9. Isaiah Joe, G, Arkansas
DOB:
- July 2, 1999 (21)
SIZE:
- 6’5″, 167 lbs
PROS:
- Good athlete
- Solid shooter
- Great length, leading to defensive upside
CONS:
- Streaky – and I mean streaky – shooter
- Too aggressive both offensively and defensively
DRAFT GRADE:
- Mid-to-late 2nd Round
Isaiah Joe is a guard who has tremendous length at 6’5″, which is a trait that catches the eyes of NBA scouting departments right away. On top of his length, he is also a good athlete who can take over a game with his scoring ability.
The major knock on Joe is when his shots aren’t falling, he hurts the team on both ends. Joe is one of the more inconsistent players in the draft on both ends and will need to work on keeping himself focused and becoming a smarter player. Expect Joe to go somewhere between 40-50.
8. Immanuel Quickley, G, Kentucky
DOB:
- June 17, 1999 (21)
SIZE:
- 6’3″, 188 lbs
PROS:
- 3-and-D potential
- Good shooter
- Above-average defender
- Solid athlete
- Good length
CONS:
- Struggles scoring around the rim
- Too aggressive at times defensively
DRAFT GRADE:
- Mid-to-late 2nd Round
Immanuel Quickley is the first player on this list that I am 99% sure will be drafted. Quickley is a guard who is extremely long and can shoot the ball well from deep, which are two of the most important qualities for a guard in today’s NBA. On top of that, he is a plus athlete who gives it his full effort on the defensive end.
The knock on Quickley is how well he understands the game. There are times where he makes the wrong decision on both ends, especially when he’s overaggressive on defense. As well, Quickley is a bit of a one-dimensional scorer. Negatives aside, I fully expect Quickley to be drafted somewhere between 35-50.
7. Reggie Perry, C, Mississippi State
DOB:
- March 21, 2000 (20)
SIZE:
- 6’10”, 245 lbs
PROS:
- Good inside scorer
- Very good athlete for his size
- Great rebounder
CONS:
- Struggles with quicker players
- Might need to put on some muscle to play center
- Not a great shot blocker for his size
DRAFT GRADE:
- Early-to-mid 2nd Round
Truth be told – I’m not as high on Reggie Perry as others seem to be. I don’t think he has the rim protection potential to be an effective center in the NBA, but I also think he’s too slow to play a modern power forward role.
On a positive note, Perry is definitely a great rebounder who can do a decent job of scoring inside. As well he has shown some soft touch, maybe leading teams to believe he has some stretch-big potential. Nevertheless, I expect Perry to be drafted anywhere from 35-45.