Top 5 Players To Look Out For In The Draft

With the 2018 NBA draft coming up in just over two weeks, the top prospects are starting to truly stand out. There’s an impressively unique amount of talent this year, and the Suns are most certainly going to have a tough choice to make with the 1st overall pick. The order continues as follows: Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers (from Brooklyn via Boston), New York Knicks, and at 10th, the Philadelphia 76ers (from the Lakers via Phoenix). As the draft night approaches, a few trades potentially will be made as well. This year is a special one, so here’s five of the top players to look out for in this year’s draft.

DeAndre Ayton

The big man from Arizona had one of the best college seasons in recent years. He averaged 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 35 games. The freshman is one of the most athletic big men to come along this century, and at just 19 years old his path to stardom is inevitable. He’s got a jump shot, an astonishing 43.5 inch vertical leap, and unstoppable post moves. Ayton was hosted by the Suns for a workout, and following it he said he’d work out for “no one else,” and “I know I’m going number one”. He’s right, and the time until his NBA debut is just ticking down.

Luka Dončić

Dončić is this year’s most decorated draftee, without a doubt. He’s just 19 years old as well, but the 6’8” guard has been playing for Real Madrid since he was 15. His last season was one of the best in all overseas leagues history, and includes the All-EuroLeague First Team, the EuroLeague title, Final Four MVP, and the MVP itself. Dončić’s impressive playmaking and basketball knowledge will certainly aid him in the NBA, and his scoring ability should benefit him as well. Last year, he averaged 14.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, and 4.5 apg. A perfect fit would be in Dallas, where at the #5 pick he’d be able to grow alongside the other young talents of Dennis Smith Jr., Harrison Barnes, and Yogi Ferrell.

Mohamed Bamba

If there’s one guy in the draft who will definitely be a star at the next level, it’s Texas’ Bamba. His physical tools are freakish, considering he’s got a 7’10” wingspan and a 9’6” standing reach. Not many people can get a shot off over him with his size, and the proof is in his 3.7 blocks per game this past year. What’s even more astonishing is that Bamba is going to be probably the fastest player in the NBA, as his ¾ court sprint in just 3.04 seconds. To put that into perspective, Westbrook and John Wall respectively ran theirs at 3.08 and 3.14 seconds. The sky’s the limit if Bamba puts on some more muscle, and he can expect to be a top 5 pick.

Marvin Bagley III

Upon skipping his senior year of high school to enroll at Duke, people knew Bagley was preparing for the NBA. After winning the ACC Player of the Year, the Pete Newell Big Man Award, and being named a consensus All-American first team selection, it’s fair to say his time is now. The left-handed scoring machine averaged 21.2 points per game this year, and his dominant size makes him tough to beat. Bagley shot 61% from the field, one of the highest figures in the country. He can rebound as well, so it’ll be no surprise if his name is called 2nd or 3rd in the draft.

Michael Porter Jr.

Following his insane high school career, Michael Porter Jr. was arguably the biggest prospect of the 2018 draft. A back injury unfortunately derailed his lone season at Mizzou, but Porter reportedly is moving around well at pre-draft workouts and making excellent progress in all facets. At 6’10”, the forward is almost certainly the best scorer in the draft. His mid-range game is very good, and Porter is so big that he can comfortably take most shots from beyond the perimeter. Assuming he stays healthy, it’d be no surprise to see him at the All-Star Game in a few years. Porter is almost definitely a top 10 pick, it’s just undetermined which team has faith that he’ll be able to stay on the court.