2023 NBA Draft: 5 Prospects that can be surprising steals
By Ryan McCrary
Marcus Sasser, Guard, Houston
Like Brandin Podziemski, Marcus Sasser is one of the more underrated guards in this year’s draft. Last season, he was one of the best guards in college basketball, averaging roughly 17 points, three rebounds, and three assists per game on 59.7% true shooting.
His production as a scorer was incredible as he shot 38.4% from three, 39.4% from mid-range, and 64.7% at the rim. All three of these marks are quite strong for a guard and indicate that he has some upside as a three-level scorer. His three-point shooting, specifically, is very impressive as he shot 39.9% from three on around seven attempts per game over the last two seasons while also shooting 82.6% from the free-throw line. He has the potential to be a great long-distance shooter moving forward.
He’s also a solid passer, as last season, he had an assist rate of 19.6% and averaged twice as many assists as turnovers. He’s not an elite passer by any means, but he is still very good in this department.
I also believe he is a really strong defender. It’s fair to question his defensive versatility as he is just 6-foot-2, but he has a 6-foot-7 wingspan and had a steal rate of 3.2% and a defensive rating of 91.9 last season. He lacks the size and athleticism to be an elite, multi-positional defender, but his defense should be a strength for him in the NBA.
There are not a lot of weaknesses in Marcus Sasser’s game. I don’t think he’s good enough as a passer to be a star as a 6-foot-2 guard, but he has the perfect skill set for a secondary ball handler who can provide value as a scorer, shooter, and defender. While I don’t view him as a potential All-Star, I think his floor is high, and I believe it would be a mistake to let him fall out of the first round.