NCAA Basketball: Top 10 mid-major players in 2019 NBA draft

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 21: Ja Morant #12 of the Murray State Racers dunks the ball during the second half of the first round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Marquette Golden Eagles at XL Center on March 21, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. Murray State defeated Marquette 83-64. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

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WICHITA, KS – MARCH 04: Markis McDuffie #32 of the Wichita State Shockers drives to the basket against Jacob Evans #1 of the Cincinnati Bearcats during the first half on March 4, 2018 at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /

No. 8 – Markis McDuffie (Guard, Wichita State)

With Wichita State’s rise in national relevancy came the opportunity for their players to get more than a cursory look from the NBA. Since 2012, five former Shockers have played in the NBA and two, Fred VanVleet who played in the NBA finals with the Toronto Raptors and Landry Shamet who had a solid rookie year for the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers. The next Wichita State player hoping to embark on an NBA career is Markis McDuffie.

The 6-8 forward led the Shockers in scoring this past season, pouring in 18.2 per game. McDuffie is one of those prospects that, while he doesn’t excel at any one thing specifically, he is solid at all aspects of the game at both ends of the floor. He has the ability to score from all over, shooting 34% from beyond the arc and 81% from the free throw line in his final season. He is a better shooter with the ball in his hands than he is as a spot up shooter and on the other end of the floor he is a decent defender and led Wichita State with one steal per game.

But, like many young players, there are times when he loses focus on the defensive end and while he pulled down over five rebounds per game, the glass is a place McDuffie is going to be more assertive at the next level. Where he may fit best in the NBA is as a swingman off the bench that can give you energy and scoring in spurts.

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