Taking a closer look at three potential hidden gems from the 2020 NBA Draft class.
Even though the 2020 NCAA Tournament was, unfortunately, canceled, we have a general sense of who the top draft picks will be whenever the 2020 NBA Draft takes place – whether that’s on schedule (June 25) or at a later date because the league resumed play.
However, as is always the case in any draft, there will be some under-the-radar prospects that will surprise the masses and emerge as hidden gems.
Paul Reed, F, DePaul
Paul Reed is a power forward that likes to play above the rim. At 6-foot-9, Reed is an athletic big that can play either the power forward or center position and dazzles fans on both ends of the floor.
Reed is coming off a junior season in which he averaged 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game on 52 percent shooting from the field and 31 percent shooting from 3-point range. He’s still a bit of a raw prospect compared to other big-names in the 20202 draft class, but in the right system could develop into a real contributor at the next level.
Makur Maker, C, High School
Makur Maker, the cousin of current Detroit Pistons big Thon Maker, is another interesting prospect in the 2020 NBA Draft class (assuming he declares). Maker is listed as a 6-foot-11 center with length. He has a high motor and the potential to be an intriguing big at the next level.
While there is plenty of unknown surrounding Maker, even more so considering that he didn’t play college basketball, the raw talent is certainly there. He’ll most likely be a second-round draft pick but the intrigue will be present on draft day.
Saben Lee, G, Vanderbilt
A third potential surprise hidden gem in the 2020 NBA Draft class is Saben Lee. Even as somewhat of an undersized guard, at 6-foot-2, Lee was a standout star for Vanderbilt during his junior season.
Lee averaged 19 points and four assists on 48 percent shooting from the field and 32 percent from 3-point range. With four 30-point outbursts in the last month of the season, Lee has proven that he can be a lethal scorer when called upon – something that would definitely transfer well to the NBA level.
If he declares for the 2020 NBA Draft, it’ll be interesting to see if he gets drafted. Because of his size, there’s a chance that he could go undrafted, so perhaps he might return to school for a senior season.