# Jahlil Okafor
Jahlil Okafor (born 1995) is an American professional basketball player who was selected third overall by the [Philadelphia 76ers](https://www.edgepedia.org/philadelphia-76ers) in the 2015 NBA Draft after winning an NCAA championship as a freshman at Duke.[1](https://goduke.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/jahlil-okafor/4394) • [2](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/okafoja01.html) A 6-foot-10-inch, 270-pound center, he was regarded as one of the most skilled low-post scorers in his draft class but struggled to find a lasting NBA role as the league shifted toward perimeter-oriented play.[2](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/okafoja01.html) • [3](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/jahlil-okafors-problem-is-actually-offense)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1995, Chicago, Illinois[1](https://goduke.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/jahlil-okafor/4394) |
| Height / weight | 6 ft 10 in, 270 lb[2](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/okafoja01.html) |
| College | Duke, 2014–15; NCAA champion[4](https://www.nba.com/player/1626143/jahlil-okafor/bio) |
| NBA Draft | First round, third overall, 2015, by the Philadelphia 76ers[2](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/okafoja01.html) |
| Rookie season | 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in 53 games; All-Rookie first team[5](https://www.latimes.com/sports/nba/la-sp-nba-report-20160312-story.html) |
| Career NBA averages | 10.3 points, 4.7 rebounds per game over 248 games[2](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/okafoja01.html) |
| International honors | Gold medals at 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship, 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship, and 2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship[4](https://www.nba.com/player/1626143/jahlil-okafor/bio) |
## Early life and high school
Okafor was born in Chicago, Illinois, and attended Whitney Young High School there.[1](https://goduke.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/jahlil-okafor/4394) As a senior he averaged 24.1 points and 11.3 rebounds and led [Whitney Young](https://www.edgepedia.org/whitney-young) to the Illinois Class 4A title, earning national player of the year recognition from [McDonald's](https://www.edgepedia.org/mcdonalds), USA Today, and Parade Magazine.[4](https://www.nba.com/player/1626143/jahlil-okafor/bio) He was regarded as the top recruit in the 2014 class.[6](https://time.com/3816290/final-four-players-tyus-jones-nba-draft/)
## College career at Duke
Okafor played one season at [Duke University](https://www.edgepedia.org/duke-university) in 2014–15, helping the Blue Devils to a 35–4 record and the NCAA championship.[4](https://www.nba.com/player/1626143/jahlil-okafor/bio) He averaged 17.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game while shooting .664 from the field, second in the nation.[4](https://www.nba.com/player/1626143/jahlil-okafor/bio) He became the first freshman to be named ACC Player of the Year.[7](https://www.nba.com/lakers/150428_okafordraft) He was also named USBWA National Freshman of the Year, a consensus First Team All-American, and runner-up for the John R. Wooden Award.[4](https://www.nba.com/player/1626143/jahlil-okafor/bio)
## NBA career
The Philadelphia 76ers selected Okafor with the third overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.[2](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/okafoja01.html) As a rookie he led the 76ers in scoring with 17.5 points per game to go with 7.0 rebounds over 53 games.[5](https://www.latimes.com/sports/nba/la-sp-nba-report-20160312-story.html) His season ended in March 2016 with surgery to repair a small cartilage tear in his right knee.[5](https://www.latimes.com/sports/nba/la-sp-nba-report-20160312-story.html) He was named to the NBA All-Rookie first team.[8](https://www.nba.com/news/jahlil-okafor-unsure-his-place-philadelphia-76ers)
Okafor's role diminished after Philadelphia drafted and developed other big men, and he later played for the [Brooklyn Nets](https://www.edgepedia.org/brooklyn-nets) and [New Orleans Pelicans](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-orleans-pelicans).[4](https://www.nba.com/player/1626143/jahlil-okafor/bio) Across 248 NBA games he averaged 10.3 points and 4.7 rebounds.[2](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/okafoja01.html) In February 2025 he signed a 10-day contract with the [Indiana Pacers](https://www.edgepedia.org/indiana-pacers).[9](https://www.nba.com/player/1626143/jahlil_okafor)
## Playing style and assessment
Okafor was regarded as an elite low-post scorer with polished footwork, but his lack of perimeter shooting and defensive limitations reduced his value as the NBA emphasized pace, spacing, and versatile defense.[3](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/jahlil-okafors-problem-is-actually-offense) Analysts noted that he created his own shots frequently and was assisted on only 31.3 percent of his two-point field goals, compared with 55.4 percent for [Karl-Anthony Towns](https://www.edgepedia.org/karl-anthony-towns) and 62 percent for Kristaps Porzingis.[3](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/jahlil-okafors-problem-is-actually-offense) Retrospectively, his selection has been described as one of the biggest draft busts of the 2010s.[10](https://www.si.com/nba/76ers/onsi/news/nba-draft-76ers-jahlil-okafor-2015-top-bust)
## Personal life
Okafor is of Nigerian descent through his paternal grandfather and is a distant cousin of former NBA center [Emeka Okafor](https://www.edgepedia.org/emeka-okafor).[4](https://www.nba.com/player/1626143/jahlil-okafor/bio) His mother, Decresha Lanett Benton, died when he was nine years old, and his aunt Chinyere Okafor-Conley helped raise him along with his father, Chukwudi Okafor.[4](https://www.nba.com/player/1626143/jahlil-okafor/bio)
## References
1. [Jahlil Okafor – Duke University Men's Basketball roster](https://goduke.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/jahlil-okafor/4394)
2. [Jahlil Okafor Stats – Basketball-Reference](https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/okafoja01.html)
3. [Jahlil Okafor's Problem is Actually Offense – FOX Sports](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/jahlil-okafors-problem-is-actually-offense)
4. [Jahlil Okafor bio – NBA.com](https://www.nba.com/player/1626143/jahlil-okafor/bio)
5. [76ers rookie Jahlil Okafor to miss rest of season after knee surgery – Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/sports/nba/la-sp-nba-report-20160312-story.html)
6. [Final Four Players Should Drop Out of School – TIME](https://time.com/3816290/final-four-players-tyus-jones-nba-draft/)
7. [2015 NBA Draft Profile: Jahlil Okafor – Los Angeles Lakers / NBA.com](https://www.nba.com/lakers/150428_okafordraft)
8. [Jahlil Okafor questions his role in Philadelphia 76ers' rebuilding efforts – NBA.com](https://www.nba.com/news/jahlil-okafor-unsure-his-place-philadelphia-76ers)
9. [Jahlil Okafor – NBA.com profile](https://www.nba.com/player/1626143/jahlil_okafor)
10. [NBA Draft: 76ers' Selection of Jahlil Okafor in 2015 Considered a Top Bust – Sports Illustrated](https://www.si.com/nba/76ers/onsi/news/nba-draft-76ers-jahlil-okafor-2015-top-bust)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Basketball and court team sports › Basketball players and coaches (biographies) › NBA players, 2011–2018 › NBA centers, 2011–2018*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license