- C James Wiseman (Memphis)
Class: Freshman Age: 19 Ht: 7’1” Wt: 235 lbs.
James Wiseman is someone who may not have a great established post game, but he offers a lot. His athleticism along with a 7’6 wingspan make him one of the most intriguing prospects on the defensive end. He is going to be a great rim protector and has the athleticism to switch potentially. He is also someone a team doesn’t have to play through necessarily for him to have a major impact on the game. He will need to keep expanding his offensive game, but he will come in and be a major threat as a pick and roll threat along with a being a major presence on the glass. While it’s a league of guards, Wiseman has the potential to be the best modern day big man in the NBA with his overall impact on defense, in the paint, and potential jump shot.
- SG Anthony Edwards (Georgia)
Class: Freshman Age: 19 Ht: 6’5” Wt: 225 lbs.
Anthony Edwards is a very skilled player offensively. He is already well built for a 19 year old with a 7’0” wingspan. He’s got promising mechanics to come in and be a strong outside shooter. He also can use his frame to get to the rim and out-muscle opponents similar to Jimmy Butler. Edwards also offers potential as two-way wing with his elite length and size. While all this is great, Edwards was not intelligent with his shot selection. Made things harder than it had to be. He also showed poor effort on the defensive end most times. Despite this, his problems are all something that can be taught and Edwards is one of the nicest young men you’ll find. While he has some bad habits, his personality gives hope that he’ll be coachable and improve the areas he has to.
- PG LaMelo Ball (Illawarra Hawks)
Class: N/A Age: 19 Ht: 6’8” Wt: 181 lbs.
LaMelo might be the most talented player of this class. His handles are phenomenal especially for someone of his stature. He moves very well and is still very shifty. He’s also got some passing instincts like his brother Lonzo, but not quite as willing as a distributor. His jump shot isn’t pretty, but it is a lot like his brothers except more fluid, which give reason to suggest he can be a competent 3 point shooter. He’s crafty with the ball at the rim and when he wants to, can be a very good defender. He has the type of talent though that can change a franchise, but there should be injury concerns as well as personality concerns for some organizations.
- PG Killian Hayes (Ratiopharm Ulm)
Class: N/A Age: 19 Ht: 6’5” Wt: 181 lbs.
One of the most well-rounded players in the draft. His promise as a passer, shooter, and driver are all traits that should translate. His shooting percentages weren’t great, but really looked more comfortable as the season went on and can see that he will be able to shoot 3s. He’s also got ideal size for a PG at 6’5, so he should be a decent defender over time. Hayes biggest weakness is that he’s not very quick. This will definitely hurt his ceiling, but he is going to be a very good player nonetheless.
- SF/PF Deni Avdija (Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C.)
Class: N/A Age: 19 Ht: 6’9” Wt: 220 lbs.
Deni’s a talented prospect, but showed a lot of maturity this past year along with growth. This gives real hope that he has the potential to become a talented forward. Right now, he can make a nice pass that will blow you away, but still has a ways to go in terms of making the right reads. His jump shot does give concern as his lower body tightens up to make the shot inconsistent. He did show promise as a cutter though and became a very good team-defender. In an interview with Mike Schmitz, it was evident how intelligent he is. He has a photographic memory. Deni is going to be a good player in this league, but his shooting mechanics are seriously flawed right now which is why he is only 5th.
- PG Tyrese Haliburton (Iowa State)
Class: Sophomore Age: 20 Ht: 6’5” Wt: 175 lbs.
Tyrese is the most talented passer in the class and will come in and be a top 20 passer immediately in the NBA. He makes a lot of reads that just blow you away. It’s instinct for him and he always sees the floor very well. He also impressed with a 3-ball. While the appearance of the mechanics look awkward, it’s actually not a bad jumper. He also showed enough promise as a free-throw shooter to prove it wasn’t a fluke. He’s also got the ability to drive along with great promise on the defensive end. With a 7’0” wingspan, he should play well in a switch-heavy league and even has good instincts averaging 2.5 SPG. Tyrese has a limited ceiling, but his floor is so high where he is still worth going in the first half of the lottery.
- PF Obi Toppin (Dayton)
Class: Sophomore Age: 22 Ht: 6’9” Wt: 220 lbs.
Obi is a freak athlete. Someone who can get up off the floor quickly and really throw it down with the best of them. His jump shot is a work in progress as it’s very stiff and while he shot a good %, it was largely because of how open the shots were. Toppin has a score first mindset so while he’s a great athlete, he’s not necessarily a great defender most of the time. Obi will be great in the open floor and is a dunk contest type of dunker where he can do things that blow you away.
- PF Precious Achiuwa (Memphis)
Class: Freshman Age: 21 Ht: 6’9” Wt: 238 lbs.
The reason why Achiuwa is this high is because of potential. He is very athletic to begin with and can start a break on his own and really run in the open floor. His motor and athleticism will help him be a versatile defender and should keep improving. His jump shot needs to be tweaked, but the upper body mechanics are promising so he should be able to shoot from distance consistently by year 3. He’s definitely going to need time, but he’s got the potential to be a very good, modern day 4 that most teams would love to have.
- PG Kira Lewis (Alabama)
Class: Sophomore Age: 19 Ht: 6’3” Wt: 165 lbs.
Kira has the potential to be a starting point guard in this league. He has two things he’s great at. He is the fastest player in the draft. He is also a great shooter. He shot 36.2%, but he did so on plenty of attempts and has great mechanics. He’s shown to be a good enough passer where he can help get teammates involved at times. On-ball defense will be an issue with how thin he is, but does play the passing lanes really well. Kira ran an NBA-like offense at Alabama, and that is why it’s really easy seeing him translate his skillset to the next level.
- SF Isaac Okoro (Auburn)
Class: Freshman Age: 19 Ht: 6’6” Wt: 225 lbs.
Okoro is one of the most mature prospects in the draft at 19. He’ll come in and play whatever role the team needs. His motor is always going on defense no matter how often he gets touches on offense. He is a great on-ball defender and should be able to lock up some of the best guards in the game. Expect his jump shot to come over time with his work ethic. He’s never going to be a star in this league, because he’s not wired that way. He is going to be a very good role player, but nothing more.
- SG Tyrese Maxey (Kentucky)
Class: Freshman Age: 19 Ht: 6’3” Wt: 198 lbs.
Tyrese showed a lot of heart at Kentucky. He always played hard and you had to respect that. He is also a talented scorer. Maxey has a very nice floater game and can also finish in other ways around the rim as well. His jump shot has a ways to go to be consistent, but this guy’s work ethic is unquestionably great. He’s going to have success no matter where he gets drafted.
- C Onyeka Okongwu (USC)
Class: Freshman Age: 19 Ht: 6’9” Wt: 245 lbs.
Onyeka projects to be a modern rim running big. He will be a threat as a roll man and has a decent looking jump shot right now that can improve. He shows decent timing as a shot blocker but is undersized at 6’9. He isn’t a great rebounder, but he is a really good kid and coachable. The reason why he is this low is because there isn’t a huge gap between him and centers going in the 2nd half of the first round, but does have the traits that will fit the modern game the best.
- PG Nico Mannion (Arizona)
Class: Freshman Age: 19 Ht: 6’3” Wt: 179 lbs.
Nico is an intelligent player who is a good leader. You really have to respect his approach to the game. He picks teammates up and there are some “Steph Curry” qualities to him as a leader. He also moves without the ball very well knowing when to change speeds off a screen to get himself open (like Steph Curry). He needs to keep improving his jump shot though in terms of perfecting it so he can be a great shooter consistently as right now his lower release point (and with it not being a fast jump shot) makes it easier to contest. Mannion is a better defender than most think and is a decent passer. He has what it takes to be a starting PG in the NBA in the right situation.
- PG/SG Cole Anthony (UNC)
Class: Freshman Age: 20 Ht: 6’3” Wt: 184 lbs.
Cole Anthony had a somewhat disappointing season with his injury and UNC having a terrible season by their standards. He had little help around him so it’s hard to tell if he can make teammates better. He can score driving the ball and while he wasn’t a great shooter in college, promising mechanics and high school tape suggest he can be a 3 level scorer. Sometimes he’s working too hard and not playing smart, which can get him in trouble (similar in the way Russell Westbrook unravels). He is hard to position as a true point guard and that hurts him. On defense he has an inconsistent motor and really doesn’t know rotations as he always rotates to the rim.
- SG/SF Devin Vassell (Florida State)
Class: Sophomore Age: 20 Ht: 6’7” Wt: 194 lbs.
Vassell is a very smart player and probably one of the safest picks in the draft. He has a decent jump shot and is a very good decision maker. He also knows what good offense looks like. On defense, he also has the length to switch and guard multiple positions. His ceiling is clear, but he’ll be a very good role player.
- SF/PF Aaron Neesmith (Vanderbilt)
Class: Sophomore Age: 20 Ht: 6’6” Wt: 213 lbs.
In a 14 game sample size, Neesmith attempted 8.2 3 pointers per game and hit 52.2% of them. He might be the best shooter in this class. He has a very good frame too. Won’t provide much outside of shooting and defense. He’s not a great defender right now, but has the size and athleticism to be.
- SF/PF Saddiq Bey (Villanova)
Class: Sophomore Age: 21 Ht: 6’8” Wt: 216 lbs.
Sadiq Bey is a smart player that really rose up draft boards out of no where, because of his versatility defensively and improvement as a shooter. Bey can defend fairly well on the perimeter and better yet, wants to. He also plays good, smart offense. Villanova guys always have an advantage, because Jay Wright might be the best coach in the country and his guys are always winning players. While Bey’s jump shot mechanics aren’t elite, it should be serviceable enough for him to come and contribute day 1 as a 3 and D guy.
- PG Tyrell Terry (Stanford)
Class: Freshman Age: 20 Ht: 6’3” Wt: 173 lbs.
Tyrell Terry is someone who’s shown he’s got a great work ethic. He came to Stanford at 155 and has put on 18 lbs, has gained two inches, and has even improved his vertical this past year. This is a player that I have heard nothing but positive things. Works out everyday with the Stanford coaching staff. I’ve even heard of him breaking IQ test records for NBA teams during the draft process. Terry is clearly committed and has a great jump shot. I love his ability to stop on a dime and pull up. You can draw a lot fouls with this skill when defenders go over screens and you have them on your back and rise up out of no where to put the defender in a tough spot. His playmaking needs work, but has shown decent flashes. He finishes well at the rim (when he doesn’t get blocked). He’s comfortable using both hands and competes decently on the defensive end. He gambles a lot, but at his height, that’s a positive.
- C Vernon Carey (Duke)
Class: Freshman Age: 19 Ht: 6’10” Wt: 265 lbs.
Vernon Carey is someone that is crazy talented. On the block, he is so powerful and can get to his shot regularly using his strong frame. He also has shown signs of a potential jumper. When his motor is going, he is almost impossible to stop as an offensive rebounder too. Then on the defensive end he can actually switch better than you would think, because he is so light on his feet. Despite all this, his motor is very poor on the defensive end especially. When he isn’t getting consistent touches, he’s disengaged. Then his style of play is also “outdated,” but has the potential to be a very good center if he wants to.
- SG/SF Cassius Stanley (Duke)
Class: Freshman Age: 21 Ht: 6’6” Wt: 193 lbs.
Cassius is someone who’s going to be able to come in and contribute right away, because of his work ethic. He works hard on defense, rotates well, and will even take charges. He’s also got very good mechanics as a shooter and he is also very athletic as he broke Zion’s vertical record at Duke. Stanley will be a very solid player in this league. The biggest question mark is his ability to create his own shot which limits his upside.
21. SG/SF Josh Green (Arizona)
Class: Freshman Age: 19 Ht: 6’6” Wt: 206 lbs.
Josh Green is a tough prospect to figure out. He’s got an inconsistent motor, but when he wants to play hard, he’s a very good defender. His jump shot is a little stiff, but should be able to be a decent threat off the catch. Off the bounce though, his mechanics are much worse. He can’t really create his own shot, but can attack in transition and finish strong. He doesn’t move a ton off the ball, which I don’t love for his skill-set. Overall, where he gets drafted will have a huge impact on his career. I could easily see him being a steal, but at the same time, could see him as a bust.
22. PG/SG Theo Maledon (ASVEL Basket)
Class: N/A Age: 19 Ht: 6’4” Wt: 181 lbs.
Theo has shown flashes of being a good passer out of the pick and roll. He’s also very athletic and long, which is intriguing for his defensive potential, however he only averaged 0.6 steals per 36 min. Has inconsistent numbers as a shooter. His mechanics are also a bit inconsistent right now. Theo is fairly decent at finishing at the rim. Overall, he’s definitely a bit of a project that will take time most likely, but has potential and a good work ethic.
23. C Isaiah Stewart (Washington)
Class: Freshman Age: 19 Ht: 6’9” Wt: 245 lbs.
Isaiah Stewart is a very intelligent center. He’s a good passer for a center and understands the game well. His motor is consistent. He’s got strong hands. His jump shot is becoming more and more consistent especially in the mid-range. He also can score on the block at times. Washington played a 2-3 zone which disguised Stewart’s biggest weakness, and that is his slow feet. He is also only 6’9, but did average average 2.1 BPG. You have to wonder though how he will be able to rotate quickly and protect the rim along with already being undersized. Stewart also didn’t show a strong ability to score on the move so this limits him as a threat when rolling.
24. SF/PF Jaden McDaniels (Washington)
Class: Freshman Age: 20 Ht: 6’10” Wt: 184 lbs.
Jaden McDaniels had a somewhat disappointing season while even losing his spot in the starting lineup. McDaniels IQ is raw. He has major potential on the defensive end though as a weak-side rim protector. He’s also got a decent looking jump shot. As a driver he offers very little as he has trouble getting north-south with his handle. Jaden has gotten a lot of different comparisons coming out, but he’s most like Jonathon Isaac with more of a score-first mindset if I had to give a comparison. Isaac is a much better defender right now, but McDaniels has that kind of potential.
25. SG Jahmi’us Ramsey (Texas Tech)
Class: Freshman Age: 19 Ht: 6’4” Wt: 195 lbs.
Ramsey showed he can score the ball. He’s got strong shooting mechanics for a freshman, and his shot doesn’t change whether it’s off the catch or dribble. He can also drive a bit too at times using his athleticism to get to the rim. While he doesn’t have a defense-first mindset, he wasn’t a liability on that end of the floor. He’ll most likely be more of a project, but their is potential there as a scorer.
- C Daniel Oturu (Minnesota)
Class: Sophomore Age: 20 Ht: 6’10” Wt: 240 lbs.
Oturu was someone who really improved under coach Pitino his second year. He has very good instincts as a rim protector with decent feet to rotate quick enough. He also showed the ability to be a threat from 3 shooting 36.5% on 1.7 attempts per game. Oturu is also athletic enough to be a threat in the pick and roll. Oturu’s biggest flaw is his IQ right now. His decision making is rather poor at times especially as a passer. Overall though, can be a rotation player fairly early in his career.
- PG Malachi Flynn (San Diego State)
Class: Junior Age: 22 Ht: 6’1” Wt: 185 lbs.
Malachi is a high IQ player. He’s really a good defender, despite his size, with natural instincts. Plays hard every possession. He’s got a good looking jump shot and knows how to use his body to shield shot-blockers on drives. He’s a complete point guard with physical limitations, but will be able to produce off a good team’s bench right away.
- PG/SG R.J. Hampton (New Zealand Breakers)
Class: N/A Age: 20 Ht: 6’5” Wt: 188 lbs.
Hampton was very disappointing this past year in almost every aspect of his game. His upper body mechanics aren’t bad on his shot, but his lower body needs plenty of work. In the half court, he offers very little, but does make plays in transition. His passing needs work along with his overall effort level as he was a terrible defender because of lack of effort. Hampton will definitely be a project and have to remember that there was a reason why he was a projected lottery pick coming out of highschool.
- PF/C Aleksej Pokuševski (Olympiacos B.C.)
Class: N/A Age: 18 Ht: 7’0” Wt: 201 lbs.
Aleksej is another projected project. He’s incredibly young and offers some uniques skills for someone his size. He can handle the ball in the open court well and will show flashes of making the occasional nice pass. He’s shown flashes of a jump shot too. There’s major questions surrounding his willingness to win and be a team player though as he looks like a “me guy” right now and has some growing up to do. However, the potential for him is incredibly intriguing so, while it’s easy to see him as a bust, at this point in the draft, it’s sometimes worth taking a chance as nothing is a guarantee.
- PF Patrick Williams (Florida State)
Class: Freshman Age: 19 Ht: 6’8” Wt: 225 lbs.
Patrick Williams is a good athlete, but when you watch him, he’s a football athlete more so than a basketball athlete. He’s strong and powerful, but doesn’t have that quick first step and is heavier on his feet than one may hope. This affects his overall defensive impact. He should be a good defender, but I don’t see anything special. Then offensively, there’s only so much to offer. The 3-ball will need to develop. His free throw numbers showed a lot more encouragement than the 3 ball, but expect Williams to be able to hit a decent clip rather quickly because of solid mechanics. Doesn;t offer anything as a playmaker, but could be a nice threat at times rolling to the rim as well as a finisher on the break.
- PG Tre Jones (Duke)
Class: Sophomore Age: 20 Ht: 6’2.5” Wt: 185 lbs.
Tre Jones is someone who could’ve declared and went to the NBA last year, but went back to school and to his credit, improved his greatest weakness. Jones improved his 3 point % by 9.9% for a grand total of 36.1% last season. He was also one of the best, if not, the best perimeter defender in the nation each of his two seasons. He applies phenomenal ball-pressure. This should translate but the fact he’s not really great at any one thing offensively and the lack of upside really hurts. Finding the right situation will be huge for him.
32. PG/SG Ty-Shon Alexander (Creighton)
Class: Junior Age: 22 Ht: 6’4” Wt: 195 lbs.
Ty-Shon Alexander is a long guard that will defend at an above average level and encouraging shooting splits suggest he can be a 3 and D guard. He doesn’t offer much as a driver and not as much as a passer as one may hope, however, Alexander fits the modern game well and should be able to contribute very early.
33. PG/SG Leandro Balmero (FC Barcelona)
Class: N/A Age: 20 Ht: 6’7” Wt: 180 lbs.
Leandro Balmero offers intrigue as a draft and stash candidate. Balmero’s greatest strength is potential on the defensive end. He moves well laterally with good size. Right now he gambles probably too much, but he’s still young and you love the aggressive mindset. Then he offers strong playmaking for an off-guard and some scoring as a driver, but has a long ways to go with his jump shot. It is seriously flawed which is most likely why he is a draft and stash.
34. PF/C Jalen Smith (Maryland)
Class: Sophomore Age: 20 Ht: 6’10” Wt: 225 lbs.
Jalen Smith is in the lottery for some people’s mock drafts and it’s very possible a team is that high on him. He showed the potential as a shot-blocker along with a 3-ball and that is valuable at the NBA level. The concern here though is that he doesn’t have a natural feel for the game. He doesn’t seem the most intelligent either. I like the package he has to offer on paper, but it will be a rougher transition than many expect.
35. C Nick Richards (Kentucky)
Class: Junior Age: 21 Ht: 6’11” Wt: 247 lbs.
One of the most improved players in the SEC and really showed potential of being able to have a chance in the NBA. He was a great shot-blocker and is athletic along with NBA size at 6’11″ and a 7’4″ wingspan. He is still learning the game and while he’s a comfortable mid-range shooter, he has not shot a single 3 pointer his entire career. He is a little bit of a project, but could be a real steal in the second round as a rim running, shot-blocking big.
36. SF Robert Woodard (Mississippi State)
Class: Sophomore Age: 21 Ht: 6’7” Wt: 230 lbs.
Robert Woodard has a very nice jump shot. That along with his strong frame will be his calling card at the next level. Woodard isn’t gonna put the ball on the floor and break down a defense, but will be able to stretch the floor, and guard bigger forwards/wings.
37. PG Devon Dotson (Kansas)
Class: Sophomore Age: 21 Ht: 6’2” Wt: 179 lbs.
Dotson’s got some real speed and showed potential of being able to score from all three levels. Unfortunately, he struggled this past year from 3 only shooting 30.9%. He does have fairly good mechanics though to at least be average. His size is a downside, but does a good job of impacting the game on the defensive end by creating turnovers. Dotson hasn’t shown potential of being a great playmaker though, which affects his draft stock at only 6’2″
38. SF/PF Kristian Doolittle (Texas)
Class: Senior Age: 22 Ht: 6’7” Wt: 232 lbs.
Doolittle is another player that should be on team’s radars as his playstyle fits with the modern NBA. He is long and can defend multiple positions. He has shown his senior year the ability to stretch the floor. Although right now he does look more comfortable shooting off the dribble. Overall though the 3 and D potential is there, but he is someone that would be important to interview because his want to be a team player is a real question. He was also suspended for being academically ineligible during his sophomore year. Despite this, he looks the part of an NBA player and until more information becomes available, he could be worth the risk around
39. PF Trendon Watford (LSU)
Class: Freshman Age: 19 Ht: 6’9” Wt: 235 lbs.
Trendon Watford’s athleticism and versatility will be his calling card on both ends of the floor. His defense is subpar right now, but if he puts in more effort, he could be able to switch and guard multiple positions. On offense, he handles the ball well for someone his size. He uses this ability to drive as well as find open teammates on occasion. Watford shot a miserable 26.9% from 3, but did show flashes he can shoot in the mid-range. His natural feel for the game is also something you can’t teach.
- SF/PF Tyler Bey (Colorado)
Class: Junior Age: 22 Ht: 6’7” Wt: 216 lbs.
Tyler Bey is an interesting prospect. He’s a good athlete in terms of getting off the floor quickly with a “pogo stick” like ability. This makes him an excellent rebounder at his size. His jump shot is a work in progress as he mostly shot in the mid-range. With decent mechanics, he shot 41.9% from 3 but only averaged 1 attempt per game. Bey’s decision making was also questionable along with misleading defensive stats. Bey wasn’t dominating against the competition like he should’ve and his motor wasn’t always there.
- PG/SG Quincy McKnight (Seton Hall)
Class: Senior Age: 24 Ht: 6’4” Wt: 185 lbs.
McKnight is one of the steadiest prospects in the draft. His intelligence on and off the court, his length, and ability to shoot off the catch makes him intriguing as a combo-guard. The age is the biggest turn-off for teams though, but that is getting overrated slightly because McKnight has a good understanding of the game and should fit well with the modern game. The lack of shot-creation, shooting off the dribble, and overall upside is what hurts him most.
- SG/SF C.J. Elleby (Washington State)
Class: Sophomore Age: 20 Ht: 6’6” Wt: 220 lbs.
C.J. Elleby showed potential as a scorer. His 3 point % was only 33.9% but mechanics suggest that will improve. He can also put the ball on the deck and got to the rim at times too. He’s a good enough athlete to compete at the NBA level so the combination of these things is what makes him intriguing. The defense is a concern though along with the lack of great competition is why he is ranked here.
- C Udoka Azubuike (Kansas)
Class: Senior Age: 21 Ht: 7’0” Wt: 274 lbs.
Udoka is a large human being with these measurables along with a 7’6 wingspan makes him intriguing. However, despite being a senior, he many times looked like an underclassman with his lack of IQ, but the size, good hands, and defensive potential make him a nice project.
- SG Isaiah Joe (Arkansas)
Class: Sophomore Age: 21 Ht: 6’5” Wt: 180 lbs.
Isaiah Joe’s greatest strength is his jump shot. He wasn’t the most efficient nor was he always taking smart shots, but the ball looks so pretty coming out of his hands. He showed he can shoot off-balance and provide floor-spacing for a team. While he’s also somewhat long, he was not a good defender and also showed no sign of being able to create his own shot against average defenders. Creating seperation from his defender could be a struggle for him as well.
- PF/C Nathan Knight (William and Mary)
Class: Senior Age: 23 Ht: 6’10” Wt: 253 lbs.
Nathan Knight has a chance to be very good in the NBA. He’s got a nice feel for the game and a nice skillset of driving, handling the ball in the open floor, and potentially shooting. He’s got great size and uses his physicality to his advantage. Has a good feel for the game, but his IQ is poor right now. He settled for a lot of jumpers and wasn’t always the most disciplined defensively. He did have flashes where he showed he can be a weak-side rim protector. Knight is on the older side, but should definitely be looked at with real NBA potential.
- PF Mamadi Diakite (Virginia)
Class: Senior Age: 23 Ht: 6’9” Wt: 224 lbs.
Mamadi’s a 3 and D guy. He shot 36.4% from 3 and with his length and long strides, he covers a lot of ground on the defensive end. He should be able to be a weak-side rim protector, but he really doesn’t have any other elements to his game. He is a poor dribbler, passer, and rebounder for someone his size. In the 2nd round though, Diakite’s worth a chance.
- PG Markus Howard (Marquette)
Class: Senior Age: 21 Ht: 5’11” Wt: 180 lbs.
Markus Howard was arguably the best player in the nation this past year as he really has a gift for scoring. His consistent splits between 3 point and free throw % give no reason to doubt that this skill won’t translate. He can score inside, but it will be more challenging now when he has to go up against length. Howard will also be a liability on the defensive end, but that ability to score and create his own shot makes him a mid second round candidate.
- PF/C Paul Reed (DePaul)
Class: Junior Age: 21 Ht: 6’9” Wt: 220 lbs.
Paul Reed is best on the defensive end especially when he plays with an edge. He can play inside a bit whether it’s on the move or in the post. He showed flashes of being able to stretch the floor but has poor mechanics. Overall, he doesn’t have great length so he’s stuck at one position and doesn’t offer much offensively.
- PF Killian Tillie (Gonzaga)
Class: Senior Age: 22 Ht: 6’10” Wt: 220 lbs.
Tillie is one of the most skilled bigs in the class offensively with his great IQ as a passer, a consistent jump shot, and even has some skills on the block. The constant injuries hurt his stock most along with his lack of lateral quickness and ability to rebound.
- PG Payton Pritchard (Oregon)
Class: Senior Age: 22 Ht: 6’2” Wt: 190 lbs.
Pritchard’s someone who has a fairly good IQ for the game along with the ability to handle the ball well. Payton can stretch D from well beyond the 3 point line and competes hard. The lack of athleticism, length, and size will be what hurts his stock the most.
Article Written by Bradley Patten
Stats found on Basketball Reference (https://www.basketball-reference.com)
Most measurements/age found on Tankathon (http://www.tankathon.com)
Photo Credit to the New York Post (https://nypost.com/2020/08/20/nba-mock-draft-1-0-anthony-edwards-and-james-wiseman-will-go-1-2/)
BS SCOUTING 