2019 NBA Mock Draft: Tankers beware

Things are set up perfectly for Quinerly to excel at Villanova, and he could make a ranking in the 20s look downright silly by season’s end.

The Wildcats’ top four players in usage rate are gone, all drafted in the top 35 on Thursday night. While that achievement looks great for the program’s reputation across the NBA, it means that coach Jay Wright and the program’s young fill-ins have their work cut out. Quinerly is going to be a huge part of that.

Typically, Villanova brings players along slowly. Even Donte DiVincenzo, the No. 17 pick on Thursday, was a junior by the time he blasted off in the NCAA tournament. You would have been right to not know DiVincenzo’s name before this past March — it’s all part of Villanova’s plan. They might not have that luxury with Quinerly.

With DiVincenzo, Jalen Brunson, Omari Spellman and Mikal Bridges gone, upperclassmen Phil Booth and Eric Paschall will be the primary pieces, and the Wildcats should be able to form an effective defense with those two at the forward spots. The bigger problems will come on offense, with neither holdover bringing much in the way of playmaking.

Quinerly’s craftiness with the ball in his hands will be invaluable, much as Brunson’s drive-and-kick ability was the core of Villanova’s identity this year. He has a nice handle and a killer crossover, which he uses to get to any one of his effective pull-up shots. Wright may be uncomfortable relying on a freshman to create offense, but Quinerly should be up to the task.