Maybe the Knicks don’t have to lose more for Jahlil Okafor.
The status quo could get them D’Angelo Russell.
Based on the season Ohio State’s slick and steady 6-foot-5 freshman is enjoying, would anyone complain?
Russell entered the season overshadowed by some of the county’s other top freshmen, from Duke’s Okafor to Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns and Arizona’s Stanley Johnson. Emmanuel Mudiay — the Dallas floor general who opted to play in China rather than attend SMU — was the point guard most scouts were talking about regarding the 2015 draft.
No one, regardless of class, has made a bigger impact this season than the southpaw, averaging 19.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists, one of only two players to post 19 points, five rebounds and five assists per game. He put up his first career triple-double in Ohio State’s 79-60 victory over Rutgers at the RAC on Sunday night, scoring 23 points, notching 11 assists and grabbing 11 rebounds.
“Honestly, one of the better performances I’ve seen in my time in coaching,” Ohio State coach Thad Matta said.
He’s shot up draft boards, now projected to be the second pick by NBADraftExpress.com. And an NBA scout in attendance Sunday said he could see Russell, who has led Ohio State (18-6, 7-4) to second place in the Big Ten, going No. 1 overall over Okafor.
“He’s special,” the scout said. “He does things at his age you can’t believe he’s doing.”
Rutgers coach Eddie Jordan evoked the name of Knicks great Walt Frazier, his all-time favorite player, then took a step back.
“Not yet, anyway,” he said. Jordan then added: “He’s a smooth character.”
Matta said Russell’s work ethic and attention to detail remind him of David West, who played for Matta at Xavier and is in his 11th NBA season. He’s constantly looking for any advantage he can be, putting in extra time after practice in the gym, watching film.
“He always has a purpose to what he’s doing,” Matta said.
Other players put in extra hours, Matta said, but Russell always is working on aspects of his game that will translate to the next contest.
“That’s what great players do,” the Ohio State coach said.
Few envisioned Russell making this kind of impact. He was ranked among the top players in the country by scouting services, though somehow Rivals.com had him No. 18 overall, while Scout.com and ESPN ranked him 13th.
Twenty-two NBA scouts — including 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie and four Knicks representatives including assistant general manager Allan Houston — made the trip to Piscataway, NJ, to get a close look at the phenom. He didn’t disappoint, completely dominating the Scarlet Knights.
Russell’s entire dazzling repertoire was on display. There was his in-the-gym range (he made three 3-pointers), unselfishness (11 assists) and toughness (11 rebounds). He was completely under control the entire game, going at his own speed, and committed just two turnovers.
Early this season, he was turnover-prone — committing as many as seven in a win over Marquette Nov. 18 — but he’s improved in that area, taking care of the ball far better, just seven in his past five games.
His passing really has turned heads. He’s a willing ball-mover, not the typically high-scoring phenom who eats up the shot clock by pounding the ball into the court.
He made several highlight-reel plays Sunday. One of the most impressive came on a standard pick-and-roll at the top of the key. Two Scarlet Knights defenders immediately converged on Russell, and he softly flicked a pass into the paint — where teammate JaeSean Tate was — and it resulted in an easy layup, Tate catching the pass in stride.
“That’s what he does best,” the scout said. “When he comes at you, you can tell, he knows where everyone is on the floor. He sees his four guys and the other team’s five guys. He’s looking guys off all game.”
ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla is one of Russell’s biggest fans, calling him “the draft’s most skilled player” and said “he already possesses the poise and countenance of a 10-year NBA veteran.”
The compliments are flattering, but Russell isn’t thinking about the NBA just yet. He has “two feet in” with Ohio State. He does watch a lot of the professional game and tries to emulate Stephen Curry, the Warriors’ electric All-Star guard.
“I got a long way to go, but he’s just the most exciting player to watch to me,” Russell said. “Just the plays that he makes, everybody is surprised, but he’s more like ‘I do this.’ ”
Funny, that’s the reaction Russell’s breathtaking season elicits.