22. Nico Mannion, guard, Arizona
A former five-star recruit who struggled as a freshman, Nico Mannion could fall all the way to the second round. That seems too extreme for my taste, as Mannion still has a number of redeemable qualities as a prospect. Most importantly, he’s one of the smartest floor generals on the board.
Feel for the game has always been Mannion’s strong suit. He’s a visionary, with a sharp eye for passing angles and an unselfish disposition. He makes teammates better, and he’s a good enough shooter to contribute elsewhere. He could lead an NBA offense as soon as this season.
That said, Mannion does have shortcomings. He’s a poor athlete with a negative wingspan, which makes finishing in the rim a challenge. It will also limit him on defense, although he does compete plenty hard on that side of the ball. Mannion’s basketball I.Q. and shooting will do the heavy lifting at the next level. That should be enough.