Ayo Dosunmu isn’t paying attention to mock drafts.
Especially in April, approximately two months ahead of the NBA draft, which is scheduled for June 25 at the Barclays Center in New York.
I’d say that’s a wise strategy.
After completing his sophomore season at Illinois, Dosunmu recently declared he was going pro.
That has opened the door for experts to weigh in.
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NBC Sports projects Dosunmu as a first-round selection. Others believe he’s a second-round pick or will even go undrafted.
“It’s too early for projections,” he said. “I’m staying levelheaded and going to keep working. I know when it’s time to show my ability, it’s going to help me a lot.”
Dosunmu was referring to the NBA combine scheduled for May 21-24.
Besides providing an opportunity to address concerns about his perimeter game, the combine will more importantly allow NBA decision-makers to get a close, personal view of the 6-foot-5 point guard.
To get a peek inside his heart and mind. To get a better understanding of his passion and drive.
“I feel like the combine would help me a lot,” Dosunmu said. “But I do believe I’ve put myself in a good position.”
The knocks on Dosunmu are he isn’t the greatest 3-point shooter — he converted only 29.6% this season — nor is he wildly athletic.
But he led the Illini (21-10) in scoring at 16.6 points and had the program on pace to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014 until the coronavirus pandemic shut down the season.
Translation? Dosunmu is a winner.
No one knows that more than Morgan Park coach Nick Irvin, who watched Dosunmu guide his program to a pair of Class 3A state championships.
“Ayo gets it done,” Irvin said. “He could be the best point guard in the draft. He has size, he defends and he gets to the basket. He’s absolutely a first-round pick.
“If they would have had an NCAA Tournament, I think he’d be a lottery pick.”
Irvin didn’t deny Dosunmu’s shooting has room for improvement.
“You know, there have been a number of point guards who when they were coming into the league people said couldn’t shoot,” Irvin said. “Rajon Rondo and Jason Kidd are two of them. Rondo is a great player and Kidd is a Hall of Famer.
“It just takes time. The thing about Ayo is, he’s going to put in the work to get better. Let me tell you something about Ayo — everything he touches turns to gold.”
Illini fans know that better than most. They saw Dosunmu knock down four seasons of clutch shots in two.
They don’t want to see him leave. He’s a legend in Champaign.
His will to win and ability to rise to the occasion goes beyond the concrete nature of stop watches and tape measures.
“If you don’t have the heart, you’re not going to be able to succeed,” Dosunmu said. “I’m blessed to be a winner and have the drive and heart to compete every game.”
Dosunmu, however, will keep his options open. He won’t hire an agent until he’s absolutely sure he will enter the NBA draft.
That way he can return to Illinois if he isn’t satisfied with what he’s hearing about where he’ll get drafted.
Don’t bet on that happening, Illini Nation.
As it stands, it’s uncertain if the draft or combine will take place or pushed back to a later date, with many states having shelter-in-place orders.
Either way, Dosunmu intends to keep working.
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“I’m going to do what is best for my family,” he said. “I feel like this is the right time for me. My body, my mind and my game are ready for the next level.”
Even if some are slow to see it.