NBA Draft 2020: 5 under-the-radar returning players

Trevelin Queen, Sophomore PG, New Mexico State

Finding the next Ja Morant is going to be everyone’s buzz topic this season, because replicating anomalies in the search of trends is an easy, harmless, click-baity topic for draft writers. In humoring that idea, there isn’t a better option for the “small-school athlete that puts it all together and becomes an elite prospect” archetype than Queen.

An unassuming box score performance as a freshman overshadows a very intriguing skill-set as a 6-foot-6 combo guard that finished at will (71.2 percent at the rim), showed a decent outside shooting stroke and had a 5.8 defensive box plus/minus — an unbelievable performance for a guard, even in limited minutes.

Queen won’t necessarily be running the show for the Aggies this year with their bevy of returning talent, but he could absolutely rocket into first-round conversation if he can project what he showed in 15.2 minutes per game into 25 or 30. His shot diversity and mechanics on pull-ups are quite impressive:

Coupled with his finishing touch, there is an outside shot that Queen could become a useful scoring guard at the next level. He has to put it all together this year, but the perfect storm of skill, likely team success and teams looking for the next Morant could really get Queen on the map this season.