SEC Basketball: Ranking of top 15 prospects for 2020 NBA Draft

Who are the top prospects from SEC Basketball in the 2020 NBA Draft and when are they projected to be drafted?

In the next of our Top 2020 NBA Draft Prospects segment, we take a look at the SEC’s top talent entering this year’s draft and rank them based on NBA potential. This is one of the deeper conferences this year in terms of NBA talent, which is nothing to be shocked about it. SEC Basketball is and looks to continue to be a powerhouse conference in terms of the NBA talent pool.

With quite a few potential first-round selections and countless second round ones, here are the top 15 prospects from the SEC that have entered the 2020 NBA Draft.

15. E.J. Montgomery, F/C, Kentucky

DOB:

• September 12, 1999 (21)

SIZE:

• 6’10”, 228 lbs

PROS:

• Good athlete
• Solid inside scorer
• Great length
• Rim protection potential

CONS:

• Not a good shooter
• Doesn’t do anything exceptionally well
• Invisible at times
• Too passive offensively

DRAFT GRADE:

• Late 2nd Round – Undrafted

E.J. Montgomery is a player who never quite lived up to the hype he was given based off his size and athleticism. He seems scared to attack and shoot, rendering him useless to this point offensively.

However, along with the negatives, there are definitely positives, such as his ability to alter shots in tight. Montgomery possesses elite rim protection potential, and with the right strength program, could be a good defense-first center.

14. Nick Richards, C, Kentucky

DOB:

• November 29, 1997 (23)

SIZE:

• 6’11”, 244 lbs

PROS:

• Good athlete
• High motor
• Good inside scorer
• Solid rebounder
• Rim protection potential

CONS:

• Not a great shooter
• Forces shots
• Lacks scoring versatility

DRAFT GRADE:

• Late 2nd Round – Undrafted

When it comes to Nick Richards, NBA scouts seem to be torn. I’ve heard some teams that are high on Richards while some don’t think he’s anything special and worthy of a draft pick. In my eyes, Richards deserves to be selected towards the end of the second round due to his potential to be a solid backup center who can come in and play good defense.

Richards isn’t much of a scoring threat due to his lack of versatility, but the defensive upside is what intrigues me. At 6’11” he already possesses length, and his non-stop motor makes me believe he will be worth a pick somewhere in the 50s.

13. Ashton Hagans, G, Kentucky

DOB:

• July 8, 1999 (21)

SIZE:

• 6’3″, 192 lbs

PROS:

• Good playmaker
• Above-average athleticism and quickness
• Good defender
• High IQ player

CONS:

• Not a good shooter
• Not a great scorer in general
• Undisciplined on both ends

DRAFT GRADE:

• Late 2nd Round – Undrafted

I like Ashton Hagans as a player who can come in and play solid defense while distributing the rock at an above-average rate. He also understands the game really well, drawing fouls at a good rate and often makes the smart pass. With that being said, his inability to score with any consistency is a cause for concern to me and surely NBA teams.

If Hagans can work on his jump shot to make it consistently respectable he definitely has the potential to be a solid player in the NBA. I can see a team taking a shot late in the second round with the hopes the jumper comes around and he can be a good backup guard.