NBA Draft 2019: 10 best prospects from Big Ten Basketball

5. Jordan Poole – Michigan – 6’5, 19 years old (turns 20 on June 19)

Poole had an up-and-down season for the Wolverines and made a somewhat surprising decision to stay in the NBA Draft.

In his first full season as a starter, the sharpshooter averaged just under 13 points per game while shooting 37 percent from three. His percentage wasn’t great, but his form is pure with a quick release that translates well to the next level.

Poole is a good finisher around the rim and has promise as playmaker, but it’s unlikely his skills develop enough to where he is the primary playmaker on an NBA team. He did rank in the upper half of the country as a pick-and-roll ball handler but there is room for growth there. His isolation game is inconsistent. He showed flashes of being a great scorer but then sometimes takes mind-boggling shots.

Poole has decent size for an NBA shooting guard but will need to add strength to his frame. He could be a good defender but it seems more hypothetical at this stage. Playing with superior defenders like Charles Matthews, Zavier Simpson, and Jon Teske helped hide his deficiencies on that end.

A month ago, there was probably an outside chance that Poole would be drafted. But reports have surfaced that he is killing his pre draft workouts, shooting really well. As a result, Poole’s stock has risen and he will likely be selected in the mid 40’s to late 50’s at worst.

Poole is definitely a project but his relatively young age combined with his unteachable shooting skills make him worth a gamble.