The 2022 NBA draft is just over a month away, and one player who could continue to see his stock rise in that span is [autotag]Tari Eason[/autotag].
The former LSU forward has an interesting profile as far as a potential lottery pick is concerned. He came off the bench for the Tigers during his lone season in Baton Rouge after transferring in from Cincinnati, but that didn’t stop him from having a dominant campaign.
He led the Tigers in scoring with 16.9 points per game, which also ranked sixth in the SEC. He was named the conference’s Sixth Man of the Year and was one of the nation’s top defensive players in addition to his scoring prowess.
His well-rounded skill set makes him an intriguing prospect in this year’s draft, and in the latest mock from CBS Sports’ David Cobb, he’s projected as the ninth pick to the San Antonio Spurs.
Eason enjoyed a breakout sophomore season after transferring to LSU from Cincinnati. He can score at all three levels and is a high-upside, versatile defender. His college coaches employed him as a sixth man, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Eason cast in the same role at the next level. At 6-8, he’s like a perimeter-oriented Montrezl Harrell in terms of motor, grit and the type of role he may play.
While some may use the “sixth man” stigma against him, there’s nothing wrong with drafting a guy with a clearly defined role in mind, and it’s certainly a role that allowed Eason to flourish during his second college season.
He was one of 76 players invited to the combine next weekend, which will give him the chance to boost his stock even further. But for a player who was originally seen as a mid-late pick in the first round, Eason’s profile is beginning to rise, and we may see more high projections like this one in the coming weeks.
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