NCAA Basketball: Biggest takeaways from 2019 NBA Draft combine

Wings, Part 2

Terence Davis, Oli Miss

A standout at the G League Elite Camp last week, Davis (6-5, 6-9, 192 pounds) showed NBA teams on Thursday and Friday that his invite to the combine was well worth it, letting his athletic skill set lead the way throughout the event. He dominated the scrimmages with a total of 30 points (12-of-21 FG, 4-of-10 3PT), eight rebounds and three blocks, playing well in transition and perhaps improving his draft stock considerably by getting more exposure and getting a chance to put his great athleticism to the test against other NBA-level players. Davis would be a solid selection at the top/middle of the second round despite not garnering much buzz throughout the season.

DaQuan Jeffries, Tulsa

Much like Davis, Tulsa’s DaQuan Jeffries came into the NBA combine without much fanfare or hype but made up for that with a strong performance on Thursday. In 15 minutes, Jeffries scored an efficient (4-of-5 shooting) nine points, using his bounciness and length (7-0 wingspan at 6-5) to finish through traffic and leveraging his strength (6-5, 6-11, 216 pounds) well in the paint.

Elsewhere, he made smart decisions as a passer and competed hard on the defensive end, showcasing his bright IQ by rotating well and disrupting drivers/shooters. His standout performance at Portsmouth and strong showings at both the G League and NBA combines should help his reputation in league front offices, hopefully paying off in the form of a second-round selection (or better, depending on how private workouts go).

Terance Mann, Florida State

Florida State’s recent graduate has done everything he can to make it to the NBA since the conclusion of his senior season. He worked hard at the Portsmouth Invitational, worked hard at the G League Elite Camp, and was rewarded with an invite to the NBA Draft combine, where his hard work only continued. The 6-7 wing stuffed the stat sheet, accruing 11 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in 49 minutes of action, letting his IQ shine in all areas of play.

Mann is good in multiple areas and understands where to be on both ends of the floor, and his work ethic is truly admirable and likely made a strong impression on the teams in attendance. In order to be a rotation piece in the NBA he’ll need to learn to shoot it (32.7 career 3P% on low attempts, 67.0 career FT%), but his touch on shots at the rim (70 FG% at the rim for his career, which is elite) and his work ethic lend credence to the idea that he can improve in that area. He’s worth a selection late in the second round, and if he goes undrafted (still a real possibility since he wasn’t viewed as a top-60 candidate throughout the year), he’d be a great addition to a team as a two-way player.

Charles Matthews, Michigan 

Draft him. If you’re a team in the second round, don’t overthink it. Just draft him. His shooting woes (30.8 career 3P% on low attempts, 57.6 career FT%) are real and worrisome, but with marginal improvements on his mechanics, they shouldn’t be weighed too heavily. Matthews (6-6, 6-10, 195 pounds) is a special defender and was a stalwart for Michigan’s elite defense over the past few seasons. His fluidity, understanding of angles, and general IQ are all hard to find, all of which was on full display at the combine.

In both games, Matthews made up for his lack of offensive punch (11 points on 5-of-13 shooting) with tenacious defense, giving opponents hell for every second of the 43 minutes that he was on the court. Whether it was sticking to ball-handlers like glue when defending the pick-and-roll, or coming over as a weak-side helper, Matthews didn’t give opponents any room to breathe. Seeing that intensity in a glorified pickup game is rare, even with the stakes (i.e., a multi-million dollar career) in play.

He wasn’t a total dud on offense either, draining a three-pointer and hitting some pull-ups, including a nice mid-range jumper out of a crossover against Nic Claxton. The offense unquestionably needs work, and is something that could ultimately hold him back as a legit NBA player, but his defense is legit. Whoever grabs him in the second round may end up with one of the gems of the 2019 NBA Draft.

Miye Oni, Yale 

Yale’s talented 6-6 wing followed up a quiet Day 1 appearance (nine points on 3-of-5 FG, 2-of-3 3PT) with a 17-shot outburst on Friday, calmly walking into five smooth three-point makes and finishing the day with 17 points. Overall, Oni scored 26 points on 9-of-22 shooting, including a strong 7-of-14 from deep which is sure to be noticed by scouts in attendance. His 6-11 wingspan was on display at times, too, compiling three blocks and three steals in his 45 minutes on the floor.

NBA teams are sure to notice his need for weight-training, however, as he often let opposing ball-handlers drive right into his chest without much resistance. Nonetheless, the projected second-round pick did a fine job competing against NBA-level talent (instead of Ivy Leaguers) and didn’t do anything to truly damage his stock.