2019 NBA Mock Draft: Tankers beware
12. player. 77. . F. Virginia. De'Andre Hunter
You may have heard that Virginia suffered an historic defeat in this year’s NCAA tournament, but that is just one reason that Hunter will face scrutiny during his sophomore season.
Virginia coach Tony Bennett said in an interview after the season that Hunter’s wrist injury, which took him out of the NCAA tournament, occurred during a game against Clemson, after which Hunter actually played in the next game against North Carolina. He should be completely healthy by next season, but health will be a factor in what kind of prospect Hunter looks like going forward.
Another factor will be how the Cavaliers respond to a devastating first-round loss after one of the most dominant seasons in recent NCAA history. They will be moving forward without two of the top five players in minutes played this year, Devon Hall and Isaiah Wilkins. Hunter and sophomore Kyle Guy will have even more opportunity next season.
The appeal of Hunter is obvious in the modern NBA — he is a long, athletic player who can shoot and defend. You could even imagine him playing center. There’s no archetype more important.
If Hunter can stay healthy, make shots and add some secondary offensive skill (playmaking or self-creation), he could really storm into the lottery ahead of the younger freshmen ahead of him.