Busting Brackets
Fansided

NBA Draft 2018: 5 players who should’ve been drafted higher

By Holden Walter-Warner

BOISE, ID - MARCH 15: Keita Bates-Diop
BOISE, ID - MARCH 15: Keita Bates-Diop /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 21: Picks one through 30 are seen on the board at the conclusion of the first round during the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 21: Picks one through 30 are seen on the board at the conclusion of the first round during the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

For these NBA Draft prospects, a great collegiate career didn’t lead to a great selection – or any selection – in Thursday’s draft.

The 2018 NBA Draft didn’t feature very many surprises. The top pick was Deandre Ayton, to the shock of nobody. Most of the projected lottery picks went in the lottery. Frankly, the exchange of Trae Young for Luka Doncic and the slide of Michael Porter Jr. were telegraphed by the time the Phoenix Suns were on the clock.

Despite meeting expectations, there are still prospects who have the right to be beside themselves after everything that went down.

Body of work is an important factor for NBA scouts and general managers leading into the draft. So is the literal body and the potential it brings, along with a myriad of other factors.

There are many college players who proved themselves to be elite at the college level, only to be passed over in one way or another by the next level on Thursday night.

Being an All-American doesn’t translate to being a lottery pick, apparently.

This is not to say the top picks in the draft won’t become great NBA players. Ayton was a consensus First Team All-American last year. So was Marvin Bagley III, the second pick who went to the Sacramento Kings. Doncic won EuroLeague MVP before being drafted by the Atlanta Hawks third overall, before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks.

This isn’t about them, though. This is about the college players we loved who didn’t get a fair shake upon entry into the NBA.

Here are five college stars who deserved better.

Home/NBA Draft News