STANFORD, Calif. – Following a tremendously productive freshman campaign, Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie has made his decision to remain in the NBA Draft.
Okorie will become Stanford’s 44th all-time selection in the NBA Draft, and he would be the 14th choice in the first round and first since 2021. He would be Stanford’s fifth selection in the last eight seasons – a mark only matched by Duke and North Carolina – and second in a row under Anne and Tony Joseph Director of Men’s Basketball Kyle Smith, as Maxime Raynaud was a second round pick last season to the Sacramento Kings.
“We are thrilled for Ebuka as he takes the next step in his journey,” said Smith. “He gave so much to this program in his short tenure. We would have loved to have had him longer, but his accomplishments and team success have led him to his ultimate individual goal, the NBA. It is his drive, talent, and character which has separated him from others, and we are proud to have this life-long relationship as Ebuka starts his NBA career. We wish him the best!”
Okorie gave Stanford an AP All-America honorable mention selection for the second consecutive season, marking the first back-to-back honorees for Stanford since 2001-02. The Nashua, New Hampshire native finished second all-time in a single season at Stanford in scoring average (23.1 ppg) and third in total points (719), while leading the ACC in scoring and ranking seventh nationally, including the third-best mark among freshmen.
“This will be Stanford’s third NBA player over the last three seasons,” continued Smith.
“Spencer Jones, Maxime Raynaud and Ebuka all share the same Stanford qualities: They are hardworking, highly intelligent, and humble people who are grateful for their opportunities. Spencer and Max have taken advantage of their chances, and I know Ebuka will do the same.”
Okorie broke ACC freshman records for single-season scoring average and 30-point games (8), and he set new Stanford freshman records in points, field goals and free throws. Okorie’s long list of accolades includes selections to the All-ACC first team, ACC All-Rookie team and NABC All-Pacific Division first team. He was a four-time ACC Rookie of the Week and one-time ACC Player of the Week.
One of the most dynamic players to wear the Stanford uniform, Okorie became the first Stanford athlete to score 40 points in a game since 2002, doing so against Georgia Tech on Feb. 7, and he broke the Stanford freshman single-game scoring record three times. He is one of six freshmen in ACC history with a 40-point game.
Stanford had five active players in the NBA last season in Raynaud (Sacramento Kings), Jones (Denver Nuggets), Ziaire Williams (Brooklyn Nets), Brook Lopez (Los Angeles Clippers), and Dwight Powell (Dallas Mavericks), in addition to one NBA head coach in Mitch Johnson (San Antonio Spurs). Raynaud also contributed Smith back-to-back NBA All-Rookie Team selections, as Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies via Washington State) was honored in 2025.