NBA Draft 2021: 3 underrated guards in draft that will have a future impact

The NBA Draft is a month away which will deliver exciting new talent to add to different rosters. Despite fighting through this past season through a pandemic, the NCAA displayed some phenomenal performances from talented young men. This past season in college will certainly be a learning experience for these prospects that they can take with them as they transition to the professional level.

One of the things I admired the most about this past season was the production of the wing players. Every night there was a spectacular performance from a guy who could either carry the load offensively or become a great decision-maker. It’s easy to name the notable guards in Cade Cunningham and Jalen Suggs.

But the other great wings around the country elevated phenomenally for their teammates. Let’s look into a few underrated wings heading into the 2021 NBA Draft.

Ayo Dosunmu (Illinois)

Dosunmu is a player I admire in this draft due to his evolution as a complete player. In three seasons playing for Illinois, Dosunmu developed into a better scorer, playmaker, attacker, etc. He is excellent at controlling the offense and dictating everything that goes on for his team, which is a great asset as he transitions into the NBA.

Dosunmu elevated his draft stock this past season with averages of 20.1 points per game on 49 percent shooting. He led Illinois to a Big 10 Championship along with a top seed in the NCAA tournament before falling to Loyola Chicago in the second round. Despite falling up short, Dosunmu’s name began to surface across the country as a notable prospect in the Draft.

Dosunmu could potentially land as a mid to late first-round pick, which isn’t bad whatsoever. The few places he will need to develop upon are free throw percentage and becoming more aggressive on-ball defender. Besides that, teams that could use his presence will be happy to have a versatile guard who can always stay in attack mode.

Aaron Wiggins

This player has grown tremendously as a player and continues to do so. Aaron Wiggins may not have big-time numbers, but his productivity continues to take a leap in each season at Maryland. Wiggins is a versatile scorer who can score in a multitude of ways. His shot creation and timing have improved over time as he transitioned into one of the most exciting offensive players in the Big 10.

Wiggins averaged 14.5 points on 44 percent shooting from the floor. His confidence as a leader has evolved as in his first two seasons only starting a total of 20 games. Although the Terrapins weren’t a competitive program for most of the season, it was Wiggins’ resilience that kept his team in ball games and in competition. He made sure to set the tone offensively so the rest of his team could follow.

Wiggins decided to declare for the NBA Draft while also maintaining his college eligibility. He will more likely become a second-round draft pick and have to work his way into a rotational spot. Starting from the bottom up will be a scenario that Wiggins isn’t unfamiliar with. He understands the work that it takes to transition to the next level.

Joel Ayayi

Joel Ayayi may have been the most overlooked player for Gonzaga up until the NCAA Tournament. For a 6’5 wing, Ayayi can display tremendous versatility from three-point shooting, rebounding, and often being a decision-maker. Every piece for the Bulldogs was crucial en route to their historic season. Ayayi was a perfect complement to Jalen Suggs, Corey Kispert, and others.

Ayayi averaged 12 points per game while shooting an efficient 57 percent from the floor. He made it a priority to always take high percentage shots and often got good open looks due to the ball movement of Gonzaga. Ayayi came up strong in the NCAA Tournament with performances like a 22 point night against UCLA in the Final Four. His Tournament performances played a huge role in raising his draft stock and value.

If you ask me, Ayayi should be a late first-round pick. His basketball IQ is so phenomenal that General Managers should snatch him quickly in the draft. Sure, he has holes in his game. But the way he is a team-first player shows that he can impact winning one day on an NBA roster.