Mason has been playing the best basketball of any guard in college basketball not named Markelle Fultz or Lonzo Ball for the vast majority of this season. Without impressive physical tools, standing at just 5-11, Mason has flown under the radar more so than most Player of the Year candidates are capable of doing. Despite his meager measurables, though, Mason is too good not to carve out a spot in my top 60.
He’s hitting threes at a 50 percent clip on 4.5 attempts per game, while boasting a smooth mid-range and floater game that yields a 47.7 percent clip from the field in total. He’s scoring the ball at all levels, and breaking down collegiate defenses with rare ease. That will of course become more difficult at the next level, but Mason is playing at a level far too high to go unnoticed. He’s a better prospect than Yogi Ferrell was coing out, and that should provide — at the very least — a basis for how to gauge his stock moving forward.
I once imagined Vezenkov as a first round pick, and while some of that premature praise has worn off, he’s still a very solid get in a potentially-deep second round. At 6-9, he has shown flashes at both forward spots with Barcelona’s main team this season, boasting decent passing for his size and a solid 3-point shot, hitting at a 42.4 percent on 3 attempts per contest.
Although he’s a potential draft-and-stash guy, his age (21) and legitimate role on a top level program could give him the green light to make the transition if he fills an immediate need. A comboforward with upside as a small ball four, a solid outside stroke, and a high basketball I.Q. can fill a lot of holes for a bench, and that’s something that should generate some consistent looks.
Bolden’s stock derives from potential more so than production at this point, as he has been largely overshadowed by a deep and talent-rich Duke frontcourt this season. Standing at 6-11 with a 7-6 wingspan, Bolden provides checks all the proverbial boxes from a a physical standpoint. His presence on the low block holds some intriguing upside as a rim protector, while his rebounding and interior scoring — ideally — will come along in time.
There concern this season, though, is just how far away Bolden is. There’s a sizable chance we see him stay at least one more season, and his skill set’s lack of fit in today’s NBA solely complicates his situation. His defensive awareness is subpar and he is pushed out of proper positioning on the interior far too easily for a player of his size. The flashes are there — now we’re just waiting for his development to follow suit.
Blossomgame is enjoying a quality senior campaign, once again providing a strong two-way force on the wing for a Clemson team in desperate need of it. His 3-point shooting continues to have its woes (just 26.8 percent on the season), but his offensive utility has extended beyond that. He’s a quality slasher, and is moves the ball at a noticeably high level for a swingman. He won’t run the offense, but could fit well as a secondary initiator off the bench in spurts.
Defense, though, is Blossomgame’s calling card. His athletic tools translate favorably to that side of the ball, as his high energy and long wingspan allow him to guard multiple positions along the exterior. Cheap perimeter defenders are always an asset, and that — combined with intriguing athletic upside — is what Blossomgame brings to the table, even if he’s already 23.