Pacers select Ike Anigbogu 47th after knee issue sends stock plummeting

With the 47th pick in Thursday's NBA Draft, the Indiana Pacers selected UCLA center Ike Anigbogu.

Anigbogu, who is just 18-years-old, was overshadowed by guard Lonzo Ball and forward T.J. Leaf at UCLA, but projects to fit today's mold of an NBA big man quite well. It's Anigbogu's age and potential refinement that likely made him so appealing for the Pacers.

Anigbogu was originally projected as a top-15 to top-20 pick, before a medical red flag surrounding a knee issue reportedly tanked his stock.

The 4.7 points, four rebounds, and 13 minutes he averaged in his lone college season aren't much on paper, but those numbers project to 14.5 points and 12.4 rebounds when adjusted per 40 minutes. Whether Anigbogu has the offensive talent to convert on that potential, however, could be an issue.

Anigbogu is a strong rebounder at both ends of the floor, but his offensive game lacks a respectable shot, and his simplistic post game won't immediately translate to the NBA.