8. TYRESE HALIBURTON, Guard, Iowa State
A lanky 6-foot-5 guard who can toggle between either guard spot, Tyrese Haliburton delivered on the hype and then some as a sophomore. He went from a potential first-round pick to a potential top-five pick, and someone who a lot of lottery teams on the verge of contention will value.
Haliburton plays a mistake-free brand of basketball. He limits turnovers, he’s highly efficient, and he plays smart. He doesn’t overextend himself or force the issue, and he has tremendous poise for a college guard. He should adjust nicely to the pace of NBA basketball.
Where Haliburton’s issues come to light is his athletic profile. He’s a slender 175 pounds, and he’s not terribly explosive. His jumper is effective, yes, but he’s not a bonafide pull-up threat due to some strange mechanical quirks. He’s too smart, too efficient, and too well-rounded not to find a role in the NBA, but his ceiling may not reach as high as his other lottery counterparts.