While the NBA is on its way to return I have began taking a deep look at the best prospects for the draft. This is the first part of a three part series of evaluating the best thirty prospects for the 2020 NBA Draft.
1. Anthony Edwards (SG, Georgia)
Scout’s Take: Edwards enters this draft as the most complete prospect in many scout’s eyes’. In his lone year at Georgia he showed a unique ability to score the ball from all three levels and has an NBA ready body. Edwards is an explosive athlete who showed the ability to score in traffic against bigger bodies in the lane, and despite his three point percentage being a measly 29% he showcased several times that he can shoot it from NBA range. With his 6’3 225 pound frame he has the prototypical size to be a lockdown defender as well if he commits himself on that end of the floor. Going forward with Edwards if he can join a team with another high level scorer that will compliment him best as we saw at Georgia he isn’t elite enough to lead a team completely. Edwards has a knack for rebounding as well (5.2 per game), and as long as he continues to refine his shot and create plays for his teammates he is only going to increase his level of play.
2. LaMelo Ball (PG, USA)
Scout’s Take: One of the most intriguing prospects in this draft due to his family history and interesting path to the draft, Ball could be the most talented guard in this year's class. He has elite court vision and is the best passer in this year's draft who excels in transition. With his 6’7 height he can play a combo guard role, and with improved strength guard multiple positions. A serviceable outside shooter, Ball needs to continue to develop more consistency from beyond the arc and continue to work on his defense. He has the length, athleticism, and tools to be a future All-Star.
3. Onyeka Okongwu (PF, USC)
Scout’s Take: Okongwu is a prospect that the scouting community has been falling in love with as of late, and he is drawing comparisons to Bam Adebayo from Miami. Okongwu is a player with a super high motor and great defensive ability. His length and athleticism allows him to guard multiple positions if need be, and also alter shots at the rim. In his lone year at USC he averaged a whopping 2.7 blocks per game and was arguably the best defensive big man in the country. Still raw on the offensive end he shows good touch, and developed more post moves as the year went on. With his explosive athletic ability and developing game he could wind up being the best big in this year's draft. Okongwu has the highest ceiling of any prospect in this class in my eyes and could be a future perennial All-Star with more strength added to his frame.
4. James Wiseman (C, Memphis)
Scout’s Take: Coming into the season Wiseman was regarded as the prospect for this draft. Due to suspensions handed down by the NCAA and his withdrawal from Memphis, Wiseman was limited to only three games at Memphis. In those three games though he averaged 19.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Wiseman showed flashes of the super athletic, shot blocking, rim running center that he projects to be in the NBA. He is still very young and possesses a ton of upside, but he fell down the board due to the inability to evaluate him against high level prospects due to only playing three games. Wiseman has a soft touch around the rim and is developing more post moves, but to take his game to another level his focus has to be on adding more range to his jumper and eventually finding his way to the three point line. His shot blocking, rim running, and athletic prowess makes him an intriguing high level prospect still.
5. Isaac Okoro (SF, Auburn)
Scout’s Take: At 6’6 and 225 pounds, Okoro has one of the best frames in the draft which will give him unlimited defensive versatility. A very active defender with quick hands and a strong frame will allow him to be an elite wing defender for years to come. Okoro is best on offensive in transition and is a high flyer when it comes to attacking the rim. Watching his film shows you that he has solid form, but he needs to improve upon his 28% shooting from downtown to develop into a better “3 and D” type of player. Okoro though is a player who plays to his strengths and will know his role for a team. He is a solid foundational piece for anyone in a rebuild and will stick around in the league for a long time given he improves his shot.
6. Obi Toppin (PF, Dayton)
Scout’s Take: Toppin was the best player in the nation this year for arguably the best team in the nation in the Dayton Flyers. Although he dominated college ball, there is hesitation amongst many that his dominance will translate to the next level. Toppin is a high flying forward, and showed the ability to be a pick and pop forward as well shooting 39% from deep. Obi can run the floor as well and will be excellent with a point guard who excels at throwing lobs while he uses his leaping ability to slam it home. The thing holding him back is his functional athleticism and whether or not he can defend players off the bounce in today's positionless basketball. He also can’t create much off the bounce himself and his post game isn’t elite. Toppin is a player who does a lot of things well, but isn’t necessarily elite at anything. Obi projects as a very solid role player going forward and can be a key cog for an organization that continues to grow.
7. Cole Anthony (PG, North Carolina)
Scout’s Take: The son of former NBA player, Greg Anthony, Cole had an up and down year during his lone year at Chapel Hill. With injury issues and the least talented UNC team in decades, we never got to see what Anthony could really be. He is a cat quick guard and is very effective in the open court. Anthony is a player who can get to the rim and draw defenders creating opportunities for others. He does need work though when it comes to knocking down outside shoots more effectively and running a team. He would benefit from a landing spot with an older point guard that could teach him the ropes as he develops and gets ready to take over. The UNC product projects as a solid starter at the next level, with some refinement to his game could be a high level starter for the next 10-12 years.
8. Devin Vassell (SG, Florida State)
Scout’s Take: Vassell is the best “3 and D” prospect in this year's draft and also might be the safest overall pick. At 6’6 with solid length, great experience playing in the ACC at Florida State, and his ability to knock down the three ball at a high clip (42% in 2019-2020) there are a lot of intriguing traits about Vassell. In a weak draft he could be a riser and become a top five pick due to his high floor and his ability to contribute right away. Developing a better offensive game off the bounce and boosting his assist numbers (1.6 per game in 2019-2020) will be what is key for him to become an impact player. I see Vassell as a Robert Covington esque player who will be sticking in the league for quite some time.
9.Tyrese Haliburton (PG, Iowa State)
Scout’s Take: At 6’5 for a point guard, Haliburton has great height to go along with long arms that help him in all facets of his game. His height and length give him the ability to finish at the rim over taller defenders, and defend at a high level against multiple positions. A very well rounded player, this past season for the Cyclones, Haliburton averaged 15.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game showcasing his ability to do it all. Haliburton also shot 41% from three point range, and has shown the ability to get up and down the court in a hurry in transition with his long strides. Haliburton is a prospect that intrigues me as a do it all point guard who seems to continue improving his game and his best ball might be ahead of him. His long lanky frame though needs improvement and until he bulks up to deal with the physicality of the NBA his ability to impact the game will be limited to a backup role leading a second unit. Haliburton will be best suited going to a team with an established point guard that he can learn from, develop behind, and eventually take the reins in a few years.
10. Killian Hayes (PG, France)
Scout’s Take: In many scouting circles, Hayes is viewed as the top point guard prospect in this draft ahead of Lamelo Ball. He is a 6’5 lefty guard with a craft European flavor to his game, and his ability to dominate in the pick and roll is why he is so highly regarded in the eyes of many. Having only been able to evaluate limited tape on him, Hayes fell to ten on our board, but he has made many eye popping passes and finds a way to get to the rim with his change of pace style of play. His defense and lack of athleticism are what might hold him down at the next level, but his ability to make plays and create for others is what could make him a special offensive player. With an improving jumper, Hayes has a high ceiling on offense and projects as a big time playmaker going forward.
STATS VIA ESPN.COM
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