On April 9th, Abuka Okori just declared for the NBA draft after one standout year at Stanford. The freshman dropped 23.2 points per game on average, and shattered the ACC record for most 30-point games by a rookie. On April 9th, he chose to go pro, skipping his last three years of college ball, and scouts see him as a late first-round pick ready for the league. Earlier this week, that news hit Stanford hard, since Okori was their main man from day one, carrying the team to more wins than expected.
But the Cardinals still miss the NCAA tournament, stretching their drought to 12 straight years without a March Madness bid. Fans and analysts are buzzing about the void he leaves, forcing Stanford to rethink their whole identity on the court. Coach Kyle Smith now faces real pressure after coming over from Washington State with big tournament dreams that haven't panned out in two seasons. Looking ahead, the transfer portal is buzzing, but landing a top guard might be tough with Stanford's recent struggles.
They've got hope in their incoming four-star recruits, like Isaiah Rogers and Julius Price, both guards built like Okori, who could thrive in Smith's, system that sparked breakouts from guys like Maxine Raynaud. Smith's proven he can scheme up wins with any roster, so if these freshmen step up or smart portal moves click, Stanford might finally break through and get back to contending.