THE FLATS – Josh Okogie could be primed for breakout season in Phoenix … Marcus Georges-Hunt signs with team in Kuwait following G League season … Could Derrick Favors be fighting for a roster spot in OKC? … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.
OKOGIE FEATURED AMONG 2022-23 BREAKOUT HOPEFULS
The Phoenix Suns core of Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder and Deandre Ayton is back for yet another season even though there was some skepticism surrounding the futures of Bridges, Crowder and Ayton in trade talks for Kevin Durant. Nonetheless, this team is almost exactly the same and will once again be a title contender in the Western Conference.
The changes Phoenix made though were to their bench, as the team added Damion Lee, Jock Landale and former first-round pick Josh Okogie. While he may not necessarily have a breakout, career-year like others featured on this list, Okogie will be utilized by the Suns as a strong wing defender.
Possessing a 7-foot wingspan as a 6-4 wing, Josh Okogie is the perfect type of player for the Suns to utilize in their second-unit for defensive purposes. Monty Williams is a smart, defensive-minded coach, Mikal Bridges is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate and there are plenty of other smart, veteran defenders on this roster, which is why Okgoie will be able to settle in early on and learn more about how to be a high-impact defensive player over the course of the year. Getting offensive production from him, specifically from the three-point line, would be an added bonus for Phoenix.
Josh Okogie could see a nice year in Phoenix 💪https://t.co/6Hfvmzg69v
GEORGES-HUNT SIGNS WITH TEAM IN KUWAIT
HoopsHype.com reports that Marcus Georges-Hunt, who played last season with the College Park Skyhawks in the G League, has signed to play with Kuwait SC for the 2022-23 season.
Check out the best of Marcus Georges-Hunt 🦍 – – – – –#TrueToTheSouthside pic.twitter.com/su7p2JT5nj
— College Park Skyhawks (@CPSkyhawks) May 11, 2022
COULD FAVORS BE FIGHTING FOR A ROSTER SPOT?
At 31 years old, Derrick Favors is unlike the other current Thunder players that could be elsewhere next season. He’s a key veteran in the locker room and one of only two players over the age of 30.
Alongside rookie Chet Holmgren, Favors could actually be impactful next season in a mentorship role and also as a frontcourt partner on the floor. The veteran big didn’t play a ton last season, but was extremely efficient when he was on the court. He produced 11.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per 36 minutes during the 2021-22 campaign.
While he was a solid contributor on the court in limited action, he’s not a player many teams will be willing to give up an asset for. However, he’s on a roughly $10.2 million expiring contract that could be useful for Oklahoma City.
Favors flurry 🪣🪣@dfavors14 | #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/wqVnHN31uC
Great time at Lindsay Day today. Thanks to @Slick_Nick126 and @AlvaradoJose15 for hosting a great event and giving back to the community! A lot of current and former Royals enjoying the day!#OnceARoyalAlwaysARoyal #CKFamily pic.twitter.com/wBZ1LdoZTQ
🔥 @Callmeush #PotanınKartalları 🦅 pic.twitter.com/CoA68j3PNN
— Beşiktaş Basketbol (@BJK_Basketbol) July 28, 2022
Familiar face on campus 🐝🐝 @Callmeush pic.twitter.com/cSC5QMnOLf
— Georgia Tech Men’s Basketball (@GTMBB) July 21, 2022
Just have fun my son! Keep crafting young king! 🤝🏾💪🏾💯🏀 https://t.co/57AabrW70Q
Happy to be apart of the @MoveInsoles family! 🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/UGf6TSmJnf
Kenny Anderson @chibbs_1 was All City 1st team in New York H.S. Basketball as a freshmen.
Late Coach Jack Curran did not let him play in the first quarter “beings he was a freshmen” #PointGod pic.twitter.com/ccWjcNoLxk
Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC | July 28, 2022
Here is the weekly review of the top performing Yellow Jackets alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Moses Wright (6’9”-F-1998, graduated ‘2021, plays pro in the NBA) could not help the Dallas Mavericks (52-30) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the Dallas Mavericks (#4) lost 84-95 on the road to the Los Angeles Lakers. Wright was the second best scorer with 17 points. He also added 6 rebounds in 22 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it’s only Wright’s first season in pro basketball. The Regular Season already ended in the NBA Summer League. Wright has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages 15.5ppg, 6.8rpg and 1.5apg in four games he played so far.
Michael Devoe (6’5”-G-1999, graduated ‘2022, plays in the NBA) was not able to help the Los Angeles Clippers in their game against the Miami Heat (2-3) in the NBA Summer League. Devoe did not impress in that game on Saturday. He recorded only 3 points. The Los Angeles Clippers (#8) were edged86-83 in Miami by the Heat. The Regular Season already ended in the NBA Summer League. This season Devoe averages 3.3ppg.
Marcus Georges-Hunt (6’5”-F-1994, graduated ‘2016, currently in the NBA) was not able to secure a victory for the Atlanta Hawks (43-39) in their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers (3-2) in the NBA Summer League. It was not his best game last Saturday. Georges-Hunt recorded only one point in 17 minutes. The Atlanta Hawks (#9) lost 90-94 in Cleveland to the Cavaliers. The Regular Season already ended in the NBA Summer League. This year Georges-Hunt averages 3.3ppg, 2.5rpg and 1.5spg in four games. He is a naturalized Virgin Islander.
Other former Georgia Tech players, who play in pro basketball:
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Georgia Tech basketball alumni.
#ProJackets in the NBA/G League 2021-22 PLAYERDATANUMBERSTEAM JOSE ALVARADO Team: New Orleans Pelicans Number: 15 NBA Experience: Rookie Years at Georgia Tech: 2017-21 Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y. Status: Active6-0. 179 lbs NBA stats 6.1 ppg 1.9 rpg 2.8 apg 44.6% FG G-League stats 19.8 ppg 6.0 rpg 6.8 apg 52.9% FGRecord: 36-46 Standing: 9th West / -28 GB Streak: L2 Last 10: 6-4 JAMES BANKS III Team: Texas Legends Number: 24 NBA Experience: Rookie Years at Georgia Tech: 2018-20 Hometown: Atlanta, Ga. Status: Active6-10, 250 lbs 6.4 ppg 5.5 rpg 1.5 bpg 60.0% FGRecord (Legends): 19-15 Standing: 5th West / -5 GB Streak: W2 Last 10: 8-2 DERRICK FAVORS Team: Oklahoma City Thunder Number: 15 NBA Experience: 11 seasons Years at Georgia Tech: 2009-10 Hometown: Atlanta, Ga. Status: Active6-9, 265 lbs 5.3 ppg 4.7 rpg 0.3 bpg 51.6% FGRecord: 24-58 Standing: 14th West/ -40 GB Streak: L3 Last 10: 4-6 MARCUS GEORGES-HUNT Team: College Park Skyhawks Number: 13 NBA Experience: 2 seasons Years at Georgia Tech: 2012-16 Hometown: Memphis, Tenn. Status: Active 6-6, 220 lbs 11.7 ppg 5.0 rpg 2.7 apg 46.3% FGRecord: 20-13 Standing: 5th East / -4.5 GB Streak: W11 Last 10: 10-0 KAMMEON HOLSEY Last team: College Park Skyhawks Number: 25 NBA Experience: Rookie Years at Georgia Tech: 2011-15 Hometown: Sparta, Ga. Status: Active6-8, 230 lbs 4.6 ppg 3.0 rpg 0.3 bpg 51.9% FGWaived by Skyhawks on 2/2 JOSH OKOGIE Team: Minnesota Timberwolves Number: 20 NBA Experience: 3 seasons Years at Georgia Tech: 2016-18 Hometown: Snellville, Ga. Status: Active6-4, 213 lbs 2.7 ppg 1.4 rpg 0.5 apg 40.4% FGRecord: 46-36 Standing: 7th / -18 GB Streak: L1 Last 10: 4-6 IMAN SHUMPERT Last Team: Brooklyn Nets Number: 21 NBA Experience: 9 seasons Years at Georgia Tech: 2008-11 Hometown: Oak Park, Ill. Status: Active6-5, 212 lbs Won "Dancing with the Stars" MOSES WRIGHT Team: Texas Legends/Dallas Mavericks Number: 5 NBA Experience: Rookie Years at Georgia Tech: 2017-21 Hometown: Raleigh, N.C. Status: Active6-8, 226 lbs NBA stats 1.0 ppg 0.3 rpg 0.3 bpg 25.0% FG G-League stats 19.7 ppg 9.3 rpg 1.7 bpg 60.0% FGRecord (Legends): 19-15 Standing: 5th West / -5 GB Streak: W2 Last 10: 8-2 THADDEUS YOUNG Team: Toronto Raptors Number: 30 NBA Experience: 14 seasons Years at Georgia Tech: 2006-07 Hometown: Memphis, Tenn. Status: Active 6-8, 235 lbs 6.2 ppg 4.0 rpg 2.0 apg 51.8% FGRecord: 48-34 Standing: 5th East / -5 GB Streak: L1 Last 10: 8-2
Ontario native will enroll as a freshman for 2022-23 season
Summer workouts have come to a close as the Yellow Jackets prep for 2022-23 season
Wright signs with Chinese team, Usher headed to Turkey