NBA Mock Draft: DeAndre Ayton joins the Hawks

As reductive as draft comparisons can be, framing a prospect as the next coming of someone who is still young and growing is even more so. That being said, screw it — Khyri Thomas is this draft’s Kris Dunn.

There are two big differences: Thomas has shown an ability to make outside shots in a way Dunn did not in college, while Dunn maintained success over a long college career to a higher degree than Thomas. This season, though, Thomas’ Bluejays are 11-3 and he looks great.

As aggressive an on-ball defender as anybody in this draft, Thomas takes advantage of his massive frame (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) to really make an impact for Creighton. If he did not play so much and carry the offensive load expected of a junior point guard, Thomas would be elite in terms of steal percentage. Thomas is the guard version of a rim deterrer — his impact shows up more in the plays that don’t happen than his domination over the ones that do.

Finally, the shooting truly should translate. While he was able to shoot 39 percent from distance in his sophomore season last year, the biggest sign of progress has come in his improved free-throw shooting. Thomas has made 82 percent of his foul shots this season, and is on pace to attempt the most of his college career. 3-and-D point guards are becoming a coveted archetype in the NBA, and Thomas is the next guy in that lineage.