Big East Basketball: Top 15 prospects for 2020 NBA Draft

3. Markus Howard, G, Marquette

DOB:

• March 3, 1999 (21)

SIZE:

• 5’11”, 175 lbs

PROS:

• Prolific scorer
• Excellent shooter
• Above-average athlete

CONS:

• Size
• Needs the ball in his hands to be effective
• Weak on the defensive end

DRAFT GRADE:

• Mid-to-late 2nd Round

Markus Howard can flat out score the basketball, and I don’t think anyone can argue that. Whether it’s inside, midrange, or from the three-point land, Howard can put the ball in the bucket. The issues with Howard are his size and the fact that if the ball isn’t in his hands, he’s invisible.

On top of that, he is a bit of a liability on defense. However, when it’s all said and done, I fully expect Howard to be drafted at some point in the second round due to his ability to score with the best of them.

2. Paul Reed Jr., F, DePaul

DOB:

• June 14, 1999 (21)

SIZE:

• 6’9″ 220 lbs

PROS:

• Gifted athlete
• Good defender against both bigger and quicker forwards
• Can score well in the paint
• Great shot blocker
• Good rebounder

CONS:

• Lacks scoring versatility
• Could afford to get a bit stronger
• Too aggressive on defense, leading to foul trouble

DRAFT GRADE:

• Late 1st Round

There is a lot to like about Paul Reed Jr.’s game, as he is one of the better athletes in this draft and has proven to contribute on both ends of the court. A great rebounder and shot-blocker, Reed Jr. could contribute to a team right away with those two qualities alone.

The only question marks that come along with Reed Jr. is his inability to contribute offensively at the NBA level, as he is yet to prove he can consistently knock down a jumper. I can see Reed Jr. being selected anywhere from 20-30 due to his athleticism, but he will need to improve his scoring outside the paint to be a factor at the next level.

1. Saddiq Bey, F, Villanova

DOB: 

• April 9, 1999 (21)

SIZE:

• 6’8″, 216 lbs

PROS:

• Versatile scorer
• Good playmaking abilities
• NBA-ready body

CONS:

• Not a great finisher around the rim
• Struggles defensively against good scorers

DRAFT GRADE:

• Mid 1st Round

Saddiq Bey is a very appealing prospect, as he has the ability to be a combo-forward who can both score and pass the rock. While he doesn’t have off-the-charts athleticism, Bey is athletic enough to be effective on both ends at the NBA level.

The problem with Bey is he doesn’t buy in on defense enough, oftentimes being burnt by proven scorers. If Bey can work on the defensive side of his game and learn to finish better in traffic offensively, Bey could end up being a steal in the middle of the first round.