Georgia Tech guard Josh Okogie is declaring for the draft with the blessing of coach Josh Pastner.
“I’ve talked to (Okogie and his parents) quite a bit since the season ended,” Pastner told the AJC. “We support him, and it was just an opportunity to gauge and get a lot of great information and be really educated on his decision.”
Okogie announced his decision to enter the draft Thursday, though he’ll do so without signing with an agent, which will give him the opportunity to withdraw from the draft and play his junior season at Tech. Through working out for teams and potentially participating in the pre-draft combine in Chicago, Okogie can get feedback on his draft stock.
“I would recommend a person that’s a guaranteed first-round pick should go,” Pastner said.
Pastner obtained feedback from NBA scouts that he shared with Okogie, but chose to keep between the two of them.
“People like him, there’s no doubt about that,” Pastner said. “I think a lot of it depends on who’s in the draft, what are the teams’ needs and what do they think. Like I remind people, him being put on the radar after two years is a great accomplishment by him and shows his continuation of getting better.”
Okogie can begin working out for teams starting April 24 and, if he’s invited, can attend the combine (May 16-20). If he wants to return to Tech, he would have to do so by May 30.
“This will give him a great opportunity to really be able to just have a true idea of where everything stands,” Pastner said.
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