With the 2019 NBA Draft set for Thursday this week (June 20), we’re rolling out a new, quick-hitter series that will focus on the plethora of ACC prospects heading into the event. For each player, we’ll keep it simple: one number to know, a signature highlight, the projected draft range, an attribute to know and one quick thought on how they project to the next level.
To start things off, it’s the Duke Blue Devils with three notable prospects: Zion Williamson (our future basketball savior), RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish.
Zion Williamson, F
Per 40 Minutes: 30.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.8 steals, 2.4 blocks (ridiculous Stocks numbers)
- 2.9 3PA (33.8 3P%, 48.3 eFG% on catch-and-shoots), 8.2 FTA (64 FT%)
- 78.9 FG% at the rim (72 dunks)
Number to Know:
- 1.5 points per possession (73.5 FG%) on non-post-up looks in the half court, according to Synergy Sports
Highlight:
(There are, like, 50 absurd Zion clips to choose from; for my money, though, this was his best end-to-end play.)
Projected Range:
- No. 1 (no duh)
Attribute To Know:
- Outlier athleticism
Quick Thoughts:
- I’ve made my thoughts on Zion as a prospect known since last August — he’s a once-in-a-generation talent who, at age 18, has a chance to be the best basketball player in the world one day. This is the best basketball prospect we’ve seen since LeBron James back in 2003. He needs to figure out a pull-up jumper (16.7 FG% half-court off-dribble jumpers), but even without that, Williamson has the unique blend of freakish athleticism, mobility, craft, power and two-way production to one day be enshrined in Springfield.
RJ Barrett, G
Per 40 Minutes: 25.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.5 blocks
- 7.1 3PA (30.8 3P%, 47.6 eFG% on catch-and-shoots), 6.7 FTA (66.5 FT%)
- 64.1 FG% at the rim (40 dunks)
Number to Know:
- 0.9 points per possession on spot-ups, according to Synergy (235 possessions)
Highlight:
Projected Range:
- Top 3-5
Attribute To Know:
- High-usage bully on the wing, a power scorer
Quick Thoughts:
- Super-strong wing with a unique power game and some effective separation moves in the final-third of the floor, though he lacks some craft and fluidity. Barrett is also a total beast in transition (1.08 points per possession, per Synergy) — perhaps underrated next to Zion. His defense, especially off ball needs serious work. The difference-maker for RJ: does he have the chops/vision to be a primary initiator/pick-and-roll engine on the next level (with improved shooting around him), or will he function better as a more plodding secondary scorer?
Cam Reddish, F/G
Per 40 Minutes: 18.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.1 steals, 0.8 blocks
- 10 3PA (33.3 3P%, 42.4 eFG% on catch-and-shoots), 4.3 FTA (77.2 FT%)
- 51.2 FG% at the rim (7 dunks)
Number to Know:
- 34.1 3P% on NBA-range 3-pointers, according to The Stepien
Highlight:
Projected Range:
- Mid-to-late lottery, 6-12
Attribute To Know:
- Perimeter defense, especially off the ball
Quick Thoughts:
- This season at Duke was an up-and-down affair for perhaps the most-polarizing prospect in this year’s draft. Say what you will about fit, Reddish displayed issues with burst (47.3 FG% in the half court at the rim) on drives and turnovers (20.7 percent turnover rate). There are some seriously troublesome numbers to digest. However, he can be a disruptive defender (2.9 percent steal rate) against multiple positions, and offers some catch-and-shoot/3-and-D capabilities on the perimeter. Do you trust his shot-making abilities (43.5 eFG% on off-dribble jumpers)? If not, his ceiling lowers.