Can the Raptors add key member of Saint Peter’s Cinderella story?

At the same time that the Toronto Raptors have been leaning on the likes of Scottie Barnes and Pascal Siakam to carry them to postseason glory, March Madness is in full swing. The Saint Peter’s Peacocks, led by KC Ndefo and Doug Edert, have become the tournament’s biggest Cinderella story.

Kentucky was viewed by many as a championship favorite, but Shaheen Holloway and his plucky squad put themselves on the map with a stunning upset. A few days later, Murray State was handed just their third loss of the season when the class of the MAAC stunned them.

While Jersey City hasn’t exactly been a fertile proving ground for pro talent, the Peacocks making a deep run in the tournament might help turn the heads of some Raptors scouts. One of their more impactful players seems like an ideal fit for how Toronto wants to build a team.

The Raptors will always be intrigued by a versatile forward that offers some solid rim protection. Ndefo might not seem like the type of player destined for pro stardom, but a few years in the Toronto development system could help him eventually carve out a role in the NBA.

Saint Peter’s shot-blocker KC Ndefo fits the Toronto Raptors.

Ndefo is one of the most unusual players you’ll ever see from a positional perspective. While Ndefo is listed at 6-7 and doesn’t even crack 200 pounds, he is averaging over three blocks per game over the last two seasons. The defensive versatility has helped the Peacocks knee-cap some superior opponents.

The Raptors have had success with elite athletes like Barnes and undrafted lottery tickets like Justin Champagnie that don’t always fit smoothly into defined positional roles. If they believe in his defense and passing, Ndefo could be worth bringing to Summer League and sequestering in the G League.

Ndefo’s offensive game is so far behind that Toronto needs to acknowledge that he needs a near-complete overhaul of his offensive game. Ndefo is a non-factor as a 3-point shooter, and he’s only had one season in which he’s made more than half of his shots from the field.

Even with all of those red flags hanging off of his stock, Ndefo does enough things well to where the Raptors should consider rolling the dice on him. If even a little bit of the tournament magic translates over to the NBA, Ndefo could add 905 MVP and NBA bench player to his list of accomplishments.