5. COLE ANTHONY, Guard, North Carolina
This season was a disaster in many respects for Cole Anthony. He was hit by the injury bug, he shot a lowly 38 percent from the field, and his hopes of becoming the No. 1 overall pick vanished. His NBA bloodline will only stretch so far in pre-draft evaluations.
And yet, he still earns a top-five mark in my book. Not because he’s without flaws — anyone who shoots so poorly from the field has something to prove — but because his skill package is one every NBA team covets. There are few things more valuable in the NBA than a dynamic lead guard, and Anthony has the potential to become a true team-leader.
Anthony has compact shooting mechanics and athleticism to spare. He’s shifty with the ball in his hands, and creating space is a non-issue. If he can get his feet under him, Anthony projects as a deadly pull-up threat in the future. His at-rim finishing is better than the numbers indicate, and he’s not a bad passer. On talent and upside alone, I’d still take a swing on Anthony early in the lottery.