The new CBA has every NBA team looking for ways to find talent any way possible and second round picks how become more valuable than ever as result, especially to teams close or at the apron. With this in mind, and without further ado, here are ten players who are not just projected second rounders but also players that I have a first round grade on. Jalen Brunson was a second round pick after all.
Rasheer Flemming, St. Joe’s
Teams are likely fighting to acquire the first pick or first couple picks of the second with this guy in mind. Rasheer would not be on the board if he had played against better competition but it’s on him too for not being more aggressive in college. There’s no reason he should average 15 points with his tools and talents but I think this can be addressed with a mentality change. OG Anunoby has had to be pushed and shoved into taking more of a role on offense and he’s done more every year, giving hope to the team that takes Flemming. His arms are LONG like OG’s and he’s physically imposing like him too. His jumper is beautiful as a result and there’s lot to work with here. This is Herb Jones with more offensive upside.
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
If Flemming not going in the first round doesn’t make sense then Ryan Kalkbrenner not going in the first round makes even less sense because this someone who has done nothing but produce. Big East DPOY four years in a row, Kalkbrenner can do what he needs to in the post and also step out to the 3 point line too. He’s dropped 30 points, 40 points and 50 points games in college and yet no one talks about him. Maybe its his agent? Call me, Ryan! He’s hyper efficient, can catch lobs and is athletic for his size. What am I missing? I’ve seen some get on him for his rebounding but that doesn’t stop the love for Jaren Jackson Jr. Stanford’s Maxime Raynaud has a similar offensive game to Ryan but is not as athletic.
Adou Thiero, Arkansas
You can’t overstate this man’s athleticism because whatever word you use probably wouldn’t do it justice. This dude is jumping up and down all over the court and flies over others for rebounds like he’s Josh Hart. He’s that kind of finisher as well and it’s no wonder Calipari took him with him from Kentucky. Thiero will be a coach and fan favorite as he’s the ultimate hustler who’s also blessed with elite physical tools, a deadly combination. Even if the shooting doesn’t come, this is someone teams will have to game plan for because how much wreckage he can cause in their schemes. This is a fearless player contenders need and a team-first guy, even at the expense of his body.
Koby Brea, Kentucky
If you need shooting, you need Koby Brea, and who doesn’t need shooting? He’s probably the best pure shooter in college basketball and there’s no jump shot he can’t make. The other parts of his game are limited, as he doesn’t have even an average wingspan, but when he’s on the court, you know what he’s there to do. He does have height to his advantage, though, at 6’7 and plays with an edge like someone from Washington Heights where he’s from. He can be a taller Quentin Grimes, a bucket getter. He’s faced a lot of injuries in his career and came back atronger from all of them so he’s mentally tough like every shooter needs to be. Tennessee’s Chaz Lanier is similar to Brea in shotmaking ability, reminding me of Gary Trent.
RJ Luis, St. John’s
Also 6’7, Luis played in the city and became the star player on Rick Pitino’s Cinderella team this year until he was benched in the final game. I know there’s a perception of him as someone who loves to score, and while I’m sure he does, I also see real joy in his face when he defends. His shot attempts will sometimes drive his coach crazy and evidently pull him off the court but he’ll be smarter in the NBA and know not to attempt bad mid range shots nearly as much. If you can put aside what you’ve heard about him and give him a chance, I think most will like RJ. He’s physical and will run through walls, and as long as you’re not tasking him to be “the guy” like he had to be in college, he’s plenty valuable. Micah Dixon from Vi
John Tonje, Wisconsin
Another player who had great collegiate and tournament success as a lead guy, Tonje may not get the opportunity to take any many shots at the next level but when he takes them, you can be sure they’re probably going to go in. He loves contact and can score at all three levels. Physically and shooting the ball, Tonje could be mistaken for Dillon Brooks, a 2017 2nd rounder, and he loves going to the line for free throws. He had to claw his way to get to Madison and he’ll carve out a solid role in the NBA too. Guys who shoot 40 from 3 and 90 from FT are rare and he also plays bully ball, which is even rarer.
Dink Pate
Dink probably made a mistake for trusting the G League Ignite with his development the last couple of years but he’s still insanely young and has talent you can’t teach. He can fly and float and is still getting by with his physical tools alone. He’s a departure so far from the others on this list, in that he might be rawer than raw. But the upside could be greater here than with anyone else. In the past, a guy like this could go in the top ten or maybe even the top five so Pate offers the chance at an insane return on your investment. But he needs to go to the right program this time since you’re young only for so long. Plus he was a pretty awesome name!
Tyrese Proctor, Duke
Proctor is essentially the inverse of Dink Pate, in that there is almost no risk with his profile. He’s played the same role at Duke that he’s going to be playing in the NBA, as just one of the guys and there is power to that. No team should be blamed for taking a flier on a sure thing and Proctor is exactly that. He’ll have a spot on a team’s bench for a long time and even be able to fill in or start from time to time. The Australian guard compares favorably to Patty Mills and there’s always room for a guy like that, especially on contending teams. His entire career has been preparing him to do much of the same once he reaches the league. FSU’s Jamir Watkins is another guard who is similarly well rounded and high probability rotation player with his willingness to defend.
Javon Small, West Virginia
Small hasn’t gotten the same attention as a Watkins but a far better shooter and confident offensive player who knows his spots. He reminds me a little of Jrue Holiday for how smart he is. Like Holiday, he is a willing defender and passer. He’s able to get to the rim and is a smooth operator. More than anyone on this list, he may surprise as there’s little to no buzz on him, despite playing well in the Big 12. The gripe some folks have with him is his size and frame but that’s become less of an issue as we see guys like Payton Pritchard thriving. Alijah Martin is another small guard who plays bigger than his size and dunks over everybody. An underrated piece to a national title winner.
Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest
Sallis is smooth and shifty, and is what I call a jumbo guard. As he fills out, he is going to be able to have his way with other guards and dominate them. The flashes are already there and it’s not impossible he develops at a rate close to Jalen Williams did with the Thunder. He’s worth a selection for the chance of that happening alone. His shooting in college has been inconsistent year to year and has not progressed as quickly as some scouts would have liked but the tape is mesmerizing to the point where I think you have to give him another year or two if you’re a team, as opposed to just giving up on him prematurely. This one will take work but the payoff is huge.
Honorable mentions and options for later in the second round, who I see as second rounders because of age: Eric Dixon, Micah Peavy, Viktor Lakhin, Johni Broome and Kobe Saunders
I would love my Knicks to pick another Villanova Wildcat in Eric Dixon at pick 50. He’s a 6th year senior so that takes him off some boards already but he plays like Julius Randle. He could be a tremendous fit in that system. Micah Peavy also has his detractors because of a kind of weird looking shot but he plays great defense as a wing and could be a Mikal Bridges lite. Viktor Lakhin seems like the perfect stretch four or five in today’s game and it’d be fun to see the Russian and KAT on the court at the same time launching threes, as long as he gets healthy and the medicals check out. I’d probably be pounding the table for Johni Broome if the Knicks didn’t have to wrestle with KAT’s negative impact defensively but no one should be surprised if Broome becomes a starting forward in this league. He’s been that good in college for Auburn. I wish he was more explosive around the rim and didn’t have such an old man game but it can work for someone. Kobe Sanders has the size but not the strength he needs right now it’s rare to see a 6’9 basketball player who shoots as effortless as he does. He passes the ball but you just wish he was tougher. Getting Kevin Knox flashbacks.
The Draftnik 