Ranking and projecting the top 24 NBA Draft prospects with a 5-tier system
By Ryan McCrary
Tier Five: Starters
*Good prospects who have the potential to be a top 100 player in the NBA as well as a solid starter on a championship team*
11. Brandin Podziemski, Guard, Santa Clara
Brandin Podziemski is a fantastic combo guard who possesses elite skill as a scorer, shooter, and passer. He does all three things at a high level, and he has the perfect skill set for a secondary ball handler in the NBA. He also has enough athleticism and instincts to be a decent off-ball defender.
The one thing that worries me about Podziemski is his performance vs. top competition. Last season, his production vs. top 100 teams was pretty bad, which signals that his game may not translate to the NBA. He also has underwhelming length, so it’s unlikely he ever becomes a strong on-ball defender at the next level.
12. Anthony Black, Guard, Arkansas
Anthony Black is a strong two-way player who provides a lot of value as a passer, rim finisher, and perimeter defender. He is a smart player who can create offense for his teammates and get to the rim off the dribble. He’s also a fantastic defender who wreaks havoc on that end of the floor.
The biggest question with Black is how he will generate value offensively without a jump shot. He doesn’t have an amazing feel as a floor general, and he isn’t a good enough athlete to generate rim attempts whenever he wants. This is why he is this low on my board. However, he has a ton of valuable skills, and he can be awesome if he improves as a perimeter shooter.