With college basketball in full swing, it also means NBA teams will begin to create their draft boards for next year. In the next few weeks as we kick off the college season, we will be breaking down the top five draft prospects from each major conference. In no particular order, here are five of the best draft prospects from the Pac-12.
Isaiah Stewart
Stewart will be a freshman at Washington this upcoming season, and he will be a force. Stewart was the number three recruit in the country coming out of high school, and will be the highest rated in the Pac-12. He currently stands at 6 feet 9 inches and 245 pounds. Stewart will be on double-double watch every night due to his high-running motor and physical inside game. He will feast off of easy transition points and layups. Stewart has also shown flashes of a mid-range and three-point shot that will go a long way in determining his NBA potential. There are questions about his fit at the next level due to his old school game. Despite questions, look for Stewart to have a strong freshman season and be taken in the late lottery.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-a71zJDqFQ
Jaden McDaniels
McDaniels comes to Washington as the number seven overall recruit, per ESPN. Standing at 6 feet 10 inches, McDaniels is a pure athlete. He has a solid handle for a big man and is comfortable scoring in the paint and out to three-point range. He also is a very strong rebounder. McDaniels’ biggest strength is his defensive instincts. He uses his length and athleticism to stay in front of guards and contest shots at the rim. McDaniels has to continue to gain strength in order to keep up with bigger opponents. He also has to work on his jump shot and his consistency on offense in order to maximize his potential. McDaniels is a very polarizing prospect at the moment, but many believe that if he lives up to expectations, he will be taken in the top 10 with a chance to move up.
Josh Green
One of Arizona’s two star freshman, Josh Green hails from Australia as the nation’s number eight overall recruit. Green is 6 feet 6 inches and about 200 pounds, giving him good size for a guard. Green is jack of all trades type talent. He is an above average ball handler, slasher, and can make his shots from the perimeter. He is also a capable defender, able to use his length and athleticism to guard opposing 1’s and 2’s. Questions about Green stem from him not being great at any one thing. Can he continue to contribute this way at the NBA level with no go to skill? Even so, many are high on Josh Green and he is projected to be taken in the 10-14 range.
Nico Mannion
Nico Mannion and his orange hair will take college basketball by storm this year. Mannion is an elite shooter who can knock down shots from anywhere. He is able to score from the midrange, as well as with a creative finishing package. He is a pure point guard who has great vision and strikes a great balance between scoring and distributing. Mannion also has solid athleticism that seems to be constantly improving. He will, however, need to continue working on his athleticism as well as gain strength and speed. He does not have impressive physical tools or explosiveness, as well as defensive instincts. Many project him to be taken in the top 10, but I am a little more bullish on his draft stock. To me, Mannion looks to be selected in the late teens.
Tyler Bey
Bey is a junior on a very talented and experienced Colorado team. He stands at 6 foot 7 inches and 220 pounds. Last season he had 17 double doubles and averaged 13.6 points and 9.9 rebounds. Bey is an all around effort guy who out fights opponents for both points and rebounds. Bey feasts on easy baskets and is a solid lob threat and post defender. He is not a threat from beyond the arc, but his production and energy will have him selected somewhere in the second round.
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