Florida State guard Scottie Barnes emerged as one of the top freshmen in the country last season, and the 19-year-old is heavily projected to be an early first-round pick next week in the NBA draft.
Barnes, who was named the ACC Freshman of the Year, averaged 10.3 points, 4.1 assists, four rebounds and 1.5 steals in 24 games with the Seminoles. He has drawn comparisons to Draymond Green given his ability on defense and willingness to do the little things on the court.
The 6-foot-8 standout is widely considered to be the sixth overall pick in the draft, but could sneak into the top five. He is thought to have the best chance of climbing into the top five, something he said recently would mean everything to him.
Barnes on Friday detailed why he is one of the top prospects this year.
I would say having long arms, big hands and being able to move so well for my size. Being quick, able to jump really high and having those intangibles on the court. Also, me being able to have energy, being able to bring it on the court. Me being athletic, having that play-making IQ on the court. Having that vision makes me so unique on the court where I can see different things and make different reads that, naturally, other people can’t see.
Barnes emerged as a very good playmaker with FSU and had plenty of flashy passes throughout the season. He considers himself to be a point guard, but he also believes he can play every position on the floor in certain situations if need be.
He projects to be a strong addition to teams near the top of the draft board given his overall ability and skillset. He could end up with quite a few teams, but it is clear that the organization that takes him will get an ultra competitor that checks a lot of boxes on the court.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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