2019 NBA Draft: Ja Morant headlines top 9 mid-major prospects

1) Ja Morant, PG, Murray State

You’ve undoubtedly heard about Morant already (unless you’ve been living somewhere without access to the internet, of course), and just know this – he’s the real deal.

Morant’s viral dunks are great and showcase the finishing skill and wow factor that will translate to the NBA, but he’s much more than that. When he’s not dunking, Morant – who is quick enough to get to the rim whenever he wants – has an array of finishes to get around defenders when he chooses not to go over them. He also doesn’t get enough credit for his defense (2.0 steals per game).

Yet the area of Morant’s game that doesn’t get talked about enough is his passing and playmaking. His 10.3 assists per game lead the nation, something he has accomplished thanks to his unselfishness and vision. When he draws multiple defenders on a drive, Morant not only knows where the help is coming from, he knows where the open man (or men) is and how to get him the ball in a position to score.

Though he’s not a great three-point shooter at this point in his career, he’s not Elfrid Payton or Michael Carter-Williams. Morant hit six threes in a game earlier this year and has eight other games in which he drained at least two shots from beyond the arc. He’s streaky – and will become more consistent with more work.

Morant is much more than a viral sensation – he’s a legitimate top three NBA Draft prospect who will serve as a cornerstone for some franchise. He’s also the leader of what promises to be a very talented class of mid-major prospects.