NBA Draft 2021: Cade Cunningham clear No. 1 pick in way-too-early mock draft

Bruce Pearl loves him some fast, undersized point guards, and he may have hit the jackpot in McEachern standout Sharife Cooper, a 6’0 speedster who accelerates in an instant and is a blur in the open floor.

Auburn’s five-star freshman is a savant in the pick-and-roll and possesses advanced craft and polish as a driver — scoring at the cup with remarkable balance and ambidexterity — and passer — throwing bullets with either hand and manipulating multiple defenders at a time with his eyes and stop-start moves.

Succeeding in the NBA as a small guard is a very, very difficult task, with a select few guards managing to do so, but Cooper may just be the next player capable of having a positive impact if his finishing talent carries over against pro athletes.

Bypassing the American college system, Aussie guard Mojave King signed a three-year deal with the Cairns Taipans as part of the NBL’s Next Stars program, which saw former high school stars LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton play overseas and earn first-round selections in this year’s draft.

The 6’5 two-guard is heralded for his lights-out shooting from beyond the arc, scorching nets with a quick trigger and deep range, all the while providing impactful defense thanks to his length and functional athleticism. He could be a quick riser depending on how well he performs in the NBL, a notoriously physical and defense-first league.

Strong and mobile at 7-feet, 250 pounds, the German-Togolese bigman has flashed upside as an imposing diveman on offense and rim deterrent on defense, albeit in limited minutes German League with Ludwigsburg.

He’s quite raw and will need some seasoning before he can provide impactful minutes in the NBA, but he’s still 18 and would be a fine pick anywhere in the 20-45 range. Whoever drafts him will need to be patient and could likely stash him overseas for a year or two, which could make him more attractive for teams looking to maintain roster openings.