As a freshman in 2016-17, Rui Hachimura averaged 4.6 minutes per game. Not points, minutes. Last season that number grew to 20.7, with the lanky forward averaging 11.7 points and beginning to etch his name onto NBA radars.
Now, in his third season with one of the country’s most prestigious programs, Hachimura is an absolute star at the collegiate level. He’s averaging 21.9 points per contest while shooting 50 percent from deep, a sharp spike from seasons past. He’s not perfect, but the growth is promising.
At 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Hachimura has one of the draft’s highest defensive ceilings. He’s still prone to lapses both on and off the ball, but he shows flashes of brilliance as a weak-side rim protector and switch-friendly power forward. Add in his offensive development, as he’s looking more and more like a lottery pick.