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

By Nick Raponi

ATHENS, GA - FEBRUARY 19: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Georgia Bulldogs gestures to the crowd in the final minutes of a game against the Auburn Tigers at Stegeman Coliseum on February 19, 2020 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA - FEBRUARY 19: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Georgia Bulldogs gestures to the crowd in the final minutes of a game against the Auburn Tigers at Stegeman Coliseum on February 19, 2020 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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NBA Draft SEC Basketball
NBA Draft SEC Basketball Aaron Nesmith (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

6. Robert Woodard II, G/F, Mississippi State

DOB:

  • September 22, 1999 (21)

SIZE:

  • 6’7″, 235 lbs

PROS:

  • Good shooter
  • Elite 3-and-D potential
  • Very good defender

CONS:

  • Can struggle guarding quicker players
  • Inconsistent shot
  • Can only score well off the catch

DRAFT GRADE:

  • Late 1st Round – Early 2nd Round

I am a huge fan of Robert Woodard II, as I believe he is worth a late first-round pick in this year’s draft class. He has an NBA body at 6’7″, 235 lbs, plays great defense, and can shoot the ball well from three-point range.

The only knock that I see in Woodard II’s game is his inability to cover quicker players. However, I believe that was due to him covering a lot of shooting guards in college, where at the NBA level I view him more as a small forward. Expect Woodard to be a draft steal if he slips to round two.

5. Tyrese Maxey, G, Kentucky

DOB:

  • November 4, 2000 (20)

SIZE:

  • 6’3″, 198 lbs

PROS:

  • Exceptional athlete
  • Lots of untapped potential on both ends of the floor

CONS:

  • Does nothing really well
  • Plays out of control on offense
  • Makes the wrong play quite often

DRAFT GRADE:

  • Late 1st Round – Early 2nd Round

The potential is unquestionably there with Tyrese Maxey, I just have major doubts as to if he will ever reach what he is capable of. On the positive side, he is one of the most athletic players in the draft who has proven to be able to score decently well against top-tier competition at the young age of 19.

On the negative side, Maxey has shown absolutely no consistency on either end and often looks lost on the court. I can easily see a time brushing off the negatives with Maxey and selecting him towards the end of round one, as the right coaching and situation could lead to Maxey feeling more comfortable and coming into his own as a player.

4. Aaron Nesmith, F, Vanderbilt

DOB:

  • October 16, 1999 (21)

SIZE:

  • 6’6″, 213 lbs

PROS:

  • Above-average athlete
  • Fantastic shooter from all spots of the court
  • Great off-ball player

CONS:

  • Doesn’t score well around the rim
  • Not a good defensive player

DRAFT GRADE:

  • Mid-to-late 1st Round

Aaron Nesmith is a great prospect – don’t get me wrong – I’m just not entirely sold on him as a mid-first round selection due to his lack of effort and consistency on the defensive end. However, outside of his poor defensive ability and effort, there aren’t too many more flaws to pick at when it comes to Nesmith’s game.

On the offensive end, he is a shooting machine, especially from deep. As we all know, NBA teams covet three-point shooters, making Nesmith a player that is high on many radars. If Nesmith can focus defensively and work on improving his strength a bit, he will be well worth the mid-round first a team spends on him. If he continues to focus on just the offensive end, I can see him being a bust.

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