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NBA Draft 2023: 5 underrated NCAA Basketball players to watch

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 10: Jaime Jaquez Jr. #24 of the UCLA Bruins brings the ball up the court against the Oregon Ducks in the first half of a semifinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 10, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bruins defeated the Ducks 75-56. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 10: Jaime Jaquez Jr. #24 of the UCLA Bruins brings the ball up the court against the Oregon Ducks in the first half of a semifinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 10, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bruins defeated the Ducks 75-56. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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NBA Draft Penn State Nittany Lions player Seth Lundy Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
NBA Draft Penn State Nittany Lions player Seth Lundy Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports /

Seth Lundy – Penn State – 6’6, 219 lbs – April 2000

Consensus ranking: 48

My ranking: 35

Lundy flew right under my nose all season playing in the Big Ten (I did see him live at the Big10 Tourney). But, a further deep dive of his game has made me a huge fan. A thick-bodied, strong wing, Lundy shot 40% from deep on an impressive 12 threes per 100 possessions. He is comfortable shooting off the move, or attacking a closeout with a sidestep or step back and just firing.

Lundy is older, and not an elite athlete, but will bring more to the table right away than some of these projects in his same draft range. I thought he looked good in the Combine scrimmages and measured in well (6’4 no shoes with a 6’10 wingspan). He will need to improve laterally defensively as he’s likely too short to play the four.

He doesn’t offer much juice on the ball, having one of the lowest assist rates of any player expected to be picked. But, Lundy’s shooting and frame make him an easy plug-and-play on any NBA team. They were very different pre-draft players, but Caleb Martin’s recent resurgence with the Heat gives me a vision of what Lundy could be at the next level.