The 2020 NBA Draft is now less than two months away, as it’s scheduled for Friday, Oct. 16. Just this week, the NBA held its annual draft lottery which saw the Minnesota Timberwolves come away with the No. 1 overall pick. With the draft order now …
The 2020 NBA Draft is now less than two months away, as it’s scheduled for Friday, Oct. 16.
Just this week, the NBA held its annual draft lottery which saw the Minnesota Timberwolves come away with the No. 1 overall pick.
With the draft order now officially set, mock draft season is in full force. And ESPN’s Jonathan Givony released his first mock draft since the lottery and projects LaMelo Ball to go No. 1 to Minnesota.
A common theme among the many mock drafts since the abbreviated ending of the 2019-20 college basketball was Skylar Mays of LSU going in round two.
That didn’t change with Givony’s mock.
ESPN has Mays going No. 45 overall to the Orlando Magic.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Mays would give the Magic depth in the backcourt and the ability to play both guard spots. During his four years at LSU, Mays played in 130 games, making 121 starts.
Mays improved his scoring average in each of his four years with the Tigers. As a senior last season, he averaged 16.7 points per game.
The former LSU star figures to be an attractive prospect to teams looking for someone who can come in and contribute immediately.
After four seasons playing for the LSU Tigers, Skylar Mays enters the 2020 NBA Draft as a 6-foot-4 lead guard and primary ballhandler.
After four seasons playing for the LSU Tigers, Skylar Mays enters the 2020 NBA draft as a 6-foot-4 lead guard and primary ballhandler.
Mays, who ranked among the Top 10 in program history for free throw percentage, minutes played, free throws made, steals, three-pointers made, assists as well as total points. caught up with HoopsHype about the draft.
Note: This transcription has been very minorly edited for clarity.
I always think it’s awesome when people play for their hometown teams in college. I’d love to hear more about your decision to play for LSU.
Skylar Mays: Obviously, being at home had a good bit to do with it. It’s where I’m from. I also had a strong, strong relationship with [former LSU head coach] Johnny Jones. I played high school ball with his sons. He told me I had an opportunity to play early and compete for a starting spot. That made it a pretty easy decision.
What were some of your favorite experiences playing for the LSU Tigers?
SM: I loved my relationship with my teammates. I got so close with those guys and guys that left before me. I still talk with them. That’s the No. 1 thing that I’m going to take away and be appreciative of, along with the coaching staff and all they’ve done. [LSU head coach] Will Wade was awesome. He put a lot of trust in me since he came here. I was one of the only guys on the team that wasn’t recruited by him. So for him to put trust in me and have confidence in me meant a lot. I had a lot of fun moments and to win the SEC championship was pretty cool. There are a lot of things to hold onto that I won’t forget. The top moment was probably senior night. I had a chance to soak it all in and enjoy recognition for all of the things that I have been able to accomplish. My game-winner against Mississippi State was a really fun one. Going through that SEC grind during the conference season was really fun for me. Getting to go out there and compete with my guys every day and being looked at to lead was so fun.
How would you describe your demeanor as a leader for your team?
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
SM: I’ve always tried to develop respect from guys, especially news guys, by coming to work every day and doing the right thing on and off the court. So when I talk to guys and have to be critical at times, they’ll know it’s coming from a good place. I don’t tell them anything that I wouldn’t do. I always try to get respect by actions. That’s the only way you can develop respect from someone, especially when they see you do the right thing time and time again and then it is a pretty smooth transition. I really believe in family and putting guys before yourself and being there for guys. I’m very dependable and very accountable.
You and Ja’Vonte Smart split minutes in the backcourt. How would you rate your confidence playing both on-ball and off-ball?
SM: I feel comfortable both ways now. I had to learn how to play off the ball. I didn’t know how to play off-ball until Ja’Vonte got here. It was very much a transition for me. I’d be lying to you if I said I didn’t like the ball in my hands more. I look at myself as the guy who brings it down the majority of the time. I think I’m more of a point guard than a combo guard right now. But as I developed my ability to play off the ball, I definitely want to use it in games and as a weapon. I definitely feel good in both instances. I try to make the right play, be creative, get in the paint and make the right read.
Your jump shot was impressive, too, as you were able to shoot both off the dribble and off the catch. That shows that you can create your own offense. How have you been able to evolve to become so efficient?
(via Synergy Sports)
SM: I definitely made some technique improvements. It’s no secret. It’s about repping that technique out, taking good reps. There is a difference between just going to the gym and shooting between 500 and 1,000 shots. You could get more out of it taking 300 and having a good technique and focusing on that. I wanted to make sure I was taking quality shots, not worrying about the number. I wanted to make the most out of my time. I’m really glad I was able to shoot as well as I did because I know I put the work in. I wouldn’t say I’m a sniper yet. But I’d say I’m definitely taking steps in the right direction.
You finished 98th percentile as a finisher in the pick-and-roll, according to Synergy. Would you say this is the strongest aspect of your game?
SM: Yeah, I would say playing off the pick-and-roll, definitely. I feel super comfortable in the pick-and-roll. That’s what I did when I was on the ball as a true point guard. I had plenty of practice with it. I think it showed a lot this past year as I had more opportunities. I wanted to get into the paint, whether that meant getting opportunities for my teammates or getting into the paint and scoring and hurting teams at the free-throw line. I play off my ability to get in the paint.
There were five players on LSU who looked at the NBA this offseason. It is a little different for you because you were a senior but how did you all keep each other motivated during the pre-draft process?
SM: We take it one day at a time. We keep our hearts in the right place. We keep getting to work every day. There is a lot of uncertainty right now, which I’m sure is frustrating for a lot of people, not just the guys on the team. But all we can do is take it one day at a time and make sure to stack good days on top of good days.
You have played with some NBA players like Tremont Waters when they were in college. What is some of the best advice that they have given you on your next steps?
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
SM: Most conversations I have with those guys have been about the pre-draft process and what the workouts are like. They say to be in great shape but also they know the type of person I am so they tell me to be myself. So far, these interviews have been pretty fun for me. I’ve been centering myself, making sure I do the right things, make sure I need to do whatever I need to do to end up in the right place.
What is one thing that you have tried to stress to NBA teams when you have spoken to them?
SM: I’m a winner. I put winning before everything. I’m very versatile and have a lot of elements to my game that can give value to a team. I won two state championships in high school at Louisiana State University Laboratory School. It’s a high school on LSU’s campus. We had a down year my first year in college but we made steps in the right direction every year afterward, including an SEC championship. I definitely have a winning pedigree.
You also played high school basketball with fellow NBA prospect Markus Howard when you were a senior. How did that help shape the player you are today?
SM: It was huge. Markus was really tough. He made me a lot better as a player on the defensive end. We had a lot of guys like PJ Washington and O’Shae Brissett, who are in the NBA now. Every practice was a warzone. We really got after it, which made my transition into college a lot more smooth. I got a feel of what it felt like to be away from home and away from my family. I had an opportunity to compete against guys who were going to play high-level D-I basketball every day.
There are a lot of things about you that actually remind me of Spencer Dinwiddie. Are there any players in the NBA whose game you feel most closely resembles yours?
SM: Definitely! I’d say that Malcolm Brogdon and Derrick White are two great comparisons. I think a bigger Fred VanVleet, too. Those are some guys I really look to and appreciate their games. I try to take tidbits from them all.
I think another similarity with you and Brogdon is intelligence off the court. You won SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2019 and 2020 and SEC McWhorter Award winner as the top scholar-athlete. Tell me about your studies and the way you value academia.
SM: I come from a background of doctors. Most people would think that I took kinesiology because my parents did it. But I actually really do have an appreciation for that science as it applies to medicine. I’ll potentially get back into it once my playing career is over. I’m very adamant about doing well in the classroom. I’m appreciative of all the honors I’ve received, it’s definitely something that I take seriously.
That’s amazing! If you were to practice medicine, what would your focus be?
SM: I’m interested in P3 Applied Sports Science, how they’re able to apply their studies to high-level athletes. It’s super interesting to me. I’m a bit more interested in that than a white coat or sitting at a desk.
Besides your studies, what else do you do when you are not playing basketball?
Skylar Mays (@skylarmays4) brought many great moments to LSU
He has now been recognized as the top male scholar-athlete in the @SEC as the recipient of the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete of the Year pic.twitter.com/Yo3ZTr0Gz0
SM: Yeah, I love hanging out with my family. I come from a huge family. I’ve got seven brothers and sisters. I’m the third-oldest. We all have the same initials. I’m the only one that played D-I athletics. Four of them are still in high school. We do crawfish boils down here. I like to skate. I like to listen to music. I’m a big movie guy. My favorite movie of all-time is Coming to America (1988). I have been watching a lot of romantic comedies, I just watched Crazy Stupid Love (2011). My favorite TV show is The Boondocks.
Awesome. What are your long-term goals as a basketball player?
SM: I want to have a Hall of Fame career. I definitely have a true love for the game and I’m also willing to put all of the work it takes to be as successful as possible. I know a big part of that is winning. I’m going to stick to what got me to this point and that’s having a winning mindset and putting the team first. I’ve been successful because I’ve thought that way.
The deadline for college players to remove their names from the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft expired on Aug. 3. — and it was a good day for Will Wade’s LSU Tigers as three of his stars returned to Baton Rouge.
Trendon Watford, Javonte Smart and Darius Days all decided to return to LSU for the 2020-21 college hoops season.
However, two former LSU players — guard Skylar Mays and Emmitt Williams — both remain in the draft, which is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 16.
Mays, of course, was a four-year starter for the Tigers whose eligibility expired at the conclusion of the 2019-20 season. He averaged 16.7 points per game for LSU last season and finished a stellar career with over 1,600 points scored.
Mays was ranked No. 46 by Rookie Wire, who had this to say about him.
Skylar Mays averaged 16.7 points with 5.0 rebounds per game this season. He led LSU to finish among the top five offenses in Division I, according to KenPom. He is a solid 3-and-D prospect who connected on 1.6 shots from beyond the arc per game while also forcing 1.8 steals per game.
Williams. who had two years of eligibility remaining, was one of Wade’s first big recruits at LSU. A five-star forward from Lehigh Acres, Fla., the 6-foot-6 Williams was ranked No. 73 by Rookie Wire.
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Emmitt Williams won MVP at the Jordan Brand Classic in 2018, scoring 44 points on 22-of-23 attempts. He averaged 13.3 points and 6.6 rebounds as a sophomore and averaged 1.26 points per possession as the roll man in pick-and-roll sets, which ranked among the top 10 of Division I players who had as many opportunities.
Williams took a major leap from his freshman season to his sophomore campaign, almost doubling his scoring average.
With the draft still over two months away, both former Tigers still have an opportunity to climb up boards. The lack of a normal pre-draft process could favor a player like Mays who has four years of experience and film.
If the NBA standings remain where they were at the start of the league’s hiatus, the Brooklyn Nets will have the No. 20 and 55 picks.
Among the uncertainties surrounding the NBA as the novel coronavirus continues to be a major issue in the U.S. is the 2020 draft.
NBA teams won’t be able to look at college players during March Madness, and the rest of the pre-draft process is expected to be limited. The matter of when the draft will actually happen is up in the air, as well. Especially if the league tries to crown a 2020 champion.
For the Brooklyn Nets, based on where the standings were when the league went on hiatus, their first-round pick would convey to the Timberwolves. Minnesota acquired Brooklyn’s top-14 protected pick from the Hawks, which the Nets sent to Atlanta in a trade that delivered Taurean Prince.
But the Nets will not be without a first-round selection. They have Philadelphia’s top-14 protected pick, which Brooklyn acquired when they sent the No. 27 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft — which wound up being Mfiondu Kabengele — to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Nets’ second-round pick belongs to the Boston Celtics, but Brooklyn has the Denver Nuggets’ second-round selection.
Right now, the Nets fall have the No. 20 and No. 55 picks.
Here’s a look at one player Brooklyn could take at No. 55:
Skylar Mays | LSU | Guard
STATS: 16.7 PPG | 39.4 3PT% | 1.8 SPG
Mays had a breakout year from beyond the arc after shooting 31.3% from deep as a junior. At 6-foot-4, the 22-year-old guard also has the defensive capabilities to be a contributor in the NBA.
Something else interesting about the guard that Bryan Kalbrosky of USA Today SMG’s Rookie Wire points out is how Mays is similar to a current member of the Nets in more ways than one:
Mays will remind many of Brooklyn’s Spencer Dinwiddie, both on and off the court.
Scouting and preparing for the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft is incredibly challenging due to circumstances surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.
Scouting and preparing for the upcoming 2020 NBA draft is incredibly challenging due to circumstances surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.
As always, we examine the mock drafts from the most trusted analysts to give us the best idea of a consensus for what the upcoming class will look like in June. The latest 2020 NBA mock drafts from experts at ESPN, CBS Sports, SI.com, Bleacher Report, NBADraft.net, The Athletic, SB Nation, Sporting News and USA Today Sports Media Group’s Rookie Wire were used for these rankings.
Currently, the first three players expected to be selected (Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, James Wiseman) have remained in the exact same order for the third aggregate mock draft in a row.
After dropping from No. 5 all the way to No. 11 between December and January, Maccabi Tel Aviv forward Deni Avdija has jumped back to No. 4 for this version.
He played well recently at the 2020 Eurobasket Qualifiers, scoring 21 points with eight rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal while also shooting 3-for-6 from beyond the arc. This was a welcome change of pace for scouts hoping to learn as much as possible about Avdija as he had averaged just 4.0 points in 14.3 minutes in Euroleague games earlier this season.
Several other prospects playing overseas have seen their stock increase as well. This makes some sense considering many in the NCAA rely on their performance in March Madness to solidify their draft position whereas the international players gain momentum in other ways.
Killian Hayes, who was ranked No. 18 overall on our last aggregate mock draft, jumped up to No. 8 for this edition. The 6-foot-5 guard was 14-for-61 (39 percent) from 3-point range while also connecting on 90.9 percent of his free-throw attempts during Eurocup action. Several outlets are currently projecting him as a Top 5 pick in the 2020 NBA draft.
Another prospect playing outside of the United States but currently making waves is Leandro Bolmaro. He debuted on our aggregate mock draft in the most recent edition before this one but has jumped all the way to No. 29 this time around.
Meanwhile, in the NCAA, some college basketball players managed to make some serious momentum for themselves before the season was unexpectedly cut short. Some of those players are seniors Killian Tillie (Gonzaga), Grant Riller (Charleston), Udoka Azubuike (Kansas) and Desmond Bane (TCU).
As mentioned here, it makes sense for upperclassmen to be more appealing in this class than in previous years. Seniors have far more game film to draw film which may be necessary considering individual team workouts and even the 2020 NBA Draft Combine may be canceled. Plus, older players are likely more ready to contribute immediately.
I wrote about the top 25 NCAA basketball seniors based on their draft stock:
On the flip side, there are freshmen around the country who have seen their draft stock drastically decline in recent months.
Oregon’s N’Faly Dante has fallen off our boards completely after playing just twelve games and making no appearances in the starting lineup. Kahlil Whitney, who was considered a lottery pick when we did this exercise in October 2019, also dropped off after withdrawing from Kentucky.
Some other freshmen who saw their draft stock fall: Duke’s Matthew Hurt was ranked No. 16 overall back in October but is now at No. 76 overall. LSU’s Trendon Watford was ranked No. 14 in October but has fallen to No. 63. Florida’s Scottie Lewis was No. 9 in July and is currently No. 53 overall.
Matthew Hurt came into this year looking to fill @DukeMBB’s shooting void and, although the Minnesota native shot well, his inconsistency plagued him at times:https://t.co/OJnH743xDe
Less drastic but still valid: Arizona’s Nico Mannion has fallen from No. 6 back in January 2020 all the way to No. 16 now in April. Likewise, UNC’s Cole Anthony dropped from No. 2 back in July 2019 to No. 10 in our new study.
But some encouraging news for prospects who were considered Top-25 recruits coming out of high school but had a disappointing freshman year (e.g. Duke’s Wendell Moore as well as the aforementioned Dante, Whitney, Watford, Hurt and Lewis) can be found in Kentucky’s Immanuel Quickley.
The 6-foot-3 guard was the No. 13 overall recruit in the nation coming into Kentucky as a freshman. But after averaging just 5.2 points as a freshman, he returned for his sophomore campaign.
Fortunately, the SEC Player of the Year dramatically improved his draft stock in 2019-20. His season was highlighted by 21.3 points per game in February and a free throw percentage (92.3%) that ranked as the sixth-best among all underclassmen. This month, he debuted on our aggregate mock draft at No. 42 overall.
HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report.
Rookie Wire breaks down the film and crunches all the relevant statistics to predict all 60 picks of the 2020 NBA Draft.
Like much of the world right now, the 2020 NBA Draft is full of uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The cancellation of the NCAA Tournament changes the evaluation process and denies NBA teams the opportunity to see how players react to the pressure of performing on college basketball’s biggest stage. Nevertheless, scouts and front offices are doing their homework on this year’s top prospects.
As of now, the draft remains scheduled for June 25 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. However, the event could be pushed back in reaction to the pandemic.
Meantime, our two-round mock draft accounts for potential fit for every team that currently owns picks. Some teams, such as the Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans and Boston Celtics, have enough picks to trade up or turn them into higher picks for future years. Others, such as the Golden State Warriors, may want to trade down to select a player based on roster fit.
That said, we made our selections without trying to predict trades.
A few quick notes: Some notable freshmen (such as Florida’s Scottie Lewis, Villanova’s Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Duke’s Wendell Moore and Matthew Hurt) have been omitted because Rookie Wire expects them to return to school.
Similarly, top juniors (such as San Diego State’s Malachi Flynn, Iowa’s Luka Garza, Georgetown’s Omer Yurtseven) were excluded because we expect them to return for their senior year.
Generally speaking, players who have already declared for the draft or are testing the waters were given priority over prospects who we may rate a bit higher but have not officially put the name into the draft pool.
Draft order is based on NBA standings when the league went on hiatus.
1. Golden State Warriors: Anthony Edwards, Georgia
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Wing, 6-foot-5, 18 years old
The Warriors, obviously, have little need for a player who needs the ball in his hands as often as Anthony Edwards does. But the SEC Freshman of the Year arguably has the most star power of anyone in this draft class. Edwards averaged a strong 21.8 points per game in February and is a highlight-reel in transition. Edwards could conceivably be traded, which would allow Golden State to collect another asset while also selecting a player (perhaps either Obi Toppin or Deni Avdija) who fits better with the Warriors’ core.
For the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft, seniors may have an advantage because they have the largest sample size of game film to show front offices.
For the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft, seniors may have an advantage because they have the largest sample size of game film to show front offices.
Most other years, prospects have opportunities to boost their draft stock in the NCAA Tournament or during team workouts and the NBA Combine. But with at least some and potentially even all of those scouting events canceled this year due to the coronavirus, upperclassmen are arguably more valuable than usual due to increased exposure.
With that in mind, we broke the top prospects who have elapsed their college basketball eligibility and as such are thus automatically eligible for the 2020 NBA Draft.
1. Cassius Winston, Michigan State
(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Guard, 6-foot-1, 21 years old
During his four seasons at Michigan State, Cassius Winston averaged 13.0 assists per 100 possessions. Meanwhile, his career assist rate (43.1%) ranked as sixth-best among all NCAA players since 2009-10. While a bit undersized, he had always been incredibly productive in college and is arguably the most NBA-ready of the seniors who will be in this draft class. Winston is already an incredibly capable finisher and distributor out of the pick-and-roll, which will help his game translate to the next level. He has also been productive as a shooter off the catch, off the dribble and off screens. In fact, he shot above 40.0 percent from 3-point range on each of those attempts. Winston became the second consensus All-American in Michigan State history, also earning All-American honors back-to-back seasons.
Sam Vecenie of The Athletic has Oklahoma City taking the senior guard out of LSU late in the second round with the No. 51 overall pick.
In his latest mock NBA Draft, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic had Oklahoma City selecting Arizona freshman guard, Josh Green, with the No. 25 overall pick.
In addition to adding Green in the first round, Vecenie has Oklahoma City picking up 6-foot-4 senior guard Skylar Mays out of LSU late in the second round with the No. 51 overall pick.
Mays is an experienced guard who started the final 69 games of his collegiate career, helping the Tigers to their first SEC regular-season title in a decade in 2019.
He was also a two-time All-SEC selection during his time in Baton Rouge, earning first-team honors in his final season.
According to Vecenie, Mays is an intriguing pick because of his ability as an “offensive creator on the perimeter” coupled with his reputation as LSU’s “most consistent performer”.
He averaged 16.7 points, five rebounds and 3.2 assists while sharing the lead duties with JaVonte Smart. He’s a smart, efficient finisher both inside and outside, making 49 percent of his overall shots and 39 percent from 3. Mays is also a good defensive player, although he’s not quite as big as you want your role players to be on the wing. The idea here is combo guard off the bench who can fill a lot of different roles. You need a guy who can play next to a big initiator as the point guard? Mays can do that. You need a 2-guard next to a true point? Mays can do that, too. His versatility is useful.
In a 91-90 overtime loss at No. 11 Auburn back in February, Mays went for 30 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds.
With the near conclusion of the 2019-20 NCAA Men’s Basketball Regular Season, it is worth taking another look at the 2020 NBA Draft prospects.
With the conclusion of the 2019-20 NCAA men’s basketball regular season fast approaching, it’s worth taking another look at the 2020 NBA Draft prospects.
While quite a bit will change on big boards and mock drafts following the conference tournaments and March Madness, some of the top players have already convinced NBA teams that they deserve serious consideration when the draft rolls around on June 25, 2020.
Others still have plenty of time to improve their draft stock on the floor and in workouts and interviews. For what it is worth, former top prospects coming into their freshman campaigns who could go back to school for their sophomore campaigns (for example, Florida’s Scottie Lewis and Duke’s Wendell Moore) were not included on this list.
Note that statistics are pulled from Synergy Sports Tech, Bart-Torvik.com, KenPom.com, RealGM or Sports-Reference.
1. LaMelo Ball, USA
(Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)
Guard, 6-foot-7, 18 years old
The main reason to believe in Ball as the top player in the 2020 NBA Draft is because of his ridiculously high upside. With his unique size, he can put up a triple-double on any given night. Even when Ball was playing against much older professional competition in Australia’s NBL, Ball nearly averaged a triple-double per 36 minutes. Meanwhile, his defensive stats were also much better than expected, and his basketball instincts are strong. It is difficult to find an accurate read on Ball, given how many different teams he has played for in recent years. However, there should be enough to like about him for a team to select him with one of the first few picks.
2. Onyeka Okongwu, USC
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Big, 6-foot-9, 19 years old
While he’s a bit undersized at 6-9, he can play bigger than his height, given his 7-foot-2 wingspan. For example, his block percentage (10.0%) ranks among the top five of all freshmen this season. He is more celebrated for his defensive ability, but the offense is there, too. Okongwu is averaging 1.14 points per possession as an offensive finisher, per Synergy, which ranks in the 98th percentile among all NCAA players. Put it all together, and the USC big man currently has the best box plus-minus in college basketball. Even if there might not be as much star potential as a player such as Georgia’s Anthony Edwards, he feels much closer to a sure thing in the NBA.
3. Anthony Edwards, Georgia
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Wing, 6-foot-5, 18 years old
Under head coach Tom Crean, the University of Georgia freshman has been a revelation in transition offense. Edwards ranks among the top five nationally in total scoring on these plays, per Synergy, averaging 5.7 points per game. He looks his best when his shot attempts come closer to the rim, especially considering his 6-foot-9 wingspan. Farther from the basket, meanwhile, more than half of his 3-pointers have been unassisted. This shows he is capable of creating his own shot. Edwards, however, is shooting just 30.3% from beyond the arc on the season. But the reason to like him as a top-three pick is more about flashes of greatness, and he is averaging 21.8 points per game in February.
4. Tyrese Haliburton, Iowa State
Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Guard, 6-foot-5, 20 years old
Haliburton is a skinny, lengthy guard measured with a 7-foot wingspan though and 170-pound frame. But most important is his valuable 3-and-D skill set. Before his injury, his 3-point percentage (41.9%) and steal percentage (3.8%) were both among the best in the NCAA. As a distributor and lead ballhandler, despite an unusually low usage rate, his assist rate still ranks in the top 10 among all underclassmen at high-major programs. Haliburton has been productive enough to suggest he can take over as the starting point guard in the NBA as soon as next season. There may be a low ceiling, but there is also a very high floor.
5. Killian Hayes, Ratiopharm Ulm
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Guard, 6-foot-5, 18 years old
Much like Ball, there is a lot to like about Hayes due to his size and overall upside. He can be a lead ballhandler and has been measured with a 6-foot-7 wingspan. Hayes led France to the silver medal in 2018 at the U17 World Cup, averaging 21.4 points and 4.4 assists with 3.6 steals per 36 minutes. He is shooting 39.0% from beyond the arc in Eurocup action and has been able to produce well as a scorer as he has grown into a bigger role.
Somehow already past the midpoint of the college basketball season, the 2020 NBA Draft is starting to shape up with far more clear rankings.
Somehow already past the midpoint of the college basketball season, the 2020 NBA draft is starting to shape up with far more clear rankings.
As always, we examine the most trusted analysts to give us the best idea of a consensus for what the upcoming draft class will look like in June. The latest 2020 NBA mock drafts from experts at ESPN, CBS Sports, SI.com, Bleacher Report, NBADraft.net, The Athletic and USA Today Sports Media Group’s Rookie Wire were used for these rankings.
The top four players (Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, James Wiseman and Cole Anthony) have remained the exact same despite none of the latter three players being active for various different reasons.
Meanwhile, Iowa State sophomore point guard Tyrese Haliburton entered the Top 5 and replaced 19-year-old Israeli prospect Deni Avdija – who has not seen much playing time in the Euroleague.
Included below are brief scouting reports for senior guards who have improved their draft stock the most since our last update. These players listed are all four-year NCAA players who could be ready to make the jump to the NBA like Josh Hart and Malcolm Brogdon did in their respective classes.
MARKUS HOWARD, MARQUETTE
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Aggregate Mock Draft Rank: 46
One of the most important things to know about Marquette senior Markus Howard is that despite the fact he has four years of collegiate experience, he is just 20 years old. Few teams operate their offense through one player quite like Golden Eagles do with Howard, who has taken 42.5 percent of their total field goal attempts. Fortunately, the guard brags one of the most efficient and prolific jump shots among all NCAA players. Howard operates well when he is shooting off the catch and off the dribble, which will make him a good fit for almost any offense in the NBA. He is currently averaging 28.4 points per game while shooting 42.5 percent on three-pointers. Similarly, no guard in college has been fouled more often than Howard has thus far. He should be a lock win Big East Player of the Year and should be a strong contender for the National Player of the Year, too. As a pro, he can likely become a spark-plug scoring option off the bench. His draft stock has improved from No. 68 up to No. 46 month-over-month.
PAYTON PRITCHARD, OREGON
(Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Aggregate Mock Draft Rank: 47
Oregon senior guard Payton Pritchard was a Top-50 recruit coming into the Pac-12 back in 2016. He attended West Linn High School, where he was able to lead his squad to four consecutive state titles. That accomplishment was an especially impressive feat considering the program had only won the OSAA Boys Basketball Championship once before and it was way back in 1997. He has since played for the Ducks in the Final Four (2017) and also won MVP of the Pac-12 Tournament last season. He is currently averaging 19.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists with 1.7 steals per game. His assist rate (32.7 percent) is Top 20 among seniors and he has connected on 40.7 percent of his three-pointers. Now more than halfway through the season, he is the heavy favorite to win Pac-12 Player of the Year and could be a sleeper for National Player of the Year as well. He has leaped from No. 96 in December all the way to No. 47 now in January.
SKYLAR MAYS, LSU
Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Aggregate Mock Draft Rank: 57
During his senior year of high school, Skylar Mays was actually teammates with Howard at Findlay Prep. Also on the roster was 2019 first-rounder PJ Washington and Toronto Raptors two-way wing Oshae Brissett. For what it is worth, their roster also had current college basketball standouts Tristan Clark (Baylor) and Lamine Diane (CSUN). Their team has already sent tons of prospects into the NBA and Mays could very well be the next in line. He is a potential 3-and-D threat, averaging 1.4 three-pointers and 2.1 steals per game for the LSU Tigers as an NCAA senior. Meanwhile, LSU’s adjusted offensive rating (116.6) ranks Top 5 in college basketball. Along with Reggie Perry (Mississippi State) as well as Kerry Blackshear Jr. (Florida), Mays has a strong candidacy to win SEC Player of the Year. He has jumped from No. 90 last month to No. 57 this month.
