5. RJ Hampton, NZ Breakers
Projection: Top 14
There are varying opinions on where RJ Hampton will be selected in the 2020 NBA Draft, but I believe when push comes to shove he’ll be taken in the top 14. Instead of playing college basketball for one season before making the jump to the NBA, Hampton elected to play in the NBL for one year.
However, because of an injury, Hampton only played in 15 games for the New Zealand Breakers before elected to return to the United States to prep for the 2020 NBA Draft. During those 15 games, Hampton averaged nine points, four rebounds, and 2.4 assists on 41 percent shooting from the field and 30 percent from 3-point range.
For the most part, any team that drafts Hampton will largely be basing their decision on what he did in high school and what he showcases in his pre-draft workouts (if there are any). That’s a huge risk, especially if he’s taken in the lottery.
With that said, there’s still plenty to like about Hampton as a prospect. He has good size, is a good athlete, and is a natural scorer. He has star potential, but it won’t come without risk.