The Toronto Raptors drafted Jonathan Mogbo out of University of San Francisco No. 31 overall at the 2024 NBA Draft.
Mogbo is listed at 6’6″ but he had a crazy growth spurt. He was a 5’9″, 125-pound combo guard entering high school with zero DI offers upon graduating.
Mogbo began his collegiate basketball career at Independence Community College as a redshirt freshman in 2020-21. He came from off the bench in 10 of his 23 appearances. Mogbo then transferred to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M for 2021-22. He was a full-time starter there, averaging 14.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.4 blocks. Mogbo then transferred to Missouri State in 2022-23. He started in 25 of his 30 appearances, averaging 8.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks in 24.4 minutes.
Finally, he transferred to San Francisco, where the forward had a breakout season. He was named to the WCC All-Conference First Team and Newcomer of the Year. He averaged 14.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks in 28.9 minutes.
Now, Mogbo enters the NBA looking to make his mark with the Raptors.
Mogbo was recently interviewed by Esfandiar Baraheni of Raptors Republic. The 22-year-old talked about his game and what he will bring to the Raptors:
“Whether it’s guarding the perimeter, guarding the small ball big, just being active, having a high motor, I feel like I can be put in a lot of places…just trying to understand, have a feeling for the positions on the court besides the five…playing the perimeter, playing the corner, all that stuff, so now I gotta learn but I don’t want to be that guy who’s taking forever to learn…I’m very coachable. Just understanding the game, how I can fit and how I can impact the game, whether it’s cutting, backdoors, handoffs, dribble keeps, getting into action, screen and roll, all that stuff. I feel like I’m so versatile to the point I can do all those things.”
Mogbo then talked about his jumpshot. That’s one area of his game that he will need to develop in order to stay on the floor. Mogbo talked about the work he’s put into his shot over the years and the jump he made from Missouri State to San Francisco with his free throw percentage, via Baraheni:
“I had a trainer, Scottie’s trainer (Brian Macon), he tried to help me with that (jumpshot) I feel like it definitely helped…going into my sophomore year in college, started to shoot more, shot threes. I think I ended up shooting 32, 33 percent, it was good and then went back again to Missouri State, mentally, played a different role, played the four spot, didn’t have me shooting threes or anything…University of San Francisco that was the first time a staff helped me with the jumpshot, like trying to get it better. At Missouri State I ended up shooting 44 percent from the free throw line and then at San Francisco I ended up shooting 70 percent, made a big jump. Wasn’t the threes but you know the soft midranges and everything…trying to work my way up…every year trying to get better and better.”
Mogbo will have plenty of time to develop with the rebuilding Raptors. He has a very versatile skillset, which makes him the perfect type of big man for Toronto.
NBA’s Christmas Day slate revealed
The Toronto Raptors will once again not be featured on the NBA’s Christmas Day slate.
The Raptors have only played on Christmas twice in the team’s 29-year existence.
The league will reportedly have five games set for Christmas this year, which will feature some exciting matchups.
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