Post by George Gervin on Nov 22, 2018 16:50:00 GMT
The college basketball season may be in its infancy, but it’s never too early to think about draft prospects and reactions. Much has been made about the Duke trio, but there are other prospects out there who are turning heads in both a good and bad way...
- Romeo Langford (SG/FR, Indiana) will challenge for a top 3 selection. Langford is an interesting prospect— a two guard who can score at all three levels that isn’t a ball dominant guy. He shouldn’t be confused with Klay Thompson or Kris Middleton as a two way SG, but he brings Bradley Beal type potential who should end up as a strong second option at the next level who can create when needed, but is best as an off ball cutter and runner. With the dearth of quality shooting guards at the NBA level, he stands to go higher than expected if he keeps up his strong start (19 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 apg on 51% FG).
- Bol Bol (C/FR, Oregon) will cost a GM his job down the road. A freakish prospect given his height (7’2”), length (7’8”), and shooting prowess (43% FG from 3), the Porzingis comparisons are already being tossed out. However...these guys frankly only share the dimensions and skill set. Bol displays a remarkable lack of effort and will in games, as he is routinely outmuscled by smaller players and hangs out way too much on the perimeter. Unlike 3-6 Latvia, Bol doesn’t have that drive and aggressive nature to impose his will on an opponent; a team will imagine the possibilities of having the unicorn stretch 5 who can defend the rim, but likely won’t get a Porzingis 2.0.
- Nassir Little (SF/FR, UNC) will be a draft steal. While his Tobacco Road compatriots at Duke get much of the press, UNC’s Little is quietly flying under the radar as a cog in the UNC system. Ole Roy Williams, as per usual for 5* prospects in his tenure, has brought him off the bench and relied on upperclassman with not nearly the talent level to get UNC out to a great start. Little was billed as a top 4 prospect before the season, and early reworks by draft analysts have him sliding down boards to the late lottery....which feels like a massive mistake. In less than 20 mpg, he’s averaging 13 ppg, 5 rpg, 1 spg and 1 bpg on 72% FG and 37% FG from 3, with his defense and effort showing up in every game. Not that anyone should be compared to Kawhi Leonard, but he is the closest physical and shooting profile prospect to Kawh, and if he keeps getting sandbagged by Ole Roy, he may go later than his talent warrants.
- DeAndre Hunter (SF/RS SO, Virginia) will make a contending team very, very happy. The UVA system has a well earned reputation for elevating less talented guys to defensive maestros with its pack and chase philosophy; it’s provided UVA with a distinct advantage against opponents, regularly holding them to sub 50 PPG performances. However, this system goes to another level when an elite on ball defender erases an opposing star— and that’s where Hunter shines. He has a lot to work on offensively, but he has the frame, arms, hands, positioning, and effort to step into the NBA and be a top 5 on ball defender from Day 1. He plays stifling perimeter defense, solid post defense, and is a great communicator orchestrating the UVA scheme. He may not have as high a ceiling as other prospects, but he brings something that Day 1 can help a team in the early 20s with locking up players in this perimeter oriented league.
- Darius Garland (PG/FR, Vanderbilt) will be the next stud PG to add to the NBA’s most crowded position. Garland is smaller in stature (6’2”, 175), but he makes up for it with poise beyond his age at the position. He’s logging 35 mpg, which at the college level is impressive for any player to play almost 88% of a game, day in and day out, but his statistics in those minutes have been tremendous for a freshman PG: 20 ppg, 5 rpg, 4 apg, 1 spg, and shooting 57% FG and 48% from 3. Even more impressive is his defense, which hasn’t been a complete zero given his small size and offensive load, and his play has made Vanderbilt a threat in the SEC to Kentucky. In short, Garland may play himself into the high lottery, but regardless, he figures to be another PG who will make a team very happy at the next level.