Cade Cunningham headlines a group of five NCAA basketball freshmen who are already slam-dunk future NBA Draft lottery picks.
We’ve been here for quite a while but the one-and-done era of NCAA basketball continues on and it’s not stopping this year with the arrival top recruit Cade Cunningham at Oklahoma State. While not every National Championship-winning team is comprised of superstar freshmen that are bound for the NBA Draft the next season, that is clearly the formula that virtually every high-profile program would like to execute. After all, having lottery-pick type of talent is only going to help a team, even if for just one year.
The 2020-2021 college basketball season figures to be no different. But what could be different is just how good some of the superstar freshmen in this year are. While there were certainly some good freshmen that ended up being lottery picks, this year’s crop of young newcomers is loaded with players who are already locks for the 2021 NBA Draft lottery.
While this isn’t all of them — shoutout to USC center Evan Mobley, among others — these five college basketball freshmen are merely taking a step before being selected in the lottery of the 2021 NBA Draft.
5. Cade Cunningham, G, Oklahoma State
We’re not going to feign any drama about whether or not Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 overall recruit in this year’s freshman class and the new leader for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, makes this list. By all accounts, the guard is going to be the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and, barring something unforeseen, that appears pretty set in stone as well.
Looking at what Cunningham brings to the table, it’s not hard to ascertain why that’s the case. Boasting terrific size at 6-foot-6, Cunningham has the chops to be a lead guard for almost any team at the next level. He’s an effective scorer, especially when attacking off the dribble, but his basketball IQ is evident on every play and it shows up in his phenomenal ability to create plays and looks for his teammates.
Cunningham’s size and baseline athleticism, though he’s not a guy who’s going to drop any jaws in that department, give him the potential to be a stalwart perimeter defender. If there’s any weakness in his game right now, it’s the consistency of his outside shot. However, he improved in that area throughout his high school career and the requisite tools on his stroke are there.
As he heads to Oklahoma State, Cunningham is going to be the unquestioned star on the Cowboys roster. He’s going to be asked to do it all and, most importantly, he appears more than capable. Given his role and his talent, the 2020-2021 season will likely only affirm that Cunningham is the top prospect in next year’s draft class.
4. Ziaire Williams, F, Stanford
While Ziaire Williams may not have the same amount of hype surrounding him as Cunningham, he’s the type of prospect that NBA scouts should already be drooling over. The 6-foot-8 wing is a readymade offensive mismatch that should only get better and more dangerous with one season playing at Stanford.
The name of Williams’ game as he joins the Cardinal is his offensive prowess. With his athleticism and length, both of which are impressive for his style of play, the Sierra Canyon product possesses a fantastic ability to catch and shoot on the perimeter with great efficiency. He’s also an impressive pull-up shooter who can create separation with both his length and a quick first step.
At only 175 pounds as he comes to Stanford, bulking up a bit and getting stronger will be key for Williams in his development. Not only will it better allow his body to hold up but it will make him even more of an asset because of the versatility he could then provide on the defensive end of the floor.
Playing at Stanford, much like with Cunningham at OSU, is only going to more securely lock Williams into being a lottery pick. The Cardinal offense is going to run through the star freshman and it would be a shock if he didn’t deliver for his team en route to the NBA.
3. Jalen Johnson, F, Duke
As the Duke Blue Devils once again reload with a vaunted class of heralded recruits, the gem of the group is Jalen Johnson out of Nicolet High School in Milwaukee. The 6-foot-8 forward heads to Durham and will immediately be relied upon as a versatile playmaker who looks ideally suited to be a matchup nightmare at the NBA level.
For a player of his size and at his position, Johnson is going to be a problem for most defenses in his lone season in college basketball. He’s a terrific ball-handler, especially in transition, and has great vision and playmaking both as a score and facilitator in that capacity. Those traits will help to set him apart from other forwards with his build and abilities.
Johnson is not a perfect player and his season under the tutelage of Mike Krzyzewski will be critical to how high he’ll go in the NBA Draft. He needs to show a more consistent outside shot if he’s going to hold up at the next level and he also must be a more willing and stout defender as well.
But even with those areas of concern, that will only determine how highly Johnson will be drafted, not if he’ll be a lottery pick or not. His unique skills for his position and frame give him tantalizing upside that NBA teams picking in the top 14 won’t be able to resist.
2. B.J. Boston, G/F, Kentucky Wildcats
The 2020 NBA Draft was a bit of an anomaly as neither Duke nor Kentucky had a player selected in the lottery. But with Johnson already being mentioned as a lock, the Wildcats and John Calipari will also get back into the fold in the top-14 picks as another Sierra Canyon product, B.J. Boston, has the goods to be a top-five pick.
At 6-foot-6 and seemingly not done growing just yet, Boston has the skill set of a guard who has an elite scoring mentality. His outside shooting started to blossom in showcase leagues throughout last year and he’s already proven that his combination of ball-handling and length make him a lethal threat to slash and either score at the rim or from the mid-range with great efficacy.
Much like Williams, Boston needs to be diligent in Kentucky’s strength and conditioning program as he sports a relatively slight frame. That being said, his length plays a great role in that as he has a lot of body to fill out. That length is enticing in itself, though, making him difficult to defend and dangerous as a defender on the perimeter.
Boston is the linchpin for Kentucky this season amid the top recruiting class in the country. He should be relied upon as the team’s primary playmaker and, if he can continue to make strides as a secondary facilitator to go along with his scoring prowess, he could be selected right behind Cunningham.
1. Jaden Springer, G, Tennessee
Because he wasn’t a top-10 recruit in this cycle, it feels as if Jaden Springer isn’t necessarily getting the love in NBA Draft circles that he deserves. Yes, he’s projected by most to be a lottery pick but, with the skills that he brings to the table and a great opportunity to showcase them, Springer looks like lock to be a top-10 pick with top-five upside.
At 6-foot-5, the combo guard for the Vols is going to be a dynamic playmaker on both ends of the floor, which is valuable in itself as a two-way player. Springer has already established himself as a terrific slasher who can score at the rim and create for his teammates. Moreover, he’s a tenacious defender with enough length to be a real problem on the perimeter by himself.
What could take Springer’s draft stock to the next level would be a further development of his outside shot. At IMG Academy, that part of his game certainly started to take form at the end of his high school career. That continuing in Knoxville would make him an all-around threat that’s a nightmare to defend.
Springer is going to be the star on a quality Tennessee team that has the potential to win the SEC. He’s a lottery pick lock with his already-established two-way ability but could be one of the best prospects in the class if the weaker aspects of his game continue on their upward trajectory.
For more college basketball news, analysis, opinion and features, check out more from the FanSided college basketball section to stay on top of the latest action.