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2019 NBA Mock Draft: Murray State’s Ja Morant is rising

By Brendon Kleen

CHARLESTON, IL - JANUARY 17: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers is seen before the game against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Lantz Arena on January 17, 2019 in Charleston, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHARLESTON, IL - JANUARY 17: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers is seen before the game against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Lantz Arena on January 17, 2019 in Charleston, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Murray State. Ja Morant. 2. player. 24. . G

Morant continues to put up video game numbers in the Ohio Valley Conference, including against the conference’s best team, Belmont, last Thursday. In that game, Morant threw up 20 points and nine assists and followed it up with 24 and 9 against Tennessee State. No one can stop him.

While Morant is hearing some hype with his name in the conversation for the first overall pick in some corners of the internet, he’s not there for us. That’s OK — being second to Zion Williamson is nothing to sneeze at. Morant is truly a remarkable talent and fits into a lineage of speedy scoring guards that nearly always succeed in the NBA.

The experts agree. Sam Vecenie, The Athletic’s NBA draft expert, wrote this week in his own mock draft, “he’s deservedly in this conversation simply due to the explosive star potential he possesses” while noting NBA scouts are concerned with his jumper and finishing ability with such a skinny frame. Morant also inevitably turns the ball over a ton because he handles it so much for the Racers.

In a deeper draft, perhaps Morant goes lower. Chicago had several chances to find a point guard better than Kris Dunn and has not. As the Bulls try to turn things around, getting Morant into their system to set the table for Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. would be quite a way to jumpstart the post-Jimmy Butler rebuild.

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