COLUMBIA, Mo. • Growing up in Lowell, Mass., Alex Oriakhi mapped out his future the moment he picked up a basketball. He was 5 years old.
“The Celtics was really all you knew and all you really watched,” said Oriakhi, an NBA draft hopeful who played his senior season at Missouri. “I was always watching Antoine Walker, Paul Pierce, Walter McCarty. Now, I might have the opportunity to play on the same court as Paul Pierce and the guys I grew up watching.
“I told myself this is what I want do to for the rest of my life, at age 5. It’s been a long journey, and now it’s really here.”
Perhaps. Draft analysts consider the former Mizzou rent-a-center a long shot to hear his name called in Thursday’s NBA draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Primarily a rebounder and shot-blocker in three seasons at Connecticut, Oriakhi was more of an offensive threat at Missouri, where last season he posted career-best figures for scoring (11.2 points per game), shooting percentage (63.9), and free throw percentage (74.6).
People are also reading…
At times, his production was only as good as his teammates’ ability — or willingness — to pass him the ball. In 10 of Missouri’s 34 games, Oriakhi took four or fewer shots. By season’s end, he was the team’s most efficient scorer, making 19 of 20 shots in MU’s final three games.
Most of those attempts came under the basket, but Oriakhi said he’s expanded his range while working out for NBA teams the last few months.
“I don’t think a lot of people even know I can shoot,” said Oriakhi, who measured at 6-foot-9½ in shoes during his NBA tryouts. “I’ve heard a lot of people say I’ve got no touch outside 15 feet, but I just laugh. That’s why you can’t believe everything you read. I’ve worked on my jump shot since my sophomore year. Now, in these workouts, I’m just showing everyone what I’ve been working on.”
Oriakhi, who turns 23 today, wasn’t invited to the NBA pre-draft combine in Chicago but has worked out for the 76ers, Bucks, Bulls, Clippers, Lakers, Mavericks, Nets, Pacers, Suns and Timberwolves. He has a workout Monday with the Grizzlies in Memphis.
A natural power forward, Oriakhi played center in college but believes he can play either frontcourt position in the NBA. He posted 11 double-doubles last season, the most by a Mizzou player since Arthur Johnson led the Big 12 with 19 in 2002-03.
“I’m not really changing my game,” Oriakhi said. “I’m just showing that I’m a guy who’ll be physical and battle down there, but on top of that can hit the 15-footer and hit free throws.”
That won’t guarantee a spot in the two-round draft, which consists of 60 picks. ESPN’s Chad Ford has Oriakhi as the draft’s 113th-rated prospect. NBADraftExpress.com ranks him No. 98.
Point guard Phil Pressey is the most likely Mizzou player to get drafted. Ford ranks MU’s career assists leader No. 48, while NBADraftExpress projects Pressey falling to Orlando with the 21st pick in the second round.
Ford ranks Mizzou forward Laurence Bowers No. 82 among draft-eligible players. Bowers declined an interview request.
Oriakhi was allowed to transfer to Missouri without sitting out a year when the NCAA ruled Connecticut ineligible for the 2013 postseason for the program’s low Academic Progress Rate. He started all 34 games for the Tigers, leading the team in rebounds (8.4 per game) and blocked shots (1.6).
Oriakhi, who has spent the last few months in Santa Monica, Calif., where his agency, Wasserman Media Group, is headquartered, plans to watch the draft with family in Lowell — if he can bear to watch.
“I’m nervous, but at the end of the day, I have no regrets,” he said. “I’ve shown everything I can show. … I’ve worked hard. I’ve never gotten in trouble. There’s nothing in my background you have to worry about. I feel like, why not? Why not someone like me?”
Alden selected for national role
Missouri athletic director Mike Alden has been selected as the 2013-14 president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.
The NACDA is the professional association for more than 6,500 college athletics administrators at more than 1,600 schools in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Alden, who’s about to start his 16th year at Mizzou, took over his new role at the recent NACDA convention in Orlando, Fla. Texas women’s director of athletics Chris Plonsky will serve as the NACDA vice president for 2013-14.
“I’ve known Mike for a very long time and have enjoyed watching his career and all he has accomplished,” Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive said. “In his role as president of NACDA, he will bring energy, passion and commitment to the membership, and the organization will certainly benefit.”