Busting Brackets
Fansided

NBA Draft: Potential Sleepers Selected in the Second Round

By Chris Godfrey

facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next

#58 J.P. Tokoto (North Carolina), SG/SF – Philadelphia 76ers

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

After profiling a string of undersized guards, J.P. Tokoto is a change of pace when projecting potential steals from this draft. When Tokoto made his decision to leave for the NBA Draft, it was criticized by many (myself included). However, it was the timing of Tokoto’s departure that initiated the doubt, not necessarily his potential as a prospect.

Most prospects enter the NBA Draft knowing that they must prove to be elite in at least one aspect of the game in order to feel comfortable with their future in the league. When Tokoto abruptly left North Carolina with a year of eligibility remaining, he was constantly reminded about his shortcomings as a perimeter shooter.

However, Tokoto chose to bet on himself. Most importantly, he bet on the fact that he is a prospect that carries the exclusive trait of having two elite skills. Not only can Tokoto sit down and slide his feet with just about anybody in college basketball, he also has the ability to almost literally walk on air.

Live Feed

UNC Football: Using Different Narratives to Win Games
UNC Football: Using Different Narratives to Win Games /

Keeping It Heel

  • North Carolina Tar Heels Week Preview: Sept 18 - Sept 24 Keeping It Heel
  • Week Two Coverage Of College Hockey In NC Cardiac Cane
  • UNC Basketball extends offer to five-star Jasper Johnson Keeping It Heel
  • UNC Football: Nate McCollum named ACC Wide Receiver of the Week Keeping It Heel
  • UNC Football: Players of the Game versus Minnesota Keeping It Heel

    • Tokoto’s package of elite athleticism and defensive prowess makes him an intriguing prospect. Yes, he will struggle to score in the half court due to his lack of perimeter shooting, but there will be plenty of opportunities for Tokoto to contribute in transition.

    Tokoto is not only a dunker, but also an acrobatic finisher who has a fair amount of creativity in the air. Combining that type of bounce with a legitimate gift for defensive play is a formidable tool box of talents, especially when it belongs to a player who barely heard his name get called a week ago.

    It’s true that the arc of Tokoto’s NBA career will likely be determined by the development of his outside shooting. Tokoto, who shot only 37% from the college trey line last year on limited attempts, will be asked to work towards becoming a perimeter threat. It’s an occurrence that could possibly make him a star at the next level, but failing to evolve offensively doesn’t harm his potential to impact a team as a lockdown defender and open-floor finisher. Those are valuable skills to have.

    Next: Wisconsin Badgers Top 5 Seasons under Bo Ryan

    More from Busting Brackets

    Home/NBA Draft News