INGRAM’S STRONG PLAY STANDS OUT
Two potential top-five picks are in this group. Things become a little more uncertain after that, but there are a couple of intriguing prospects available later in the first round.
Brandon Ingram, Fr., Duke
While LSU forward Ben Simmons has seemingly asserted himself as the likely top selection in this year’s draft, Ingram’s strong play gave many teams pause when creating their big boards earlier in the season.
Few have improved as much as Ingram over the last year, and he has set himself up to be a fantastic two-way wing prospect because of it.
Ingram’s intrigue begins with his 6-9 size, long arms, athleticism and sweet-shooting perimeter stroke, but it goes beyond that. Ingram, 18, also has surprising ballhandling for a player of his size, good body control and touch around the rim and underrated court vision and feel for the game.
There are wrinkles Ingram needs to iron out — his 190-pound frame being chief among them — but most expect Ingram to be a good player in the NBA.
While he might not have the upside of Simmons, Ingram has a low floor, and the skill set he already possesses is viewed as extremely valuable.
Jaylen Brown, Fr., California
Whereas Ingram is viewed as a virtual certainty of being an NBA contributor, Brown has a little more uncertainty in his game.
On the surface, Brown’s averages of 14.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game were impressive for a freshman, though he shot 29.4% from three-point range and 65.4% from the free throw line.
Brown, 19, was heavily reliant on using his athleticism to get to the free throw line, which kept his scoring average afloat. When matched up against opponents who have similar athleticism, a rare occurrence at the collegiate level, Brown struggled to consistently generate offense.
While 6-7 Brown has enough upside for somebody to take the chance that he eventually figures it out from a skills perspective, patience likely will be required as he adjusts to the NBA.
Taurean Prince, Sr., Baylor
After growing into a sixth man role during his junior season, Prince, 22, made yet another huge jump into a starting role, and focal point, as a senior.
Offensively, Prince’s primary contributions come from his spot-up shooting. He connected on 37.6% of his three-point shots during his four-year career at Baylor. He’s also a 6-8 defender who is capable of defending multiple positions, which gives him potential as a role player.
In a league in which threepoint shooting and defensive versatility play well, it should be easy to find a role for Prince on virtually any team.
DeAndre Bembry, Jr., Saint Joseph’s
After averaging 17.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game last season, Bembry, 21, has attracted much interest.
While many players who were offensive focal points in college struggle to adjust to a world in which the offense isn’t run through them, Bembry’s defense, rebounding and secondary playmaking should allow him to fit right in.
His jump shot is a potential issue. After he showed promise as a freshman (34.6% from threepoint range), his average steadily dropped to a career-low 26.6% in his junior season.
Malachi Richardson, Fr., Syracuse
Few expected Richardson, 20, to be a one-and-done candidate. But after a surprising freshman season that saw him average 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, Richardson is a potential first-round pick.
Richardson shows potential as a jump shooter, connecting on 35.3% from three-point range, even if he was a little streaky in doing so. He also shows a little bit of potential shooting on the move and off the dribble, which suggests room for growth.
When pushed off the threepoint line, Richardson struggles because he has average athleticism and a poor shot selection. Playing a more under-control game, in which he’s not as reliant on midrange jumpers, would do wonders for Richardson’s growth.