NBA Draft 2018: 5 potential second round steals

BOISE, ID - MARCH 17: Hamidou Diallo #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats slam dunks over Nick Perkins #33 and Dontay Caruthers #22 of the Buffalo Bulls in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at Taco Bell Arena on March 17, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Brett Wilhelm/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 9: Oregon forward MiKyle McIntosh (22) tries to shoot over USC forward Chimezie Metu (4) during the semifinal game of the mens Pac-12 Tournament between the Oregon Ducks and the USC Trojans on March 9, 2018, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Chimezie Metu (USC)

Chimezie Metu made his presence felt during the tenure of his time in the PAC 12. Metu manned the middle for USC and looks the part of a stretch 5 at the next level. Having the athletic ability to stick with multiple players, but also the strength to jostle with traditional centers is what sticks out most on Metu’s draft profile.

Metu and the Trojans didn’t have as successful of a year as preseason expectations set for them, but 15.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks a night is nothing to suck your teeth at either. The California native isn’t a player that you would dump the ball into the post and let create their own offense; he’s at his best as a beneficiary of his teammates creating open looks. Metu’s ability to step out to around 17-20 feet and hit jumpers allows him to provide floor spacing without being a consistent 3-point threat.

Unlike some of the other perimeter-oriented big men in this class, Metu has shown the ability to make an impact defending the rim. Metu doesn’t have the length of some of his contemporaries (Metu stands 6-foot-11 and posted a 6-foot-11 wingspan), but his bounce and timing more than makeup for what he’s lacking in length. If that defensive IQ can be sharpened by NBA minds then Metu will definitely have the opportunity to outplay his draft slot in the future.

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The basics of an NBA contributor is there to be shaped for whoever selects Metu this summer. It’ll be interesting to monitor how much time Metu plays with a G-League franchise and how often he’s up with the main club as getting him developmental opportunities and minutes will be huge for him early.

Metu was once thought of as a first-round lock but was never able to take that next step during his three years at USC. However, in the NBA he’ll get the necessary opportunities and coaching to unlock that potential many have seen within him.

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