Although he appeared in just three college games this season, James Wiseman is still one of the most intriguing prospects of the 2020 NBA Draft class.
Many conversations have arisen recently about the 2020 NBA Draft class and how much unpredictability lies ahead due to the cancellation of March Madness and Conference tournaments.
There is no clear-cut No. 1 overall pick right now, even though Georgia’s Anthony Edwards seems to be the current favorite. But the complications of not being able to see a lot of these top prospects play on College Basketball’s biggest stage could raise concerns on draft night.
However, James Wiseman won’t have to worry about any of this since he appeared in just three games this season before being deemed ineligible by the NCAA. But even though he showed just a glimpse of his versatile skillsets, it won’t hurt his draft stock because a player of his caliber only comes along once in a while.
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Wiseman is the real deal
The 7-foot-1 center averaged 19.7 points, 10.7 boards, and three blocks in his short college stint while shooting 76 percent from the field.
It’s hard to really get a serious feel for him in such a small sample of games, but the various abilities he flashed on the hardwood showed exactly why he’s a top-end prospect.
At 250 lbs, Wiseman moves around extremely well. He’s an elite rim protector who has an impressive length with an enormous 7-foot-5 wingspan.
He has shown the ability to finish above the rim or simply spin off a defender and hit a fade-away jumper thanks to his smooth, left-handed stroke.
His physical tools were far above anyone he came up against this season and although he didn’t play any top schools during his three games, the sheer strength, skill, and athleticism Wiseman flashed is hard to ignore. Although the big man didn’t shoot the ball much from three-point range, he could very well develop the ability to sink it from downtown in the future because he does possess the talent to shoot the ball efficiently.
Blessed with size and athleticism
As of right now, his physical tools are ready for the NBA. Personally, I don’t think the lack of playing time at the college level will hurt him in the long run. It may be a slight transition once Wiseman plays at the next level, but it won’t be long until the 19-year-old is a force to be reckoned with in the paint.
There was a lot of talk that he could be the number one pick before the college season started. But since NBA scouts weren’t able to see him play a lot, he’ll probably slip. But I do expect him to go second or third overall thanks to his tremendous physicality.
If he really comes into his own at the NBA level, we’re looking at a potential All-Star in the near future. Wiseman literally has all the tools that are wanted in a big, it’s just a matter of polishing them.
He’s young so it may take some time, but if an organization is willing to be patient, it’ll be worth it.