Ranking and projecting the top 24 NBA Draft prospects with a 5-tier system
By Ryan McCrary
Tier Three: All-Stars
*High-level prospects who have the potential to be a top 25 player in the league as well as a top three player on a championship team*
3. Amen Thompson, Guard, City Reapers (Overtime Elite)
Amen Thompson is a tall guard with elite length and nuclear athleticism who dominated the Overtime Elite league this season.
He is a fascinating prospect who overwhelms opponents with his elite rim finishing, high-level court vision, and incredible defense. He is elite in all three areas, giving him a ton of upside as a primary ball handler.
Thompson’s biggest issue is his perimeter shooting. His jumpsuit appears to be broken at the moment, and there aren’t many indicators that he will improve as a shooter. His evaluation is also tricky as he is 20 years old and spent the past two seasons playing in a league filled with players who were younger than him. If his perimeter shooting fails to get better, he may not reach his ceiling, though he has enough skills to be a quality player without a jump shot.
4. Ausar Thompson, Guard/Wing, City Reapers (Overtime Elite)
Ausar Thompson is similar to his brother as they have similar physical measurements and play the game in a similar way.
Ausar dominated the Overtime Elite League last season, winning the league’s MVP award while showcasing really good rim finishing, strong passing chops, and elite defense. He isn’t quite the athlete or offensive creator Amen is, but he is still very good as a ball handler and rim finisher.
His biggest issue is his jump shot. He isn’t a very good perimeter shooter right now, but he appears to have more upside as a shooter than his brother, which is good, considering he may be asked to play off-ball more at the next level.
Both of the Thompson twins are elite in areas that could make them dominant on-ball creators in the NBA, which gives them the potential to be all-star caliber players. It’s easy to overlook them because they played in the Overtime Elite, but you may regret it if you sleep on them.