NBA Draft Big Board 2.0: Preston Enters Top 10, Green And Christopher Rise

Notable new names in our NBA Draft 2.0

#10. Jason Preston, Ohio, G

The 2021 MAC Tournament MVP is regarded by many as a second-round pick and viewed as being a potential solid backup point guard to run a team’s bench unit. However, I see Jason Preston’s upside and skill set as much grander than that. He reminds me of NBA Hall of Famer and new Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd.

I believe Preston is one of the best passers in this class combined with having some of the best feel for the game and touch of any prospect. He’s also maybe the best creator out of the pick and roll, one of the top off-ball scorers, and has underrated shooting ability with his combination of efficiency and range.

The criticism of his athleticism is overstated in my opinion and the concern that he can’t create his own shot off of the dribble, without a screen is just another falsehood from maybe an uneducated viewpoint. He will ultimately probably go in the second round, but Preston is a lottery talent on my board and should be one of the steals of this draft.

#29. Nah’Shon Hyland, VCU, G

You could make the argument that no other prospect has helped themselves more than Hyland has in the pre-draft process. The man affectionately known as Bones is a lanky six-foot-three guard who is a dynamo of a scorer with endless shooting range and a crafty handle. After dominating the testing and dazzling during the on-court scrimmages at the NBA Draft Combine, there’s no doubt in my mind Hyland is going to be a first-round pick.

His offensive skills will capture the most headlines, but Hyland’s defensive capabilities are undervalued. He’s a straight pickpocket as a defender who possesses great length for a guard, sporting a six-foot-nine wingspan that allows him to constantly get into passing lanes effortlessly.

Hyland finished third in the A-10 in steals (45) last season, while also finishing top five in defensive rating (91.2) and defensive win shares (1.8).

#30. Quentin Grimes, Houston, G

Grimes came out of high school in 2018 rated as a top 10 recruit in the class and stumbled a bit to live up to those expectations as a freshman at Kansas. After transferring to Houston though, Grimes has blossomed into a player that many thought he could become. He helped lead the Cougars to a Final Four bid this past season, while also averaging career bests across the board statistically.

Grimes put up some of the most impressive numbers in the AAC in 2021, averaging 17.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc. He looked like one of the most pro-ready players during the scrimmages at the NBA Draft Combine and had a very impressive presence on the floor. His combination of shooting versatility, playmaking, and leadership make him one of the top guys who can come in and help a franchise immediately.

Like Preston and Hyland, Grimes just has an infectious attitude that seems to elevate the players around him. All three are tremendously skilled and high character prospects in my opinion.