What is Adama Sanogo’s draft projection? Exploring Uconn’s 6’9” forward’s chances to make it into the NBA

The UConn Huskies secured their fifth NCAA Tournament championship in program history by taking down San Diego State 76-59 in the title matchup on Monday night.

Near the heart of their success was standout big man Adama Sanogo. The junior forward stole the headlines and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament for his strong play. Sanogo ended with 17 points and 10 rebounds in the NCAA title victory and averaged 19.7 points and 9.8 rebounds during the six tournament games.

The 6-foot-9 big man has spent the past three seasons at UConn and has progressed in his development each year. He is a two-time All-Big East team member, a member of the Big East All-Freshman team and now an NCAA champion.

There is speculation that Sanogo will now test the NBA waters this offseason, although he still has two years of eligibility remaining if he wants to return to school.

Adama Sanogo's NBA potential

Sanogo has an interesting outlook as he will be slightly undersized for an NBA center position. He also plays with a back-to-the-basket style which has become much less common in the NBA than it has been in past eras of basketball.

While he showed promise as a shot-blocker last season, averaging 1.9 blocks per game, Sanogo tallied just 0.8 per game this year. The Mali native is somewhat heavy-footed and has struggled when switched out onto the perimeter.

However, he plays with an admirable motor that will still stand out at the NBA level. His shooting touch has grown massively, and Sanogo has also flashed pick-and-pop ability this season. He shot 76.6% on free-throw attempts this season and also shot 36.5% on 3-pointers while attempting 1.3 per game. This comes after attempting just one 3-pointer in the two years prior.

Given the growth in the importance of 3-point shooting in the modern NBA, this unlocked skillset raises Sanogo's ceiling in a major way. Most are expecting the 21-year-old to hear his name called in the second round of the draft.

Sanogo may still consider returning to school, especially given the team's success and his potential for NIL deals, but there is an NBA role that can be carved out for him. Teams are constantly in search of backup center help, and his rebounding ability and shooting touch are enough to earn him the opportunity.

His NBA future may be largely dictated by his fit on the team he lands on, but don't be surprised if Sanogo rises up draft boards as June 22 inches closer.