5 best NBA Draft prospects in the 2017 Final Four

Dillon Brooks, SF, Oregon

No. 51 on The Step Back Big Board

Per Game Stats: 25.1 minutes, 16.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 49.6 percent shooting  from the field, 41.0 percent from on 3-pointers

Brooks is probably the best bet to get drafted among Oregon’s trio of veteran leaders, as he’s probably the most well-rounded between himself, Jordan Bell, and the injured Chris Boucher. Like Thornwell, he is a valuable offensive weapon, because he is a nearly positionless creator, forcing mismatches with his combination of a 6-foot-7, 215-pound frame and great agility and ball-handling. Brooks was the catalyst in Oregon’s win over Kansas, with 17 points on 7-of-18 shooting, consistently generating good looks and forcing Kansas to throw multiple defenders at him — Josh Jackson, Lagerald Vick, and even Landen Lucas. He plays a majority of his time at the three and four, but is probably athletic enough to spend some time at shooting guard in the NBA.

Brooks hasn’t had the best tournament, often getting overshadowed by the breakout performance of Tyler Dorsey, but he makes Oregon’s offense go by being a secondary creator. He can have poor shot selection at times, but he has decent first step quickness, and his court vision is solid for a wing. He also has provided a lot of spacing for an otherwise streaky shooting team, as tweaks to his jumper have resulted in a 41 percent 3-point shooting mark this season. He’s comfortable operating as a screener and flaring to the 3-point line, and the hope for the NBA is that he can be a useful catch-and-shoot guy.

Next: 2017 NBA Draft Big Board: Pre-Tournament edition

Like Jackson, Brooks probably won’t be much of a contributor on the defensive end. He has below-average length and despite good agility, doesn’t do well covering quicker guards. But offensively, if his shooting is stable, he’s going to be a fun prospect to watch develop, and should be worth a second-round pick.