Despite Chant, Duke's Jahlil Okafor Is Hardly Overrated

Before the college basketball season even began, before Jahlil Okafor even played one game at Duke, the 6-foot-11 freshman from Chicago was already making national headlines.

Okafor was expected to come to Duke not only to be one of the best big men in the ACC, but in the nation. Somehow, with all the lofty prognostications, Okafor has seemingly exceeded all premeditated expectations. The big man has averaged 18.2 points and 9.3 rebounds through 23 games and is widely believed to be the first overall pick in this summer’s NBA draft.

With 13:46 left in the second half, Okafor went to the free throw line. As Okafor squared his feet fifteen feet away from the hoop and players lined up on either side of the paint, the Florida State crowd chanted “overrated.” Why would Florida State give an overrated chant to arguably the best college basketball player in America? Even the experts were thrown off.

 

Florida State fans chanting “overrated”? Were they talking about Okafor or their football team? I’m confused.

— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) February 10, 2015

 

Okafor is hardly overrated. Although he attracts a great deal of media attention and is the favorite to win the John R. Wooden Award, Okafor is deserving of every bit of media praise. Okafor has been double-teamed nearly every game this season but despite that he has been virtually unstoppable, flaunting his deft footwork and dexterity when finishing around the rim.

Teams haven’t been able to find an answer for Okafor — there just might not be one. That’s transparent as he’s scored in double-figures every game this season. Although limited in the first half with foul trouble, Okafor still managed to produce 13 points while shooting a perfect 5-5 from the floor. Add that to his sublime 65.9 field-goal percentage.

Whether Florida State’s chant was directed at Okafor or Duke, the chant was erroneous and vacuous. Chanting overrated to a player or team that beats you on your home floor isn’t exactly shrewd.

James Szuba is a college basketball writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesSzuba.