[treytalkssports.comParticipant]

treytalkssports.com/2017/12/27/more-ncaa-basketball-prospects-who-are-2018-nba-draft-sleepers/ 

Here are 5 more 2018 NBA draft sleepers for consideration and discussion. 

 

Khyri Thomas

The Creighton guard has an excellent wingspan and good athleticism. The hope this season was that he would develop more as a passer and play-maker, but he hasn’t. Though his minutes are down, his efficiency and production in those minutes are up. He is shooting better (54%-44%-82%) this year than previous years.

Khyri will primarily earn minutes as a defender at the next level. He has some scoring ability, but his wingspan and quickness allows him the ability to make defensive players. Guys like Justin Holliday have stuck around the NBA a long time — I think Khyri can carve out a niche for himself as a backup guard.

Allonzo Trier

Trier is a third-year guard playing for Arizona. This season, he has looked to score more than in the past, which is something he has a natural feel for.

He is probably 6’6” with a 6’9” wingspan (online records on this are outdated). He is solidly built with average athleticism. However, Trier has great feel for how to use his athleticism to get to the basket. He is great at drawing fouls going to the basket (.60 free throw rate) and is hitting his outside shots at a good clip (43%).

He is a defensive sieve, but he might prove to be a useful offensive player. Trier could be a Dion Waiters-lite.

Nick Weiler-Babb

Weiler-Babb is probably going to be my main sleeper pick for this entire draft. He is the brother of former NBDL and Iowa State player Chris Babb. Nick just turned 22 years old, which is a bit old for an NBA rookie, but his feel for the game could help an NBA team.

Nick has really good (not elite) athleticism and size at the point guard position. He is all of 6’6” with a good wingspan, good quickness, and great explosiveness.

Since the Cyclones moved him to point guard, they have not lost. He is averaging 12-8-8 per game with only 2.5 turnovers. He’s a good shooter, but his control of the game is the most impressive skill that he brings to his team.

If Derrick White was drafted last year, and Spencer Dinwiddie previously, I think Weiler-Babb has a place in the NBA. He could have a similar impact to Caris Lavert, or Evan Turner.

Jack Nunge

The 6’11’ Iowa Hawkeye forward will turn 19 in February. He probably will wait another year to enter the draft, but his size and skills will get scouts looking at him. He is only averaging 20 minutes a game, but in that time he is averaging 8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block on 55%-39%-74% shooting splits.

He is frustratingly inconsistent, but if he can put it together, he is an ideal prospect for the modern NBA. He is a long, switchable athlete who can play inside or outside. He has a good feel for moving the ball and attacking closeouts.

Nunge could have a similar role and impact as Dwight Powell or Chandler Parsons.

Andrew Jones

I’m not sure why Andrew Jones is not getting more attention as an NBA prospect. At 6’4” with a 6’7” wingspan and great athleticism, he fits an ideal mold as NBA guard.

As a freshman he shot 43%-33%-78% from the floor. As a sophomore he is shooting 53%-44%-69%, averaging more points (15) in less minutes.

He wreaks havoc defensively on one end of the court and slices through defenses on the other. Jones is the exact type of player that succeeds more in the NBA than college because of how the NBA court is more spread out with shooters.

 

 

[Arc12345Participant]

I seriously doubt he has a 6’9 wingspan and I also doubt he’s 6’6. He’s probably closer to 6’4.

You say the numbers are outdated for his height and wingspan but I’ll believe it when I see it. He’s a good player though.

 

 

[treytalkssports.comParticipant]

Fair enough. His arms look long to me. 

I’m sure he’ll need to at least get the measurements done. It’ll be interesting at the combine if he declares. 

[EspressoParticipant]

 I agree. Im a big fan of Trier but i dont think he is 6’6. Id say at most, 6’5

[mamadouParticipant]

Thanks for the intel on Thomas and Weiler Babb.

Maybe a good ol’ 3 and D off guard with Thomas, and that Weiler Babb guy, triple double threat, i’d follow what he does against real competition in 2018.

Andrew Jones was improving  before his injury, a jay bilas guy.

Trier my men since the hoop summit, jordan brand and co, slasher, driver, improving every aspect of his game since his freshmen year, better defender than he was(i swear), better playmaker, better shooter with more range, his rebounding is down because Ayton ain’t Markkanen, decent rebounder at his position tho.

Drawing fouls like crazy, great on the open floor, better on the half court game, a big ass nba 6th men potential for cheap in the 20-40 range.

Alec Burks is averaging 10 PPG for his career, he had a few 13-14 pts seasons off the bench….

A guy like terrence ross played 400+ games while not a playmaker, not a great shooter, no all around game, not a good defender and inefficient  AF offensively(low FG %, FTA).

I’m optimistic for Trier…

I’m thinking Wizards for him, their bench is basically Scott and Oubré.

Hawks are trash, belinelli expiring contract, bazemore is almost a franchise player for them.

Or he could replace 40yo manu for the spurs.

Nuggets if Barton is gone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RooneyParticipant]

 When Zimmerman got drafted a couple of years ago, everyone waited for Jeter’s name next. High character guy who knows when to do the right thing. 

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