12. Cole Anthony, guard, North Carolina
Injuries dragged Cole Anthony down in his freshman year at UNC. Once considered the top prospect in the draft, it’s now difficult to look past Anthony’s glaring deficiencies as a finisher and a facilitator. For a point guard, he’s just not the best decision-maker on the board.
I’ve been a staunch supporter of Anthony all season, but in the end, there’s too much room for error for me to keep him in my top 10. That said, he’s still a gifted scorer, a former five-star recruit, and the son of a very successful NBA guard. He has basketball in his blood, truly, and could still end up one of the five best players from this draft in five years time.
Anthony will need to prove he can stay healthy. He will also need to prove he can finish more efficiently at the rim, where he should have enough wiggle and touch to thrive. His defense could use some work, too. In the end, Anthony should — at the very least — get plenty of buckets off the bench. Think Lou Williams, Jamal Crawford, Dennis Schroder microwave potential.