NBA Mock Draft 2014: Scouts say Shabazz Napier is a second round pick
By Josh Hill
The NBA Draft is this June and with the NCAA Tournament now in the books, it’s becoming time to access who will go where and which prospects rose and fell thanks to their performance in March Madness. While guts like Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker weren’t particularly hurt nor helped by their performance, others like Julius Randle have skyrocketed their value and become top names in the class.
One of the hottest names at the moment is UConn guard Shabazz Napier. While he helped lead his Huskies to the National Championship, many fans are wondering what his draft status is after his miraculous run. According to Alex Kennedy, scouts are impressed with Napier but he’s being viewed as nothing more than a second round pick at the moment.
"These executives aren’t sure how Napier’s game will translate to the next level. His size is a concern and teams aren’t sure if he can be an efficient contributor in the NBA. The fact that he’s turning 23 years old in July also hurts him, as teams are more likely to take a younger player with more upside rather than a four-year college player."
It’s clear that he has talent, but not every player that led his team on a run like this or who becomes popular in the tournament end up being superstars at the NBA level. Napier has time to develop, but his talents are still not yet there for scouts.