The Best NBA Prospects in College Basketball This Year
We’re about to be full swing in the NBA season and college isn’t that far behind. So with that all going on, what would be a better time to talk about some of the best prospects in college basketball this season? This is also part of a ‘list’ series that I plan on running for previews as people love arguing rankings and who is being slept on, etc.
This Draft feels a bit different than past ones. By that I mean it’s being talked about as one of the worst drafts in recent memory, especially after you get past the first few picks. It happens every so often. That’s just how the rotation of drafts happen.
As always with these things there is some fluidity as the season goes on. There will be injuries. There will be busts. There will be breakout guys. I’m also avoiding calling players ‘center’ or ‘small forward’ because that’s simply not a thing anymore. We’ll be calling these guys point, wing, stretch or post instead. Some of these breakdowns are mine and some are from scouts that I’ve talked to. Some names that are just off of the list is De’Andre Hunter (Virginia), Darius Garland (Vanderbilt), Killian Tillie (Gonzaga) and Daniel Gafford (Arkansas).
1. RJ Barrett – Wing, Duke
Freshman, 6’7″, 195, 18 years old
RJ Barrett is the clear No. 1 pick for me. He’s been that for over a year now as he was often regarded as one of the best prospects since his sophomore year. Part of the reason why? He fits the mold of the way the game is going. He’s 6’7″ with a 6’10″ish wing span that can finish at the rim and create for himself. He doesn’t have a huge arsenal of moves, which is something to watch this year, but he does have one of the best first steps. That’s how he gets by his guy and then finishes in the paint. He does need to get a bit more consistent with his outside shot, but I have a feeling he’ll be the No. 1 spot here for quite some time.
2. Cam Reddish – Wing, Duke
Freshman, 6’9″, 18 years old
Similar to Barrett, Reddish has the size that GMs love for the wing position. He has good size to guard multiple positions and has the ability to switch. There are times when you watch him and want him to do a bit more or he feels a bit too laid back. If he can stay focused all year he’ll be one of the best in the country. What helps his game a lot is his ability to create for himself and others. He has the ability to take guys off the bounce and find the open man.
3. Nassir Little – Wing, UNC
Freshman, 6’6″, 18 years old
Little is one of the best athletes in this class. While he’s just 6’6″ he plays a whole lot bigger than his actual size. What tends to help there is the 7’1″ wingspan that Little has. Throw in the fact that he is always flying all over the court, he’ll get easy buckets and rebounds because of that. The dude is always going 100mph and makes him incredibly fun to watch. His shooting form really isn’t bad but he is inconsistent from the outside. He shot just 26% from the 3-point line during the Adidas Gauntlet series. Again, the form is better than that, but we have to see results this year. He’s going to be the best player on UNC despite the return of Maye and Johnson.
4. Romeo Langford – Wing, Indiana
Freshman, 6’7″, 18 years old
Romeo Langford is the best scorer in this class, there’s no doubting that. He has the size to play any wing spot at the next level as he has a 6’11” wingspan. While he’s a bit scrawny right now he’s going to put on weight just being at the collegiate level, making him even tougher. Why that’s important? He’s already awesome at scoring at the rim. Adding weight will allow him to play through contact at the college level. While he has deep range, his shot is a bit inconsistent. The question comes is it form, which is a bit weird with his follow through or is it just volume? He looks for his shot at all times and will be the go-to guy at Indiana this year.
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5. Zion Williamson – Combo Forward, Duke
Freshman, 6’6″, 18 years old
Zion is one of the youngest players in the class and also one of the most recognized prospects ever. That’s what happens when you have some of the biggest highlight dunks in high school. His athleticism is going to be the first thing that translates and his ability to finish in the paint. What makes Zion unique is we rarely see a player like him. He’s incredibly strong and undersized for a forward. However, he has broad shoulders and an incredible jump that lets him play bigger than 6’6″. He’s similar to Barkley in that sense (noway am I calling him Barkley as a comparison). Obviously his shot needs help as he rarely hits from the outside. He has the ability to rise to the No. 1 pick or fall out of the top-10. I think he might be the most polarizing prospect this year.
6. Keldon Johnson – Wing, Kentucky
Freshman, 6’7″, 18 years old
Keldon Johnson fits the prototypical Kentucky wing. He’s long, good size, athletic and looks to attack you off the bounce. Now, there have been some wings in the past that have added the shooting factor but Johnson isn’t known for his shooting yet. Johnson is more of your prototypical playmaker. He likes to get others involved and initiates the offense from the wing. Look for him to catch and immediately drive – it’s also something that Cal preaches. Don’t hold the ball, either pass or dribble. If Johnson can add a shot, he’ll be a top-10 lock.
7. Bol Bol – Post, Oregon
Freshman, 7’2″, 18 years old
Manute’s son will enter the Draft with higher promise than his dad. That’s because of Bol’s ability to not only protect the rim but the fluid movement away from the hoop as well. He’s actually a pretty solid shooter as he shot 43% from three and 82% from the line in the EYBL. That soft touch with his size will force opposing bigs to stay away from the hoop. Obviously, since he’s Manute’s son he’s an excellent shot blocker. That said, he does need to get a bit stronger. He’s built like his dad with the long legs and thin frame. If he can get a bit stronger it will allow him to sit in the post better instead of using quickness.
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8. Quentin Grimes – Guard, Kansas
Freshman, 6’6″, 18 years old
Grimes is the next great guard at Kansas. He’s a bit different than Graham or Mason where he’s more of a combo guard compared to Graham’s ability to play off the ball with his shooting. Grimes showed great improvement with his shot, going from 29 to 42% in back to back seasons in the Adidas Gauntlet. The question will be what end of the shooting spectrum is he on there? He should thrive at Kansas this year since you can play him on the ball or off the ball with Charlie Moore (Cal transfer).
9. Jontay Porter – Post, Missouri
Sophomore, 6’11”, 18 years old
After reclassifying to play with his brother Michael at Missouri, Jontay decided to come back for a sophomore year. He was a potential 1st round pick last year and should obviously grow more as a sophomore. Now, the first thing you notice with him is just his frame. He’s a legit 6’11”, moves well and has great size for still being just 18 years old. He looks the part. He also has the ability to step back and stretch the floor – shooting 36% from three. While he moves well, he isn’t necessarily quick. If he’s going to play on the perimeter or be a 4 at the next level, he’ll have to get a bit quicker. He’s going to be a star at Missouri this year.
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10. Rui Hachimura – Post, Gonzaga
Junior, 6’9″, 20 years old
Hachimura has blown up the last year or so, especially playing with the Japanese National Team. He’s going to be paired with another top-20 prospect in Killian Tillie at Gonzaga this year to form one of the best frontcourts in the country. Now, the question is can he be consistent enough this season to warrant a top-10 ranking? He’s a big wing at 6’9″, who can guard multiple positions. He was 146th in ORtg last year despite not being a great outside shooter. Now, if he can extend his range he’ll go top-10/15. He has a soft touch from the free throw line (79.5%), but only attempted 26 threes.