2019 Draft Class

[Duke4life831]

Some recent measurements came out from the Hoop Summit and a couple notables

RJ: 6'6 w/shoes and a 6'9 wingspan
Jaylen Hoard: 6'8 w/shoes and a 7'1 wingspan

The rest are in this tweet

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Happy to see Hoard with the length. Didn’t look near 6’9 at the JC, and I was down low. Damn, good for him.

RJ’s measurements look like Bazz’s, no? Very different players and RJ is 100x the player Bazz is, but the size (besides weight) / length looks similar.

Also, Bassey’s size is great.

Ya I was surprised with Hoard's measurements, those are pretty impressive.

RJ's measurements aren't the greatest, they aren't bad but definitely not a positive for him, he has average size for a 2 guard. I do think measurements get overrated some though.

[GimmeDat]

Not 2019 but I hope Josh Green balls out. (Aussie bias). He's had a lot of positive comments with his play lately.

[CptCrunch]

RJ is a smaller than I expected. He needs to grow an inch or two to play SF late in his career.

[baca]

RJ is a smaller than I expected. He needs to grow an inch or two to play SF late in his career.

Why he need to play SF in NBA? His size is about right with Derozan and little bit higher than Harden. Wingspan is not ideal but not a weakness. I think scouts regard him as a 2/3 not 3/4 tweener.

[akhan786]

RJ looks like a young McGrady

[GimmeDat]

I don't see an outcome where RJ doesn't go #1 in this class. Beast.

[nolang1]

RJ is a smaller than I expected. He needs to grow an inch or two to play SF late in his career.

Why he need to play SF in NBA? His size is about right with Derozan and little bit higher than Harden. Wingspan is not ideal but not a weakness. I think scouts regard him as a 2/3 not 3/4 tweener.

He's clearly not as good a shooter as someone like Harden is, which greatly affects whether he's an MVP-level player rather than someone like DeRozan who's never been close to that.

[TheSuzerain]

If Tre Jones is the #1 PG, then this is the worst PG class in history.

[GimmeDat]

My god Bol Bol is scary as a rim protector.

[TYO23]

Reddish just hasn’t wowed me yet. The motor questions are very real.

[bootsythornton]

not elite measurements for RJ. I thought the TMAC comparison for RJ was good... Until I looked up TMAC's wingspan etc. He was a monster.

[GimmeDat]

Reddish just hasn’t wowed me yet. The motor questions are very real.

From the impression I've gotten watching him, his stock is going to drop to 5-10 range by draft time. All the tools but just a really disappointing approach to the game.

[TYO23]

Reddish just hasn’t wowed me yet. The motor questions are very real.

From the impression I've gotten watching him, his stock is going to drop to 5-10 range by draft time. All the tools but just a really disappointing approach to the game.

He got benched in this game. That’s a worrying sign for a guy who has known motor issues. I just don’t seem to see what everybody else sees with him.

[No-Man]

Completely out on Bol, like I said before, not a fan, top 2 players in the class are Barrett and Little, then Zion on potential alone, I like the Guards more than I expected esp the Kansas' guys and Garland, who is tiny but has real quicks, and is a wizard, Tre looks fine, but I like him worse than Tyus even if he is a bit bulkier and more athletic (lesser shooter, worse frame imo).

Barrett has issues with shooting and his handle but when he puts it together he reminds me of a bigger Manu (frame wise), real competitive, dexterity, amazing on drives, he needs to improve technique wise, but if he does, he carries the other qualities you need.

Hoard is really good but not sure he goes OAD, weird international class, Sekou is the most pro ready physically so I guess he is the best guy, and most of the 2000s born guys are either unlikely to declare due to lack of exposure (really high on Drell, Jokubaitis) or guys I am not that high on, so not sure what to do with that.

Reddish reminds me of a not so athletic Nic Batum, similar tools, length, passing vision, touch, but not much in terms of aggressiveness, hot/cold shooting, etc.
Of the returning guys, Hunter, Hachimura, Tillie, Vanderbilt, Grady, Wooten, are probably the best of the bunch, plus McDaniels if he comes back.

Naz Reid is the most intriguing big from this class, along with Simi, and Sticks, Montgomery also
Not a fan of Bazley (can't understand why he is rated that highly, Perry is better), and Emmitt Williams is old and all that, but he is gonna find a way to get to the league on hops+motor alone.

[No-Man]

If Tre Jones is the #1 PG, then this is the worst PG class in history.

He is not, might be the most steady guy, or less risky, but I'd take Garland and the KU guys, Grimes isn't really a PG but whatever, on potential alone.

Best PG prospect if he declares, which I highly doubt, is Rokas Jokubaitis, and it isn't particularly close imo (Lithuania has another kid that I haven't seen much of Dovydas Giedraitis), also this JuCo kid, Wendell Mitchell.
Also on the older side, Sergi Garcia won't declare this year cause he has been hurt and is eligible next, since he is from 97', I would take him in the 20s at least.
Similarly Ignas Sargiunas, who could declare this year but won't, still progressing as a PG, but def has tools, shooting, big body, athletic, defends.

Aristide Mouaha is a cameroonian kid playing in Italy that is really gifted physically, and has some PG skills, has ways to go in terms of reading the game and all that, but def guy to track, has pro moves already.

[The-Power]

If Reddish keeps showcasing lackluster effort then he'll definitely drop further on my board. Even now I'm inclined to rank at least Barrett, Grimes and Little ahead of him despite Reddish being the most skilled player of the bunch.

Grimes continues to be my sleeper top-3 pick but he has to show me a reliable jumper in college – potential is definitely there with his form, but right now it's not consistent enough.

[No-Man]

Grimes strikes me more as a combination Guard than a stud 1st option type, but I might be wrong, reminds me a bit of Jrue and Gary Harris

[The-Power]

Grimes strikes me more as a combination Guard than a stud 1st option type, but I might be wrong, reminds me a bit of Jrue and Gary Harris

From the games I've seen of him (including some HS games), his great feel for the game stood out. He makes quick decisions, has good passing skills and vision and also has the handles and athleticism/strength to get into the lane. Good attitude and size as well, and a well-rounded skill-set due to also being used to playing inside (physical rebounding, finishing through contact, posting up).

Not sure if he can be a true PG or becomes a combo guard, and not sure if he's going to be a first option. But he certainly has the realistic potential to be a secondary scorer and secondary ball handler at the next level – if his shot becomes more consistent. That's highly appealing especially considering that every now and then we have these type of players breaking out in the NBA.

I'm not ranking him with any kind of confidence before I saw him playing in college, but strictly based on what I have seen of him thus far he has one of the highest ceilings in this draft class with a solid floor. Considering that this group of freshmen doesn't strike me as overly talented, I have him in my preliminary top 5. But all of this can change quickly once the College season starts.

[GimmeDat]

Yves Pons was a guy many were high on, I know Fisch you in particular were a big fan, do you guys see him getting more run for Tenessee next year and potentially being in the 2019 draft?

[No-Man]

Yves Pons was a guy many were high on, I know Fisch you in particular were a big fan, do you guys see him getting more run for Tenessee next year and potentially being in the 2019 draft?

not really, Tennessee is gonna return everybody other than Darrington and Daniel, unless Schofield remains in the Draft, which I doubt since he is not getting much buzz, so Pons would probably grow into a bigger bench role, basically, they have no recruits coming in but the rotation is full;

Bone-Turner
Bowden-Johnson
Williams-Pons
Schofield-Walker
Alexander-Fulkerson-Kent

I think he is at least a 3-year guy, akes the starting spot in 2 years when Schofield leaves as a Senior, he should be their 7th-8th man this year.

Tennessee gonna be really good by the way.