NBA Mock Draft 2017, Week 20: The Sweet Sixteen edition

Strasbourg’s Frank Ntilikina has the potential to be a lead guard in the NBA who can shoot, defend and run an offense based on his performances in youth international competition. At 6-foot-5, though, he also has a safety net as a 3-and-D shooting guard, a role he’s played some this season. In 17.2 minutes per game across all competitions this season, he’s averaging 5.8 points per game on a 59.1 true shooting percentage.

Ntilikina has upside as a point guard based on his pick-and-roll play in international competition. He has a decent handle, can change speeds and has good court vision for making passes out of those ball screen actions. The biggest concern about Ntilikina as a primary ball-handler is simply his quickness and whether or not he has the burst to blow by a defender. Ntilikina’s improvement as a shooter — he’s made 41.1 percent of his 3-point attempts this season — is what makes him a potential off-ball candidate.

The 18-year old is also a quality defensive prospect. He has good size and great length to bother opposing guards. With added strength, he should be even more switchable along the perimeter. He moves well laterally and does a good job of creating turnovers.

Ntilikina’s outlook is also positive because of his young age. He should have plenty of time to mold his body into more NBA-ready shape.

Learn more about Frank Ntilikina at The Step Back.