2019 NBA Draft: Ja Morant headlines top 9 mid-major prospects
By Brian Rauf
4) Jalen McDaniels, PF/SF, San Diego State
Speaking of upside, that is why McDaniels is going to be picked should he choose to keep his name in the draft pool.
He surprisingly entered the draft after his redshirt freshman season last year and, before returning to school, scouts were intrigued with what the lanky 6-10 forward has to offer.
In a word, that is versatility. McDaniels has the size to play on the inside and has shown that with his rebounding numbers, averaging 8.5 per game so far this year. However, he also has the guard skills to play on the perimeter and has greatly improved his shooting stroke (21.1 percent to 32.6 percent this year).
That athleticism at 6-10 allows him to take advantage of his distinct size, often running past smaller players, grabbing rebounds over them, and providing more finishing opportunities at the rim. Though he’s inconsistent in this area now, he has shown flashes of being a quality rim protector.
The big negative with McDaniels is his frame and strength. He’s only listed at 195 pounds and, while he will get stronger, doesn’t seem to have the frame to tack on anything more than 20-30 pounds at the most.
It’s no sure thing that McDaniels enters the draft. His brother, Jaden, is one of the top prospects in the 2019 class and might join him at San Diego State. But, if he does keep his name in, McDaniels should be a late first or early second-round pick.