Fansided

2016 NBA Draft: Best sleepers

By Chris Reichert

Mar 5, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) brings the ball up court during the first half of a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) brings the ball up court during the first half of a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 12, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) reacts to a play against the Florida State Seminoles during the 1st half of a game at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) reacts to a play against the Florida State Seminoles during the 1st half of a game at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Denzel Valentine, SG, Michigan State

Denzel Valentine has been hovering anywhere from No. 14-17 in most mock drafts but in the recent Draft Express mock he’s fallen all the way to the Indiana Pacers at No. 20. Larry Bird and the Pacers would be overjoyed. The most recent FanSided mock draft actually has him going No. 12 to the Utah Jazz, and this is the highest I’ve seen Valentine listed. Suffice it to say that opinions on Valentine’s potential are varied.

Valentine just completed one of the better NCAA seasons in recent memory notching averages of 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists while showing his versatility playing positions three positions for Tom Izzo’s Spartans. Not only did he post huge numbers, but he did it efficiently shooting 46.2 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from three-point range (7.6 attempts per game), and 85.3 percent from the charity stripe!

He projects as a potential “3-and-D” prospect in the NBA and reminds me of a more versatile Danny Green. Valentine is already 22-years old and for teams looking for huge upside, he may get overlooked, but that would be a mistake seeing that he’s a more finished product that most of the shooting guards in this draft. He stands 6-6 and while his individual defense isn’t stellar by any means, he’s got the basketball IQ to be a quality team defender.

Denzel Valentine makes the list because experts should be discussing him along with Buddy Hield and Jamal Murray as one of the top shooting guards in the draft but he will likely fall out of the lottery altogether.

To read more about Denzel Valentine, click here.

Next: 4. Brice Johnson

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