The Sixer Sense
Fansided

2018 NBA Draft Big Board 7.0

By Christopher Kline

Real Madrid's Slovenian Luka Doncic reacts during the Euroleague Final Four finals basketball match between Real Madrid and Fenerbahce Dogus Istanbul at The Stark Arena in Belgrade on May 20, 2018. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo credit should read ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images)
Real Madrid's Slovenian Luka Doncic reacts during the Euroleague Final Four finals basketball match between Real Madrid and Fenerbahce Dogus Istanbul at The Stark Arena in Belgrade on May 20, 2018. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo credit should read ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – FEBRUARY 18: Ohio State Buckeyes forward Keita Bates-Diop (33) brings the ball up the court during a regular season Big 10 Conference basketball game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines on February 18, 2018 at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – FEBRUARY 18: Ohio State Buckeyes forward Keita Bates-Diop (33) brings the ball up the court during a regular season Big 10 Conference basketball game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines on February 18, 2018 at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Bates-Diop is a crafty isolation scorer who should attract some mismatches as a small-ball four. His spot-up shooting allows him to space the floor, while advanced footwork and soft touch allows him to score in a variety of ways around the paint.

At 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Bates-Diop also projects as a multi-positional defender, spending time on just about every position. He’ll need to add strength to defend stronger frontcourt players in the NBA, but his versatility and floor spacing is a valuable combination.

The reigning Big 10 Player of the Year has been on draft radars for a while, but it wasn’t until his senior year that he finally broke out. Bates-Diop carried the load on both ends for Ohio State, leading them to an unexpected NCAA Tournament run.