18. C Omer Yertseven, N.C. State
Height/Weight: 7-0, 228 lbs
Although he has been ineligible to start off the season, the international prospect-turned-N.C. State commit still holds a great deal of intrigue as a potential first round draft prospect. He’s not the most revolutionary talent in the post, but has mastered the fundamentals of the game extremely well, and presents the type of consistent two-way threat underneath that should interest several teams come 2017.
Yertseven’s greatest contribution early on will come with his effort on the boards, and area he more than excelled in during his days in Turkish junior leagues. He’s not an incredibly impressive athlete by any stretch, but he’s well built around the basket and possesses consistent energy on the glass–on both sides of the basketball. His instincts around the basket help him sniff out rebounds at a high clip, and he translates that consistently into second chance points on the offensive side of the ball as well. He’s a fluid athlete around the rim, and as he gets stronger, should find ample success as a rebounder.
Yertseven’s low post scoring is also another major positive, even if it’s more of a throwback style of play. He has an advanced set of moves he can rely on when operating on the block, and is a highly intelligent player when handling the ball with his back to the basket. Along with his nice for the game, Yertseven excels when stepping out to the perimeter and running the pick-and-roll, as his fludiity and touch around the rim allow him to carve out easy points in that manner. He has some room to grow defensively, but still projects as a solid shot blocker given his size, and should continue to improve in that respect as his fills out his frame in time.
17. C Jarrett Allen, Texas
Height/Weight: 6-11, 224 lbs
Allen hasn’t lit the world on fire per say, but he’s still a solid prospect in the low post. Like Yertseven, he’s not your modern day stretch five, but he’s a highly skilled scorer on the low block and possesses excellent two-way potential given his lengthy frame and ample athletic tools around the basket. With a 7-6 wingspan, few bigs can match the basic physical tools Allen provides, and his innate defensive prowess is something that’s bound to entice NBA scouts moving forwards.
As a fluid athlete with an excellent frame for the center spot, Allen’s defensive production is going to be his immediate calling card at the next level. He rotates well around the basket on that side of the ball, and has shown excellent timing as a shot blocker at the rim. He’s also a talented rebounding presence on both ends, and has the size needed to play above the rim with relative ease when needed. His offensive game is still limited outside the post, but his touch around the rim is worth noting. He has a number of strong finishing moves he can rely on, and runs the floor well in transition for a big man of his stature.
Allen’s stock hinges quite a bit on how much more he’s able to add to his game, both during his time at Texas and prior to the combine and draft night. He has hit some midrange jumpers on occasion, but doesn’t possess the reliable jump shot necessary to be considered anything within the realm of a stretch five. Regardless, his rim protection skills and smooth scoring around the rim make him a worthwhile first round investment.
16. SF Miles Bridges, Michigan State
Height/Weight: 6-6, 226 lbs
There are still imperfections in his game, but Bridges has been nothing short of fantastic early on for Tom Izzo and company at Michigan State. He’s already an NBA-ready athlete given his bulky frame and explosive athleticism around the basket, and his possesses the physical tools alone that are needed to carve out versatile role at the next level.
While he has primarily played a power forward-esque game, Bridges projects more as a small forward at the next level given his height–which is his most pressing hindrance. He has shown some major improvement, however, on the perimeter, thus the fairly substantial rise in stock. He’s an excellent slasher when diving off of the 3-point arc and has shown tremendous finishing ability off the bounce when driving his straight lines. He would be benefited by some improved ball handling outside of those direct drives, but that’s something that can feasibly be improved with time.
Alongside the offensive potential that comes with such a strong frame and impressive athleticism, Bridges is a stellar defender. He can cover multiple positions, both inside and out, and possesses the type of positional flexibility that thrives in today’s NBA. He’s a consistent 3-point shot away from a top 10 spot in these rankings, and holds a tremendous amount of value moving forward as another polished, in-between forward from Michigan State. Remember Draymond Green?