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

Naji Marshall, Junior SF, Xavier

The search for the next 3-and-D wing usually falls on returners, and this year is no exception. College basketball fans are probably passably familiar with Aaron Henry of Michigan State, Isaiah Joe of Arkansas, and A.J. Lawson of South Carolina, and all three will probably get good looks from draft scouts for the 3-and-D skill-set. But Marshall flies under the radar at Xavier, and he seems very likely to emerge as the best of the crop this season.

Legitimate NBA size at 6-foot-7, 222 pounds is what separates Marshall from the pack of the returning wing types, especially considering his skill-set. Marshall won’t be asked to perform the same on-ball responsibilities that he performs at Xavier, but his ability to put the ball on the floor and create separation is very key to projecting him to the next level. This combination of balance, ball-handling and size bodes well for him having a high-end ceiling with NBA development.

Of course, to be a real threat on the wing, Marshall both has to show visible improvement on the defensive end in terms of consistency, and do the same from beyond the 3-point arc. Detractors will point to Marshall  shooting 27.7 percent from 3 last year, but he had a significant uptick in volume (43 attempts as a freshman, 173 last year), and his mechanics, particularly from the corners, are very promising.

Statistically, Marshall doesn’t quite measure up to the Jimmy Butler or Josh Richardson types who experienced a late bloom in on-ball skill after establishing 3-and-D utility. But his skills and size appear to hit the benchmarks that lend to that type of progression in the right landing spot. With another year of his shot and defense rounding into form, Marshall feels like a solid upside swing who is going completely unnoticed as such.