2018 NBA Mock Draft: Collin Sexton could break open the New York Knicks’ ceiling
USC. De'Anthony Melton. 22. player. 66. . G
Melton strikes me as the perfect complement to Devin Booker’s game.
The third-year guard has developed into a scoring stud for Phoenix this season, making shots from all areas of the court in the follow-up to a season in which he scored 70 points on the road. His efficiency is coming along, and his defense has made tremendous progress since an ugly couple of years between his freshman college season and his rookie year in the NBA.
Melton would ease the ball-handling burden on Booker when needed, and projects to eventually defend NBA point guards. He is strong despite being small, and that will help him defensively in the NBA. Last year for USC, he shot just 28 percent from deep, but there’s no reason to think he can’t improve. And Melton is already a strong finisher on drives.
We won’t see the sophomore at all this season, as he was declared ineligible in December as a result of the FBI’s NCAA basketball investigation.