NBA Draft 2019: Ranking the Top 10 prospects from ACC Basketball

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts against the Michigan State Spartans during the second half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

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SUNRISE, FL – DECEMBER 22: Mfiondu Kabengele #25 of the Florida State Seminoles reacts after a dunk against the Saint Louis Billikens during the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic at BB&T Center on December 22, 2018 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

10. Mfiondu Kabengele, Florida State

21 years old | Center | 6-foot-10.25 | 256 lbs
Stats (SO): 13.2 ppg (.502/.369/.761), 5.9 rpg, 1.5 bpg

Despite being a tad bit short for a center at 6-foot-10, Florida State’s Mfiondu Kabengele — the nephew of former NBA great Dikembe Mutumbo — boasts a massive 256-pound frame, condor 7-foot-3 wingspan, and combat muscles galore as one of the ACC’s more impressive frontcourt prospects. He was arguably the most productive player on a 29-win FSU team in just 21.6 minutes a night, posting per-40 splits of 24.5 points, 11 rebounds and 2.8 blocks. He upped his shooting from beyond the arc, increasing his shot volume and seeing a big spike in his free throw shooting percentage (65.7 to 76.1 FT%), hinting at his upside as a floor-spacing energy big at the next level. Kabengele runs the floor hard and battles for rebounds, operating as a solid rim-running big and excellent lob threat.

light. Related Story. NBA Draft profile of Mfiondu Kabengele

Physical gifts and endless energy aside, Kabengele is a pretty flawed prospect. He’s pretty raw for being a 21-year-old (who turns 22 in August) and struggles with the many technical aspects of offense (screening, ball-moving) and defense (closing out on shooters, sliding his feet well, defending without fouling). His feel is pretty low, which doesn’t bode well for a center who needs to be competent on both ends of the floor to be worth a first-round draft pick. It also doesn’t help that he only has 21 assists (and 83 turnovers) through 71 collegiate games, showing a relative inability to dribble the ball and pass the ball. He’s the epitome of a play finisher, for better or worse.

He’s an intriguing prospect and probably will crack the first round given recent reporting, but he may just be a backup energy big if his skills don’t improve, which isn’t worth a top-30 pick.