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NBA Draft 2021: BJ Boston, Evan Mobley among top California prospects

By Brandon Simberg

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 04: Brandon Boston, Jr. #3 of Sierra Canyon Trailblazers looks on during the game against the Minnehaha Academy Red Hawks at Target Center on January 04, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 04: Brandon Boston, Jr. #3 of Sierra Canyon Trailblazers looks on during the game against the Minnehaha Academy Red Hawks at Target Center on January 04, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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Oct 6, 2018; Colorado Springs, CO, USA; USA Men’s Junior National Team participant Evan MobleyMandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2018; Colorado Springs, CO, USA; USA Men’s Junior National Team participant Evan MobleyMandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Evan Mobley -Rancho Christian – USC – 7’0 – 210 lbs – June 2001

Mobely enters USC as the No. 3 prospect in the country, per 247Sports. He sat atop the rankings for the majority of his high school career. As a senior at Rancho Christian, he averaged 20 points, 12 rebounds, and an absurd five blocks.

In terms of pure physical gifts, nobody in this class has more than Mobley. He’s got a 7’5 wingspan and a reported 40-inch vertical.

Mobley has a very good offensive skillset. He’s got a slow-release, but he can hit open threes. He needs to add strength to improve at finishing around the rim, but with his length and athleticism, he can still finish well. He’s got very good footwork, using his long strides to maneuver around defenders in a Giannis Antentokounpo-like method.

As a passer, Mobley has good vision. When doubled in the post, he can make good skip passes to shooters. He can also pass off the dribble.

Defensively, Mobley has the tools to be special. With his length and quick leaping ability he can be an elite rim protector. He moves pretty well laterally, which should help him defend ball-screens. My biggest concern with Mobley is his motor. In a lot of his games, he took a lot of possessions off and just coasted. The game came super easy to him, but it’s still concerning to see him coast.

At USC, Mobley will have massive shoes to fill in the absence of Onyeka Okongwu. While Mobley is a better NBA prospect, it will be hard to replace the two-way impact of Okongwu. His 11.6 Box Plus/Minus was one of the top nationally. The Trojans also lost starters Nick Rakocevic, Jonah Matthews, and Daniel Utomi, so Mobley will need to be dominant.

He slides into the center position next to his brother Isaiah Mobley and the two should work well together with their combination of shooting. In a competitive Pac-12, it’ll be an uphill battle for the Trojans to make the tournament. But if Mobley can play like a top-three recruit they’ll have a shot.

Admittedly, I’m a bit lower on Mobley than most from a draft perspective. His physical tools are there, but the motor concerns me as well as his lack of strength. If he plays well though and shows he cares, top five is not out of the question.

NBA Draft Projection: 2021 Lottery

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