Spurs draft Chimezie Metu with No. 49 pick
With the 49th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs selected USC power forward Chimezie Metu.
Metu has NBA-level talent as a rim-protector and mid-range shooter. However, he struggled with consistency and his emotions on the court during his three years on campus, exemplified by an incident in January when he punched an opponent in the groin, which resulted in the loss of his captaincy and a half-game suspension.
The 6-11 California native responded well after the suspension, although USC didn't qualify for the NCAA tournament. Metu was named first-team All-Pac 12 as the Trojans' leading scorer, after averaging 15.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game.
Position: PF/C
School: USC
College Experience: Junior
Height: 6-foot-11
Weight: 219 lbs
Wingspan: 7-foot
Max vertical: 36 inches
What the analysts are saying
"Metu has NBA-level talent and showed some improvement this season, but hasn't quite done enough to lock himself in as a surefire first-rounder. His good games can be head-turning, and his athleticism and tools are solid. But he's not consistent playing with his back to the basket and sometimes shies away when the paint is packed, which hurts him as a rebounder. He can shoot from mid-range and has tried to play as more of a stretch big, but those results have been mixed. Metu will likely need to embrace a lower-usage, pick-and-pop role at the next level to thrive." - Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated
"Metu is a skilled offensive player with a solid handle and the ability to step out and shoot." - Sam Vecenie, The Athletic