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There’s no question about Anthony Edwards’ position at the top of the shooting guard list in this year’s NBA draft.
Edwards was the nation’s highest-scoring freshman in the nation at Georgia and is a candidate to be the top overall pick on Wednesday night (Thursday in Manila) with his explosive scoring and ability to make controversial shots. The top tier of shooting guard prospects also includes versatile players like Florida State’s Devin Vassell and Auburn’s Isaac Okoro, both potential lottery picks.
Here’s a look at some of the best escort prospects:
Anthony Edwards
The 19-year-old started fast and finished as the Southeastern Conference freshman of the year.
Strengths: Edwards, 6-foot-5, 225-pound, has the ability to score from across the court. He put it all on display six games in his college career at Georgia, going for 33 of his 37 points after halftime in an impressive one-man show in a loss to then-No. 3 Michigan State. That second-half performance included Edwards hitting 7 of 13 3s. He went on to average 19.1 points to go with 5.2 rebounds while offering the potential to become a reliable defender.
“He’s just scratching the surface, he really is,” Georgia coach Tom Crean said.
Concerns: While Edwards is hard to stop, his efficiency and consistency are questions. Edwards shot just 40.2 percent from the field and made at least half of his shots just seven times in 32 games. He also shot just 29.4 percent from 3-point range, including empty lines in losses to LSU (1 of 12), Mississippi (1 of 9), South Carolina (0 of 7) and Alabama (0 Of 6).
Devin Vassell
The sophomore could boost a team’s defense and outside shots.
Strengths: The 6-7 Vassell is a good athlete with size and length, allowing him to play shooting guard or small forward with a 6-9 span. His greatest potential comes as a capable versatile perimeter defender after averaging 1.4 steals and nearly one block per game last year with the Seminoles. He also shot 41.7 percent from 3-point range over two seasons at Florida State, including a 3 that forced overtime in an Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament win against Virginia Tech as a freshman and was 7 out of 7 against the Hokies last year.
Concerns: The 20-year-old must add strength to his 194-pound frame to handle matchups with bigger opponents and continue to expand his offensive game beyond his shooting from point of view.
Isaac okoro
Like Vassell, Auburn freshman Okoro has high-level defensive potential.
Dominating aspects: The 19-year-old has a strong 6-6, 225-pound body that could allow him to play shooting guard or forward. It became the all-defensive team in the Southeastern Conference with an average of 12.9 points and 51.4 percent shooting.
Concerns: His offensive game and shooting touch is a work in progress. While his overall shooting percentage was solid, he lacked shooting range of just 29 percent from 3-point range and made just 20 shots from behind the arc in 28 games. He also shot just 67.2 percent from the foul line, an area that he will need to improve while attacking the paint to attract contact.
RJ Hampton
The first-round prospect from Little Elm, Texas, bypassed college to play in the Australian National Basketball League’s “Next Stars” development program designed to attract elite NBA prospects.
Strengths: The 6-5 Hampton was ranked the No. 5 pick in last year’s class by 247sports and can play point guard (where he worked in the NBL) or off the ball. He’s dangerous in transition and leads the paint, and offers the advantage to be a good defender at the next level.
Concerns: His shooting touch was poor in 15 games in the NBL, where he shot about 40 percent from the floor, 30 percent from 3-point range and 68 percent from the line. You will need to extend your range to become a reliable outside shooter to stretch defenses when playing off the ball, which will only help your game outside of dribbling as a complete playmaker.
Others to see
Desmond Bane: The TCU senior has a strong 6-6, 215 pound frame and increased his scoring average each year in college, reaching 16.6 points last year while shooting 44 percent from 3-point range and leading a surprise of then No. 2 Baylor. It could go in the second half of the first round.
Josh Green: The 6-6, 210-pound Australian brought size and athleticism to Arizona as a five-star freshman last year. The first-round prospect has the potential to be a reliable outside shooter (36 percent from 3-point range) with quality defense (46 team steals) and the ability to finish at the rim.
Tyrese Maxey: The Kentucky freshman averaged 14 points and can also play the point (he started there and had seven assists in a comeback win at Florida) to become a versatile first-round prospect.
Aaron Nesmith: The Vanderbilt sophomore was on his way to a great season before sustaining a foot injury, averaging 23 points and shooting 51 percent in 14 games. The 6-6, 215-pound wing is a first-round prospect.
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