Preseason Top-50 Big Board Of Returning Players for the 2019 Draft (10–1)
Part 3: The End is Finally Here
The journey has come to an end for us, Part 3 of our Preseason Big Board of Returning Players for the 2019 Draft has entered the internet with moderate fan fare.
If you haven’t check our Part 1 or 2, then I would definitely recommend doing that first and if you have, then welcome back.
The talent in the Top-10 is good and they are fun to watch but like the rest of the Top-25, there are not many guys who will make you want to sell the mansion to draft them. A lot of these guys will find roles in the NBA and some might even be All-Stars but as of now, I can’t see any as a legitimate 1A on a contending team. Yes, that sounded like negativity and even though I said negativity was for the birds, I had to at least drop some sort of line on where we believe these guys will fall in terms of NBA value/role.
Here is the Top-10 of our Returning Players — enjoy
10. Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga
Archetype: Combo Forward
Comparison: Al Harrington
Hot Take City: A highly skilled offensive stretch-4 with a budding defensive game is someone that should get your attention pretty quickly. With a reported 7’2 wingspan, Rui has the length that teams love for their stretch-4 but he also has a good enough frame that leads me to believe that he can even play a little small-ball 5 in limited minutes. If you see Rui as a wing, which I did for most of last year, then I can see the issues you might have with his foot speed and overall defensive intensity as he would get CRUSHED on the wing in the NBA but as a strange ⅘ hybrid, his defensive value is impressive. On offense, his shooting from distance is a key for growth as I don’t see him really making huge strides as a ball-handler which is fine, as he sets good screens and has a very fluid motion on his shot. He has made significant strides when it comes to his FT shooting, he just now needs to do it from much farther away. For a kid who is relatively new to intense competitive basketball, the progress he has made is very impressive and I wouldn’t be surprised if he shot in the high 30s from 3 this year. If we are going to be negative on Rui, his burst is just not very good and one of the main reasons I think he is limited in terms of upside. If he had more pop, I would give him some hope into turning into a potential secondary option on offense but if he doesn’t then it is more likely he is just a skilled stretch big that can score in spurts.
9. Jordan Poole, University of Michigan
Archetype: Lead Guard
Comparison: Austin Rivers
Hot Take City: The legacy of Poole is rooted in that ridiculous last second shot in the tourney, but the foundation will be built on his silky smooth offensive game that is constantly growing. Even though he isn’t the athlete in the normal sense, Poole has an underrated first step and better than expected handles that allow him to get around his defenders on a regular basis. Even with the underrated handles and attacking skills, Poole’s bread and butter will always be his jump shot and for good reason. He has a quick release with great form and can get it off with relative ease even with defenders on him. With the focus on Poole next season, his biggest change is how he goes about his scoring. As a freshman, Poole often times rushed to make an impact which created a lot of bad shots and that can’t happen this year. He has to maintain his aggressive scoring instincts but he needs to learn how to pick and choose his spots better. If Poole can reign it in just a little bit, while maintaining a similar level of efficiency with an uptick in usage then BIG10 teams should be concerned. He finished pretty well around the rim last year, but he will need to show it on a larger scale while also improving his midrange pull-up game. His overall growth as a player could turn him into a lottery talent, but some areas of major concern are frame and defense. The defense is fairly obvious to pick at due to age and role but his overall frame and strength were relatively weak last season. Good thing he is at Michigan. Coach Beilein can help with the Xs & Os on both sides, and I am not worried about him improving his frame at all either because if you saw what Mo Wagner looked like as a Freshman then you to wouldn’t be worried. This could be a huge year for Poole, and if given the opportunity to to run the team and showcase his playmaking skills then it wouldn’t be strange to see him as a Top-10 pick.
8. D’Marcus Simonds, Georgia State
Archetype: Lead Guard
Comparison: Jordan Clarkson
Hot Take City: If you are new to me as a writer, then I would like to welcome you to the D’Marcus Simonds Fan Club. I had previously written about Simonds on my Off-Ball Big Board after last season and everything I said there remains the same, outside of my new knowledge that this kid has a pretty electric personality and supreme confidence, which is awesome. To go along with what seems to be a really self-aware kid, is his ability to put the ball in the hoop. In fact, he might be one of the 5 best wings in the country at doing it. What makes him such a deadly scorer, and one that can do so against any competition, is that Simonds is a very powerful guard that is tough to stop when he gets going. When he gets downhill, it is very difficult for any college player to stop him from getting to the basket and when paired with his underrated run/jump athleticism, the deadly scoring combo guard is born. Along with his strength and underrated athleticism, Simonds has GREAT body control which allows him to eat contact while in the air and still finish at the rim. His strength and athleticism gives me hope that he can become a viable defender in the NBA, but due to team scheme, it is truly difficult to get a full idea of what he can do on that side of the ball. The one area of concern for me and probably everyone else, is his shooting. I cannot stress enough that Simonds really needs to improve his shooting or at least take better shots while showcasing a better overall playmaking game. If the shot stays inconsistent, then Simonds value goes down even with the underrated athleticism because as Jordan Clarkson proved in the playoffs, if you cannot hit open shots and put pressure on the defense then there is no reason for you to be on the court.
7. Carsen Edwards, Purdue University
Archetype: Lead Guard (probable Bench mob)
Comparison: Supercharged Ty Lawson
Hot Take City: Like Simonds, Edwards is a favorite of mine and for good reason as last season I went as far as calling him the most dynamic scorer in college hoops after Trae Young. Somewhat bold but also very true, as he is absolute flame-thrower with balls the size of California and will go toe to toe with anyone. When you start the conversation about Edwards as a pro prospect, the two things you need to address is his height and experience as a lead guard. Both are red flags, but red flags that I think Edwards can either improve on or at least get by with. The size is definitely a concern, but his frame leads me to believe that he can withstand a lot of bumps and his 6’4 wingspan is a nice little addition to his frame. When you tie his + wingspan with his quick feet, the hope is that it will give Edwards enough of a chance to turn into a better than expected defender in the NBA. It will be a definite uphill battle for Muscle Hamster 2.0, but I wouldn’t put it past Edwards. Even if he never turns out to be an average defender, the scoring package is there for him to fall back on. There isn’t a spot on the floor or scoring situation that Edwards doesn’t excel at when playing other collegiate players but for him to take the next step, he needs to display an actual playmaking game. The consistent shooting from all over with the additional playmaking should keep Edwards in the conversation as a first rounder, but his projection is solely based on how the Boilermakers do this year with him at the helm. The battle will be tough, but Edwards can definitely turn into a very dangerous lead guard if he hits correctly and if he does, then we might be looking at the next Kyle Lowry.
6. Zach Norvell Jr, Gonzaga
Archetype: Off-Ball Bucket Getter
Comparison: C.J. McCollum
Hot Take City: Coming into next season, and yes this might seem like a hot take, but Norvell Jr could turn out to be the best pure bucket getter in college hoops next season. He has everything you want in a modern day guard at the college level when it comes to scoring. Alongside his scoring aptitude, which is silky smooth, Norvell has shown flashes of being a competent playmaker but his ball-skills could be refined a little bit as he isn’t the most creative dribbler which could get him exposed in the NBA. Alongside his overall scoring impact, Norvell’s measurables are good but not great. He stands 6'4 with what looks to be a decent wingspan and his frame is fine for now but to withstand the bumps on offense while not being an absolute turnstile on defense, he will need to gain some muscle. When it comes to defense, he can definitely improve but he has a good enough base along with above-average instincts and IQ to turn himself into a capable NBA level defender. Is he going to be Tony Allen? No, but he will guard and give it his all which is more than most players. At worst Norvell is some sort of version of 2015–2016 JR Smith.
5. Killian Tillie, Gonzaga
Archetype: Perfect Modern Stretch Big
Comparison: Jonas Jerebko
Hot Take City: What Tillie is right now & what he can be are two of the best possible outcomes for any fan next June if he happens to land on their team. Both his ceiling and floor are top notch. If Tillie continues down his path, and doesn’t add any strength or improve on his ball skills then you are looking at a versatile 6’10 stretch 4 that can hit open shots and play very good team defense but if he hits his true peak potential, then you could be looking at the new age Andrei Kirilenko. As of now, Tillie’s shooting is a dangerous weapon as he is a career 47% shooter from distance and a 77% FT shooter on relatively low usage, which does scare me. With Tillie poised to take more of a focal point on offensive with Jonathan Williams gone, tracking the uptick in usage with regards to his shooting numbers will be interesting to watch. If Tillie is hitting in the low 40% from 3 with over 7 attempts per 100 possessions from range, then he is the best floor spacing prospect for returning players. Now I know that the Kirilenko talk is high praise, especially since the internet loves AK47 more than they like Kobe Bryant, but Tillie has shown flashes of being that high-end defensive talent that can be a weak side rim protector who also plays that passing lanes really well. Wow, that was a lot to digest on Tillie’s potential impact but the talent is there to hit his peak, he just needs to improve on certain areas. The most glaring need for Tillie is adding additional muscle to his frame, and this is essential as he is clearly a big man and not a wing. Due to his limited foot speed, defending wings and guards will be difficult but due to his length and instincts, he SHOULD be able to switch when necessary and not be a complete disaster when on an island. The likelihood of Tillie hitting his ceiling is probably under 50% but like Jontay Porter, his floor is still very impressive and one that will keep him in the league for awhile.
4. Jalen McDaniels, SDSU
Archetype: Combo Wing
Comparison: Perry Jones III/Quincy Miller
Hot Take City: When watching McDaniels play, the first word that comes to mind is “Tools”, which is one of the main reasons why I like to compare him to PJIII and Quincy Miller. Yes, referring to a prospect as PJIII or Quincy Miller in 2018 will get some flack, but the raw upside, measurables, frame and skill-set screams that of PJIII but McDaniel’s BBIQ to the mix, gives the. Unlike Jones/Miller, McDaniels has great instincts and motor that will make him more appealing to teams that worry about his lack of ball-skills and slight frame. The good thing about being a sophomore and losing a senior is that all three of his major concerns should be addressed within the first 2–3 months of the season. With Malik Pope graduated, McDaniels will be given more opportunity to flash his scoring ability which will give us the opportunity to see what he can really do. His jumper isn’t lost, and his form isn’t terrible as evidenced by his better than expected FT numbers. He only took 19 total 3s last season, and that number is clearly going to up. If he continues to shoot 20% from 3 on decent volume then we can talk about him being a piss poor shooter. The likelihood that his ball-skills and shot making off the dribble improve enough to allow him to play on the wing is pretty low but I wouldn’t doubt him. As for defense, he has shown the versatility needed to defend on the low block and even in space, which is big for his upside as well. The last area of concern is frame which to me is his biggest issue right now, but like most underclassman, McDaniels should naturally improve his frame. Even though it would be nice for him to grow into a wing, he is better suited as a stretch-4 due to his natural rebounding ability, great length, willingness to play in the trenches and his upside as a spot-up shooter.
3. Daejon Davis, Stanford University
Archetype: Lead Guard
Comparison: Goran Dragic
Hot Take City: I will be honest and say that I do over-hype sophomores, like Amir Coffey last year, and it might come back to bite me in the ass but Daejon Davis might have the most upside for all returning players next season. Davis has the size, skill and IQ to be a star but he does need to harness all that power. Like Uncle Ben said to Peter, “With great power, comes great responsibility” and for me, that should be Daejon’s motto this season. The first area that he needs to improve upon is his decision making, and that shouldn’t even be a second guess as he was 3rd in the NCAA in TOs. His decision making is related to being young and running a team as a freshman as his vision and instincts are off the chart, but he often eats with his eyes and not his stomach. My grandmother used to say that to me when I would put two helpings of Gnocchi on my dish and 3 meatballs, but in basketball terms it means that even though you see a small opening in the defense it doesn’t mean you should try to fit a no-look bounce pass through it. Once you look past the high TOs, you start to notice the beauty in his game. He is at his best in transition where he can use his long strides and speed to get to the rim, but he has shown progress when scoring in the half-court. Even though there has been some progress, the Cardinals will need Daejon to make huge strides in his scoring numbers as most of their go-to guys from last year have joined BBN or graduated. At this point he is mostly a spot-up shooter, while his development in scoring off the dribble should be a major focus for next season along with his ability to attack in the half-court when gauging his full potential. Alongside his on the court skills, he also has pretty good measurables. At 6’4 with what looks to be a decent wingspan along with a strong frame, Davis has what you want from a guard but he has some sneaky highlight reel athleticism too that gives me hope he can turn into a more productive on-ball defender next season too.
2. Jontay Porter, Mizzou
Archetype: Perfect Modern Big
Comparison: Chubby Kevin Love w/ Al Horford’s Brain
Hot Take City: Before we get into what makes Jontay an intriguing prospect and one ranked as high as he is, we first need to talk about what will happen in 3–4 years. Everyone reading this knows that Jontay Porter is going to create havoc when it comes to NBA Twitter Arguments, especially if NBA Draft Twitter is already claiming him as their own. Chaos will ring down from the heavens about his advanced stats and how they compare to Dennis Smith Jr’s basic stats. Which brings me to why I like Jontay as much as I do. If NBA Draft Twitter is obsessed with you that means three things; you shoot really well, your IQ is next level and you don’t do fun dunks. All three of those things pertain to Jontay Porter and he does so at a high level but for me, his lack of pop is a big concern. Similar to the players ranked in the Top-10, Porter has one area of concern that will be my major focal point this season and for him, that is his conditioning. If he can slim down, and get in better shape then we could be looking at a Kevin Love-like player with better instincts. Even if he does slim down, the lack of pop will still be an issue. Slimming down will help improve his overall explosiveness but it still won’t be enough for me to not worry about his ability to defend dangerous NBA athletes in space or guard athletic anomalies like KAT or Porzingis at a high level. His BBIQ will give him a good foundation, but the baby fat needs to come off for him if he wants to make the next jump. Like a lot of these prospects, all signs point to him being a great worker and high-level competitor which gives me hope that he finally becomes the bell of the ball out of the Porter Basketball family and continues to climb the draft board. Last thing, the internet is very right about his jumper. It is very fucking sexy.
1. DeAndre Hunter, University of Virginia
Archetype: Combo Big
Comparison: Super Saiyan Al Farouq-Aminu
Hot Take City: Hunter comes into the season as my best returning prospect in 2019, due to his floor and defensive acumen rather than his overall upside. This is not to say that Hunter has no upside, I just think that his style of play and production screams “High-End Role Player” rather then someone who can carry a team in scoring during the playoffs. In fact, the whole idea of Hunter as a player is still pretty strange to me. He is one tough cookie to peg down for an archetype. Hunter has the length and frame to defend both wings and bigs at the NBA level, but his identity on the offensive side of the ball leaves me wanting more. I cannot toss him into the Draymond category of defensive monster/offensive initiator as Hunter doesn’t possess the necessary ball skills to be dangerous, nor can he really be labeled a 3-and-D type as his his jumper is still developing and he really doesn’t take that many 3s. I would love to see Hunter take 4–5 shots per game from range, as he has shown the ability to hit FTs at a decent volume. If you were wondering, the previous two sentences is clearly evidence on what Hunter needs to improve on to keep his stock high and turn into a high-end lottery selection next season. Even without labeling his jumper as a weapon, his BBIQ allows him to find openings in the defense to get the necessary space he needs to get it off. When moving away from the on-court attributes, Hunter is still impressive. At 6’7ish with a reported 7’2 wingspan, Hunter has the length needed to defend wings and “fours” in the NBA but it is his footwork, reaction time and just overall instincts that make him such a great defender. Even though he weighs less than Marcus Smart, Hunter has really great leverage in the post due to what looks to be a pretty strong upper body. Similar to Draymond, I believe Hunter can play some small-ball 5 in spurts. I don’t think Hunter will go top-5 due to his ceiling/lack of scoring upside and the fact that RJ Barrett, Nassir Little and other freshman will probably seem to appealing for bad teams but he is very much in that Jontay Porter category as a guy that will cause constant arguments on NBA Twitter. Also, just want to give a shout-out to the 2019 Celtics draft pick thanks to the Kings!
