Mar 22, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Louisville Cardinals forward Montrezl Harrell (24) reacts in the second half of a men
Who is the best prospect in the ACC?
Andrew Ford (@AndrewFord22): Jahlil Okafor. This is a no-brainer. Okafor is likely to be the top pick in the 2015 NBA draft – and for good reason. His skill set is at the point where he could already play meaningful minutes (read 10-15) in the NBA and hold his own. Offensively, he’s an excellent mix between a finesse stretch player and a power post player. He possesses advanced footwork, runs the floor exceptionally well for someone his size, finishes at the rim with ease, finds open teammates for easy buckets, anchors a defense with his rim-protecting ability, etc. That’s the thing about Okafor. Name a basketball skill, and he can probably already perform it well.
Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck): In case I didn’t make this clear in the last roundtable, Jahlil Okafor is my guy. He is going to dominate all the competition that is thrown his way.
Greg Mason (@votaryofhoops): I would love to go rogue and pick someone else here but I have to go with Okafor, as well. There are some questions about his ceiling but his skill set is going to be a treat to watch.
Spencer Layman (@nba_spen): Jahlil Okafor. But for the sake of being different, Montrezl Harrell and Justise Winslow shouldn’t be overlooked.
Who is the most underrated prospect in the ACC?
Andrew Ford (@AndrewFord22): Montrezl Harrell. Concerns abound about Harrell being too undersized to play power forward in the NBA. He’s listed as a generous 6’8″, and he has struggled against length at times on both ends of the court. However, there might not be a stronger player in the draft than Harrell. He’s got a wide frame, and he utilizes it well on the defensive end to push lengthy big men further away from the rim where their advantage against him is mitigated. His offensive game is limited, but he could work in an offense with guards that thrive on drive and dumps. His hustle is his calling card, and he creates a lot plays many players can’t or won’t because of it.
Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck): I love Justise Winslow, though I’m not entirely sure that it’s because of his playing ability. Consider the following — he has a pantheon level name, and his Twitter handle (Chief_Justise !) is freaking tremendous. His floor game is alright as well; Winslow was included on the 2013 U-19 World Championship roster despite being over two years younger than seven of his teammates. While I normally look for guys who have an elite skill or two as prospects, I love Winslow’s all-around ability and think he could end up at the top of the wing pile in this year’s draft. He’s already well-received among draft guys, but I think he’s being undersold a bit.
Greg Mason (@votaryofhoops): Jerian Grant. He’s a senior, he missed a big chunk of last season due to academic suspension and he isn’t an elite athlete. Nevertheless, I really love his playmaking skills, his basketball IQ and his ability to be productive in ways that help teams win games. Superfluous add on, he is also Harvey Grant’s son.
Spencer Layman (@nba_spen): Marcus Paige is probably at the top of my list for most underrated. I think if you talk to a lot of basketball heads his name would be brought up but the general public doesn’t seem to know about this guy. He became THE guy for the Tar Heels last year and showed he was able to produce at a high level.
Who is the most overrated prospect in the ACC?
Andrew Ford (@AndrewFord22): Justise Winslow. Still more athlete than basketball player, he needs to refine his shooting stroke and learn how to play within the constructs of a half court offense. With long arms, a physical frame, and great quickness, he fits the profile of a defensive specialist. He’s a high energy guy that thrives in transition, but until he proves he can be consistently effective in the half court, he will be destined to be a role player in the NBA. There’s nothing wrong with that, but NBA teams will want more out of a guy projected to be drafted in the top 10 by scouting site DraftExpress.
Kyle Neubeck: (@KyleNeubeck): Tyus Jones doesn’t do it for me at all. He’s considered a late-lotto guy right now, but his size is a real concern for me. Not a terrible athlete, but when you’re just scraping six feet it’s hard to cut it at point guard these days unless you have elite skills or athleticism. Many teams are compensating for lack of bulk in the middle by building long-armed walls on the perimeter, and Jones will struggle to produce against that length unless his newfound shooting touch is sustainable. I think he can be an okay pro, but not in the range he’s being projected in.
Greg Mason (@votaryofhoops): I haven’t seen many of the freshmen play yet, so, for now, no player in this conference jumps out at me as someone who is terribly overrated. It pains me to say this because he’s a phenomenal player but Marcus Paige is a guy I worry about at the next level. Just not sure that frame is meant to endure the rigors of an 82-game schedule.
Spencer Layman (@nba_spen): Is it possible for the guy who is probably the best prospect in the ACC also be the most overrated? In this case, I think it might be. As good as I think Jahlil Okafor will be, I think people might need to tame their expectations for him.
Is there a long-term prospect you like for the 2016 or 2017 draft?
Andrew Ford (@AndrewFord22): It’s tough to say when most of the top recruits in the class of 2015 haven’t selected a program yet, but one guy that sticks out early is Chase Jeter, power forward and Duke commit. Playing at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, he has often been overshadowed by his frontcourt counterpart, Stephen Zimmerman, who at one point was considered by some as the top prospect in the class of 2015. Now, by most accounts, Jeter is seen as a slightly better prospect, and he’s finally getting his due. He’s a finesse big man who is developing some nice go-to moves in the post, but he can also power through defenses to get to the rim and grab rebounds with authority.
Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck): Deng Adel — who committed to Louisville over the summer — is someone I’ll be keeping my eye on. He came to the U.S. by way of Australia after moving there from Sudan (now there’s a story!), and only semi-recently picked up the game of basketball. Speaking as a soccer convert myself, his handle shows that he’s still adjusting to dribbling with a different appendage, but he’s already a plus finisher and an adept shooter in his early stages. Those skills, his natural athletic gifts and a solid motor provide him with a high floor — this far out, that’s as much as I can ask for.
Greg Mason (@votaryofhoops): This guy isn’t in the same tier as some of the others mentioned but I think 6’5” shooting guard Luke Kennard is someone who will climb up draft boards after a couple of seasons with Coach K and the strength and conditioning team. He really impressed me at the FIBA Americas U18 championship, where he finished second in scoring on a very talented roster and hit an insane 15-29 threes.
Spencer Layman (@nba_spen): Chris McCullough, the high-flying monster from Syracuse. I doubt he puts enough stats up this year to be NBA ready but I think down the road the power-forward could be a very, very good player.