2019 NBA Mock Draft: March Madness is NBA Draft crazy season

Culver has been solid for Texas Tech in the first two rounds, leading the Red Raiders pretty smoothly to the Sweet 16. In the first game, he took advantage of Northern Kentucky’s porous defense and got hot from 3-point range to the tune of 29 points. Two days later, Culver took a back seat and Texas Tech’s balanced attack lifted them past Buffalo. Culver only needed to score 16 in that victory but chipped in on the glass against the energetic Bulls.

He flashed the all-around skill set that makes him such an appealing draft prospect. Long-distance shooting is basically the only skill missing from Culver’s game. He improved greatly from the free-throw line as a sophomore, earning 6.7 attempts per 40 minutes and making 72.3 percent during conference play. Compared with his 5.1 attempts per 40 and 65.7 percent efficiency last spring, it’s a huge step up.

Defensively, his versatility is already impactful at the college level despite very little switching and less pick-and-roll. Culver stole the ball on 2.5 percent of opponent possessions this season and blocked 2.1 percent of opponent shots. Getting past 2.0 in both those categories — particularly considering Culver’s offensive burden — puts the sophomore in elite company.

Cleveland will be starved for shooting if it builds around Culver and Collin Sexton, but the playmaking and defensive upside of that duo is exciting in its own right.