5 Players That Could Surprise in the NBA
College Basketball expert Jon Rothstein shares five players that could make some noise at the NBA level next season.
Video Transcript
JON ROTHSTEIN: Hi. I'm Jon Rothstein with Yahoo Sports, and here are five guys that could surprise in the NBA. We start in the great Northwest with Oregon's Payton Pritchard. If Ryan Arcidiacono can do what he's doing in the NBA right now, then Payton Pritchard should be able to do the same thing. Look at the experience, look at the winning that Pritchard has done during his college career, and the thing that a lot of NBA people like about Payton Pritchard, he's not just a scorer. Here's somebody with good physicality who can rebound his position, and also be a facilitator.
Another name on this list to keep in mind, Florida State's Devin Vassell. NBA scouts have loved his ability to potentially become a big time shooter at the NBA level, and he has the size and strength to defend the wing position. Some other names to keep an eye on of people who could surprise in the NBA-- Utah State's Sam Merrill. He dazzled NBA scouts a couple of weeks ago at the Mount Olympus conference tournament in Las Vegas. And based on the personnel that I spoke with in the NBA, the most underrated thing about Sam Merrill right now transition to the next level, his passing ability and ability to get rid of the basketball quickly within the context of a 24 second shot clock at the NBA level.
Lamar Stevens from Penn State, another type of player who could be a steal for somebody at the NBA level. The league is all about combo forwards right now, players who can guard multiple positions, and be skilled enough to do different things offensively. That's how Stevens fits the bill.
And then lastly, Skylar Mays of LSU. If you're looking for seasoning, and more importantly, you're looking for the skill of shooting a translight, that's what Mays brings, and brings at a high level. Also a capable defender, and somebody again, who is used to playing either back court position. An NBA head coach told me a long time, you are who you can guard in the NBA. Mays capable of guarding both one and two at the next level. Those are five guys who could surprise the NBA at the next level. I'm Jon Rothstein. This is Yahoo Sports.
