6. Mario Hezonja, SG, Croatia
Hezonja may not be the household name that Okafor or Towns are, but his offensive creativity is a tantalizing thought considering the Croatian national player just turned 20.
Not to say that isn’t without his faults, as he is known to shrug off logic and force things in the name of scoring and flare. Nevertheless, Hezonja is a very good athlete who plays above the rim, can get out and shoot 3-pointers, and play on or off the ball, making him an ideal offensive threat coming out of the backcourt.
Additionally, Hezonja is rumored to be a little arrogant and difficult to deal with at times, on and off the court, which is a development that can plague him on every team. Consequently, Hezonja runs into some issues as his effort and interest isn’t always there, which is something that Hezonja needs to fix before he’ll see time on an NBA court.
That’s not to say that there isn’t anything there defensively, as he seems to play the passing lanes well, and has the potential to become a solid overall defender considering his speed and athleticism. There’s no question that Hezonja is a bit of a project right now, but if he can get his head on straight, his moxie and offensive gifts should make him an impactful player in the NBA.
Next: Willie Cauly-Stein