NBA Draft 2020: Top 5 international prospects
By Matt Plesco
2. Killian Hayes
Like Theo Maledon, Killian Hayes is another 6-foot-5, 18-year-old French point guard. Hayes made his professional debut at 16 years old in LNB Pro A, he now plays in the Bundesliga, the top professional league in Germany. Hayes is a nearly guaranteed lottery pick, meaning he will almost certainly not be a 76er.
Known for his playmaking ability, Hayes is a crafty left-handed guard who can sometimes struggle finishing at the rim. He’s a better shooter off the dribble then off the catch but consistently makes smart shot selections. Hayes turns the ball over a lot, nearly five times a game, but is good at creating shots for his teammates averaging nearly eight assists per game. Hayes is a fantastic free throw shooter coming in at nearly 88 percent. He’s not the quickest or most versatile defender but can hold his own and comes away with a fair amount of steals.
Hayes is one of the top prospects in the entire draft. While he more than likely will not end up in Philadelphia the Sixers could see Hayes often if he goes to the Knicks.
It is important to watch Hayes and other point guard prospects to see where players like Maledon could end up if there is a run on point guards.