Look at the 13 Best Prospects in the 2017 NBA Draft

Written by Coach Peterman

I have coached at the NCAA Division 2 (Southwestern Oklahoma State University), NAIA (USAO), and JUCO Levels (Blinn College and Carl Albert State College) as well as high school. I just felt that fellow coaches especially young coaches need to constantly work on their “game”. Just like the basketball players that we coach. We as coaches need to improve ourselves. That is my story and why I do this blog.

June 22, 2017

Has there been a wilder offseason in the NBA? The 2017 NBA Draft is today, and it’s been crazy with trade rumors every hour. You heard of the Cleveland Cavaliers Front Office trouble, Paul George Rumors, and what are the New York Knicks doing now?

It’s been insanity on social media with the top 17 prospects in the 2017 NBA Draft as their dreams will be fulfilled when they hear their names called out by Adam Silver in about six hours.

I am going to get into some 2017 NBA Draft Analysis for you, but I do believe that Markelle Fultz is going to the Philadelphia 76ers. Let’s put our thinking caps on and take a look at tonight’s 2017 NBA Draft first round selections.

1. Markelle Fultz: I heard Lorenzo Romar on CBS Radio, and he was asked how Washington only got nine wins with this Superstar guard in the lineup. Fultz, a six-foot four-guard that has high passing accuracy and has an offensive game that never stops. He had the ball for more than a third of the offensive UW’s possessions in this first college season, but he scored more than fifty percent from the field and forty-one percent from the three-point line.

Markelle Fultz

2. Lonzo Ball: I am not high on Lonzo Ball, but I didn’t get to watch many west coast games. I do believe that this six foot six guard is the 2017 NBA Draft best passer, that is equipped to pass to a cutting post player as well as the pass to an open shooter. I am just wondering how NBA defenders will learn how to stop his multiple step back jumpers.

3. Josh Jackson: I think that the NBA team that picks Jackson will have to rebuild his jump shot, but there are very few players in Division 1 that could get to the rim as much as he did. Jackson is very quick and athletic in the half court. Josh Jackson led Kansas in shots at the rim (36 percent) and had an excellent field goal percentage (54 percent). He doesn’t have a good isolation game to deal with NBA defenses yet, but he is an NBA match-up nightmare for most players. I think that Josh Jackson has the most upside of all the players in the NBA Draft.

2017 NBA Draft - Josh Jackson

4. De’Aaron Fox: This point guard is jet-quick and great in the open court where most of his offense came from in his only season at the University of Kentucky. Fox’s defense is what sets him apart from most players in this draft because he has a 6-7 wingspan to break up passing lanes and make life hard on ball-handers in the NBA. Fox’s offense will only improve, but he was Coach Calipari’s best on-ball defender.

{What 2017 NBA Draft pick will anchor his NBA team this season}

De'Aaron Fox

5. Jayson Tatum: Here is the best shooter in the draft. His half court offense is smooth, and he doesn’t waste motion in his shot. He has a jab step here and a few counters. Tatum is a 6-8 product that understands how to get from a defender. He shot 37 percent in the ACC Conference and is one of the most well-rounded offensive players in the lottery. Tatum scores .90 on isolation plays.

{When in the 2017 NBA Draft will someone grab an international player}

6. Lauri Markkanen: Here is a stretch five player that his 42 percent of his three-point shots. The NBA team that takes this kid will have to hide the Finnish player on defense. Markkanen’s scoring skills are incredible in pick and pop possessions (1.2 PPP – Synergy). He is the best shooting big in this draft.

7. Frank Ntilikina: This French guard has a ton of upside and potential, because he is 6-5, super athletic, and can defend any position which makes him noticed by every NBA GM. NBA scouts have raved about Ntilikina the past two years.

8. Dennis Smith: This North Carolina State Guard only was in college for one year, but he showed so much in limited moments like the victory against Duke in January where he scored 32 points. He wasn’t the best in the ACC conference, but he has the upside to be an elite NBA scorer where he hit 54 percent from the field and an offensive ranking just below 1.10PPP. Since there are several point guards in the draft, he is lower than expected.

9. Donovan Mitchell: Rick Pitino knows all about guards, so this player has all the tools for the NBA. He is an excellent three-point shooter from beyond the arc. This guard has great athleticism and speed that helped him get the ACC top steal rate at almost four percent. Mitchell will also get to the rim in transition as he led the Louisville Cardinals to percentage attempts which more shots being ridiculous dunks.

10. Jonathan Isaac: You can say one word that will sum up this player: POTENTIAL. Isaac will take some time to adjust to the NBA, but it took him time to figure out the ACC too. He was a top 15 high school prospect, and this 6-10 player was a role player in the Florida State Seminoles system (Usage rate was third on the team). He has a skill set that most NBA teams can’t overlook.

11. Zach Collins: Collins was one of the best players in the NCAA Tournament and had a good post game (1.12 PPP per post up play) which was the best in Division 1. He has a developing defensive skill set where he can block shots and rebound at a high rate.

12. Malik Monk: He is a shooter who hasn’t seen a shot that he doesn’t like. This 6-3 guard can shot the ball in bunches, but he is a defensive liability. Monk can come off screens and spot-up. He has a great quick release and lift on his shot. Monk is a risky prospect. Someone will grab him for his scoring ability.

13. Jarrett Allen: Here is the biggest enigma in the Lottery. This 6-10 Texas product had great touch around the rim (73 percent of his attempts), but he is a defensive liability. He is a great “rim” runner (1.09 PPP) and shot blocker in the NBA. It will take him a while to make the transition to the NBA.

Biggest risk of the 2017 NBA Draft: Harry Giles

This Duke Freshman was the best draft prospect two years ago, but he has fallen so much. It didn’t help him that he tore his ACL, Meniscus, and MCL in his left knee. Giles had to go through two more knee surgeries since he got hurt in high school. Giles hasn’t come back like he was two years ago. He only played 11.5 minutes a game and had 15 minutes in the Duke Blue Devils’ two NCAA tournament games. Giles had flashes of being like Chris Webber, but never look comfortable. He should have gone back to Duke for his sophomore year, but some NBA team will reach for him off potential.

Biggest project of the 2017 NBA Draft: Terrance Ferguson

Ferguson is unlike almost all the other players in the 2017 NBA Draft because he has played pro basketball. Ferguson played 15.2 minutes in 30 games in the National Basketball League. Ferguson played with men while getting experience as opposed to playing in the Pac-12 with Arizona. I don’t think that playing in Australia helped him or hurt him. He is an NBA project that shoots threes and doesn’t guard at all. He hit 31.4 percent of his three-point attempts. Ferguson can score in bunches like his he did in the 2016 Nike Hoop Summit with 7-11 three point shots, but can he hit from the NBA three point line. Ferguson has the athleticism to stay in front of NBA scorers, but he isn’t bulky at all. Ferguson is 6-7 and barely 184 lbs. Can he handle the NBA two-guards and small forwards?

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