2019 NBA Draft: Top 3 players for Toronto Raptors to pick with 59th pick

DES MOINES, IOWA - MARCH 23: Charles Matthews #1 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates a basket against the Florida Gators during the second half in the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 23, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 22: DaQuan Jeffries #2 of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane dunks against the Nevada Wolf Pack during the 2018 Continental Tire Las Vegas Holiday Invitational basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on November 22, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nevada defeated Tulsa 96-86. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

3. DaQuan Jeffries, 6-5 wing, Tulsa

DaQuan Jeffries is not a player recognized by the average college basketball fan and especially not the typical NBA observer. That needs to change.

Sturdy as hell at with his 6-5, 216-pound frame with elite length (6-11) and explosive athleticism, Jeffries couldn’t ask for a better pro-ready body to play on the wing in the NBA. Tulsa’s high-flying star and efficiency machine led his team with 18.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.7 blocks per 40 minutes on an incredibly-efficient 61.7 true shooting percentage this past season.

While at the Portsmouth Invitational, Jeffries flashed his strong decision-making as an on-ball playmaker and fearlessly defended players big and small, using his frame and length to bother the other seniors in attendance at the event.

In his lone appearance at the NBA Combine, Jeffries record nine points and three rebounds on 4-of-5 shooting from the field. Those numbers don’t stand out, but his defensive awareness, quick hands, strength, motor, and useful passing stood out in the 15 minutes that he played on Thursday.

With Jeffries rarely showing up in any mocks or big boards by mainstream media publications, it’s fair to say that he’s flying under the radar for the time being. His intelligence, physical traits and high skill level makes him one of the 2019 NBA Draft’s biggest sleepers — if no one else has caught on by pick No. 59, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Raptors to pick him.

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