Aaron Nkrumah is trying to become the first player from a historically Black college or university to hear his name called in the NBA draft since 2012. That was the year Norfolk State’s Kyle O’Quinn went in the second round. And it’s been nothing but silence for HBCU programs since.
Nkrumah, a 6-foot-6 guard out of Tennessee State, has a real shot at changing that Thursday night. The Worcester, Massachusetts native just put together one of the best seasons in the Ohio Valley Conference, averaging 17.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists. But it’s the defensive numbers that really pop. He led the conference in steals with 2.9 per game and finished with 87 total thefts, making him one of the most disruptive perimeter defenders in the country.
His OVC Player of the Year campaign earned him an invite to the NBA Draft Combine after he’d already turned heads at the G League Combine. During two scrimmage games, Nkrumah scored 31 points and knocked down three 3-pointers, according to a report from ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel. That kind of two-way production is what pushed him into second-round conversations.
Siegel’s latest mock draft has Nkrumah going 45th overall to the Sacramento Kings. That’s a team that needs exactly what he brings: defensive energy, bench depth, and a guy who can play multiple roles without complaining about touches.
What the Kings Would Get
Sacramento is looking for players who can wear different hats and bring some toughness on defense. Nkrumah’s non-stop motor fits that description perfectly. He’s worked out for multiple teams in the pre-draft process and the Kings are one of the clubs that brought him in. According to Siegel, everyone who’s seen him up close has been impressed with the two-way energy he could bring as a second-round pick.
Nobody has won more during the pre-draft process than Nkrumah. The guy has been a constant workhorse, grinding through workouts and proving he belongs. For a Kings team that’s searching for bench stability, he could fill a lot of gaps.
Tennessee State coach Nolan Smith’s first season got a major boost when Nkrumah emerged as a star. Now that star is on the verge of doing something no HBCU player has done in 14 years. The draft starts Thursday night, and Nkrumah will be watching and waiting for his name.
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