressive athlete” by CBS Sports.

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As a player, Okogie boasts exceptional body control. He shocked the basketball community after measuring in with a 7-foot wingspan to compliment his 6-foot-4 frame, giving him elite length in an era where the ability to defend multiple positions is a prerequisite for a successful NBA career. His shooting has improved tremendously since his days at Shiloh High School, evidenced by his 1,033-point college career over just 61 games — all starts, and all in the preeminent college basketball conference.

That is perhaps the most exceptional part of what Okogie accomplished during his Georgia Tech tenure: showing up and dominating, day in and day out, against the top competition in the country. It’s that attitude and demeanor that guided his rise up NBA Draft boards and eventually landed him the opportunity of a lifetime.

Since the end of Georgia Tech’s season, Okogie has worked out for nearly half of NBA teams, leaving lasting impressions all around the league. His selection tonight is the culmination of what was a truly phenomenal four-month trek from unknown commodity to top-tier prospect.

Okogie’s time on the Flats was short, but he will be remembered as a bright spot and a key piece of a young rebuilding team. In just two years, Josh created memories that will not soon be forgotten including his buzzer beater against Notre Dame and his 38 point scoring outburst against Tulane in just the fifth game of his career. The success Josh had at Tech and his development from a three star recruit should be a major part of the recruiting pitch for the staff going forward.

Congratulations to Josh and best of luck in Minnesota!