Alabama Basketball: 3 Best Prospects for 2019 NBA Draft
By Dakota Cox
John Petty, Guard
John Petty was highly recruited out of Jamison High School. MaxPreps had him as the second-highest recruit in the state of Alabama. Anyone that went to Huntsville to watch Petty play realized quickly that he was a freak of nature. He had fans erupting with excitement from his dunks and deep threes. He was by far the second-best man of his recruiting class behind Sexton.
Petty’s freshman year was a little sub-par. His home games were amazing. His highlights made him look like a first-round talent. His performance on the road was miserable at best. He will have to improve on his consistency in order to make him a viable prospect to NBA scouts.
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Petty’s best NBA skill will be his three-point shooting. His percentage behind the arc was 37.2% last season, and that’s including many road games that saw him shoot poorly. This can be common in freshmen, and that should improve with the tournament experience he got last year. He will also be the focal point of the offense without Sexton.
If Petty declares for the draft, he has the potential to be a second-round pick. He could work in the G League and maybe move onto a two-way contract or an NBA roster if he’s lucky. If not, he can definitely make a solid career overseas.