Paolo Banchero only played one season of high school football in Seattle, Washington, but his old coach believes he could have been a top NFL draft pick if he stayed with the sport.
"I think he would have been a first-round draft choice. There's no doubt," former O'Dea High School head coach Monte Kohler told Sporting News' Stephen Noh. "... Even as a freshman, he was the best player on the football field, the best athlete."
Kohler has experience coaching NFL talent. Five of his former players made it to the NFL since Kohler began coaching at O'Dea in 1985, including Miami Dolphins running back Myles Gaskin and former Minnesota Vikings receiver Nate Burleson.