With Markelle Fultz being a question mark and the Philadelphia 76ers likely to get a lottery pick in the 2018 draft, fans should be paying close attention to top prospects like Trae Young.
At 12:15 P.M. ET on CBS, the 10th-seeded Oklahoma Sooners play the seventh-seeded Rhode Island Rams. Based on who wins, this could be the last time anyone sees the projected lottery pick Trae Young.
A 19-year-old, 6-2 point guard averaging 27.4 points, 8.7 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game while making 42.1 percent of his shots — including 36.2 percent from behind the 3-point line — Young is the only reason Oklahoma managed to even qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
Watching Young play, I would project his best case scenario as Stephen Curry, his worst case scenario as Jerryd Bayless, and his most realistic scenario being Isaiah Thomas minus the two years he made the Eastern Conference All-Star team playing for the Boston Celtics.
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Young is a fun player to watch, especially if you’re someone that doesn’t like watching NCAA basketball. Since Oklahoma lives or dies based on Young’s performance and have no other NBA prospects, you’re guaranteed to get the full Trae Young experience when you watch him play Rhode Island.
A scorer that can make a pull-up jump shot from anywhere on court, including way beyond the college 3-point line and the NBA 3-point line, Young is also an incredible passer that has the ability to give his teammates the ball in perfect position to score at the same level as Ben Simmons and Lonzo Ball.
Young has a good enough handle to get separation for his jump shot, but shouldn’t be expected to be elite or even average at driving to the basket due to his average athleticism and skinny frame. He is also a bad defender and will likely be an open door to the hoop for whoever he ends up defending in the NBA.
Young’s play style is attractive to the Philadelphia 76ers, because he could play the role Bayless disappointed at and Markelle Fultz is currently unable to play.
Basically. he could be a great shoot-first point guard that would perfectly compliment the real point guard in Simmons. And if Fultz does become the player the Sixers thought they were drafting next season, Young could play the role that J.J. Reddick plays if the Sixers decide not to re-sign him this upcoming offseason.
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While nervously awaiting the moment your bracket is busted, be sure to watch a player that could be the next missing piece to future NBA championship team in Trae Young.