12. JAMES WISEMAN / BIG / MEMPHIS
Once the consensus No. 1 prospect, James Wiseman played only three games at Memphis before withdrawing from the college basketball scene. There’s a reason he was praised so highly coming out of high school, and while I clearly have my reservations, his raw talent is something to admire.
Wiseman’s physical profile is immaculate. He’s a hulking 7-footer with a 7-foot-6 wingspan, good mobility, and plenty of vertical pop at the rim. He can sprint the floor in transition, survive switches on defense, and bully his way to points at the rim. If everything breaks right, Wiseman could very well live up to the top-five grade most pundits seem to bestow upon him.
The issues for Wiseman revolve around his skill set and his NBA readiness. He’s not a disciplined defender at this stage in his career, and he has a ways to go on offense. He has made an effort to expand his jumper, but it’s a work in progress. Wiseman’s shot selection, proneness to turnovers, and general lack of instincts are all concerns. He needs to make quicker reads and quicker decisions in order to maximize his immense potential.