Just a month after the Los Angeles Lakers were crowned NBA Champions, a new generation of talent is soon to enter the league.
This year’s draft will be an interesting and unique event for a multitude of reasons. Normally, fans and analysts rally to watch lottery-likely draft picks during the NCAA Tournament.
This year, however, the tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns, leaving dozens of the nation’s top talent without a parting performance.
Therefore, there seems to be much less hype and anticipation surrounding this draft than last year. To be fair, last year’s draft did feature the incredible trio of Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, and RJ Barrett. But 2020 still has some incredible talent up for grabs.
Here are some of the top prospects in this year’s draft. You can watch where they land on Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
- Anthony Edwards – Shooting Guard – Georgia
Edwards might be the most intriguing prospect in the 2020 draft. The 19-year-old is a 6-foot-9-inch shooting guard with the ability to score anywhere. He’s a very physical scorer with a special ability to finish in transition and pull-up off the dribble. His insane athleticism has the potential to create a lockdown defender.
During his one year with Georgia, he averaged 19.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage was 40.2%.
- LaMelo Ball – Point Guard – Illawarra Hawks
The youngest of the Ball brothers is finally ready for the big show. After forgoing the NCAA to play overseas, many still doubt his abilities. However, standing at 6-feet-7-inches with a deadly 3point-shot, Ball is ready to light up the NBA.
Ball averaged 17 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game in his only season with Illawarra. He only shot 25% from 3-point range, putting consistency on the forefront of his weakness list.
- James Wiseman – Center – Memphis
Wiseman, likely the best big man in this draft, has the potential to take the NBA by storm. He is 7-feet1-inches tall with a 7-foot-4-inch wingspan, the type of body that controls the paint both on offense and defense.
During his one year with Memphis, Wiseman averaged 19.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. In a draft that is shy of true center talent, Wiseman will be off the draft boards quickly and look to make an immediate impact for any team.
- Deni Abjiva – Small Forward – Israel
Though not even hailing from the same continent, Abjiva is already hearing comparisons to the great Luka Doncic. The 6-foot-7-inch small forward is a fantastic all-around offensive threat. His passing is pristine, and he has great shooting ability for his height and frame.
He has ways to go before reaching “Luka Status,” but after some work with his shooting game and mobility, Abjiva could potentially be a young star in the league.
- Obadiah Toppin – Power Forward – Dayton
Toppin is a fast and physical power forward that has serious potential. As he continues to grow into his 6-foot-9-inch frame, the 22-year-old could become both an offensive threat and a critical role player.
This past season at Dayton, Toppin averaged 20 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He could stand to work on his defensive effort, but his offensive power sets him apart from the rest.
