NBA Draft Prospect Watch: Stock up, stock down

Stock Up: Zion Williamson, Duke

The tests weren’t particularly strenuous, as Duke has ripped Kentucky, Army, and Eastern Michigan limb from limb, but Williamson has passed his early season exam with flying colors. The biggest question for Williamson going into the season was if he was going to continue to dominate athletically in college as he did in high school. The answer?

Definitely.

Williamson has taken over the early part of the season and is now the popular pick as the top player in the class. The reasons for that are pretty simple — Williamson is the most athletically dominant player in the class and combines that with an advanced skill set that lends to the idea that questions about his position heading into the NBA are probably overblown. Zion adds tremendous craft to his athleticism as a finisher, he’s a high-level passer, and while he hasn’t been consistent, the idea that he can be a weak-side rim protector isn’t out of the realm of possibility. So far, Zion has transcended traditional role archetypes. His uniqueness isn’t a problem, it’s a strength, and if he continues to play like this, he will end the idea that there’s no true franchise-changing talent in this draft class.