{"id":210309,"date":"2025-10-13T13:46:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T13:46:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/210309\/"},"modified":"2025-10-13T13:46:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T13:46:08","slug":"the-2025-2026-no-stone-unturned-sleeper-cell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/210309\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2025-2026 No Stone Unturned Sleeper Cell"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

During the summer of 2022, I started a new series here at No Ceilings, titled \u201cNo Stone Unturned.\u201d There was a multi-pronged purpose to the series. The first was to examine off-the-radar players with interesting statistical profiles just to see if anything was there. Another part of it was to improve myself as a scout. By covering players no one else was talking about, I couldn\u2019t use consensus as a crutch or \u201ccheat off someone else\u2019s homework.\u201d These were players who weren\u2019t on any mainstream boards and didn\u2019t receive any combine invites. It was all on me to figure out what was what, and then learn from my hits and misses free of outside influence. But ultimately, the greater purpose of the series has been to shine a light on players who could be disruptors in the draft space and get their names out there. As time has gone on and I\u2019ve improved as a scout, my focus has shifted more toward highlighting the best off-the-radar prospects more so than those who are purely \u201cinteresting.\u201d<\/p>\n

This past year was a big one for the No Stone Unturned series. Going into the 2024-2025 NBA season, the series had produced three first-round picks\u2014Dalton Knecht, Ben Sheppard, and Dillon Jones. Additionally, players like Ricky Council IV and David Jones managed to carve out spaces on the margins. Ben Sheppard went on to be the first player from the series to play NBA Finals minutes. Then, the 2025 Draft came, and the series added three more first-round picks in Cedric Coward, Walter Clayton Jr., and Danny Wolf. Additionally, six No Stone Unturned prospects heard their names called in the second round (Rasheer Fleming, Sion James, Jamir Watkins, Brooks Barnhizer, Amari Williams, and Max Shulga). Others (RJ Luis, Viktor Lakhin, Brice Williams, Chris Manon, Igor Milicic Jr., Jacksen Moni, Zeke Mayo, Norchad Omier, Steve Settle III, Augustas Marciulionis, Zach Hicks, Matt Cross, Johnny O\u2019Neil, Zack Austin, Erik Reynolds II, and Josh Uduje) signed undrafted deals of various degrees. <\/p>\n

This past summer, I looked at yet another sleeper group. But what about players from past editions of the series who haven\u2019t finished school yet? I\u2019m glad I asked! Today, we\u2019ll take a look at where they stand. We\u2019ll break the prospects into groups to show how close or far they may be from an NBA opportunity.<\/p>\n

Welcome\u2026to the No Stone Unturned Sleeper Cell!<\/p>\n

This first group consists of players who have received Top 60 rankings on mainstream 2026 mock drafts.<\/p>\n

24-25 Stats (at UAB): 17.7 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 4.2 APG, 2.2 TOV, 1.8 BPG, 1.7 SPG<\/p>\n

24-25 Shooting Splits: 52.2\/35.7\/75.7<\/p>\n

The Buzz:<\/p>\n

–14th on Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo\u2019s 2026 Mock Draft<\/a>
–16th on Sam Vecenie\u2019s 2026 Mock Draft<\/a><\/p>\n

The Pitch:<\/p>\n

Yaxel Lendeborg<\/a> has a wonderful skill set that fits the modern NBA landscape, which values five-out play on both sides of the floor and the reemergence of double-big lineups. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

He shines most as a passer. This past season, he registered a 22.8 AST%, which is more common among guard prospects than 4\/5 hybrid big men. What\u2019s more, the way he generates these assists screams of NBA functionality. Lendeborg is a tenacious rebounder (24.9 DRB%), and he has the ball skills to lead the break in transition, creating unique advantages in early offense. He can sling the ball to cutters from the perimeter, and he has the accuracy to thread the needle in tight spaces. When he\u2019s posting up, he can find teammates anywhere on the floor, and he stays poised against doubles. Best of all, though, the guy can actually dribble. Lendeborg can attack mismatches downhill or charge toward the rack when he\u2019s presented with an open driving lane. He keeps his head up on the go, allowing him to make slick interior dishes out of his live dribble or spray it out to shooters when their defender comes to help from the perimeter. Ball skills have never been more important for NBA big men, and Lendeborg will enter the league with one of the most diverse playmaking portfolios we\u2019ve seen from a big man in recent history. <\/p>\n

Still, playmaking in the absence of scoring isn\u2019t that valuable. Lendeborg has carved out a few effective niches as a scorer. First, there\u2019s the offensive glass. I touched on his defensive rebounding earlier, but it carries over to this side of the ball, too. Teams have to put a body on Lendeborg or he\u2019ll make them pay. His 11.6 ORB% last season was an impressive mark, but particularly so when contextualizing the fact that he played a more perimeter-oriented role by big man standards. His touch and timing enabled him to finish in the 88th percentile on putback efficiency while slotting 73rd in putback frequency last season, per Synergy. Plus, Lendeborg is a solid floor spacer. He hit 35.7% of his threes on just under two attempts per game this past season while boasting a smooth stroke and consistent mechanics. <\/p>\n

Lendeborg is every bit as versatile on the defensive end. He\u2019s got a 7\u20194\u201d wingspan and he knows how to use it. He\u2019s a master takeaway artist for a big, as he posted a 2.9 STL% last year. He does a great job of getting into passing lanes and handles with his long arms. He has sharp off-ball help instincts, particularly around the basket (6.2 BLK% during his two seasons at UAB). He\u2019s a fluid mover, which helps him to slide his feet and contain smaller opponents at the point of attack. Off the ball, that trait enables him to shift directions in a seamless manner prior to covering ground for rotations and closeouts. Lendeborg\u2019s positioning in drop coverage is solid, and he\u2019s still a good enough lateral mover to switch consistently. Plus, there\u2019s the aforementioned defensive rebounding, which allows him to end possessions and prevent second-chance scoring opportunities. There\u2019s a lot to like on both sides of the ball.<\/p>\n

The Swing Skill(s):<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not entirely convinced that Lendeborg has enough juice as a scorer to keep defenses honest at the NBA level. He only made 59.6% of his halfcourt rim attempts this past season. That\u2019s a poor mark by big man standards, though not a total dealbreaker when a big man is more perimeter-oriented and is self-creating those looks more often. Still, given that he was playing in a mid-major conference, I\u2019d like to see that number be higher. To make matters worse, Lendeborg particularly struggled against better competition. His 59.2 TS% and 54.9 eFG% dropped to 52.7 TS% and 47.0 eFG% against Top 100 opponents, per BartTorvik. That\u2019s foreboding not just for his move to the NBA, but even to Michigan.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Much of his interior struggles can be attributed to physical shortcomings. Lendeborg isn\u2019t overwhelmingly powerful. As a result, he can\u2019t just bully his man under the basket and get an easy look inside. When he\u2019s matched up one-on-one, it usually ends in a contested look rather than a clean one attained via dominating the strength battle. Additionally, he\u2019s not super bouncy. Again, this makes it a hair tougher for him to get the finish inside. Part of that could come from his upright nature, as he doesn\u2019t have a great deal of bend in his knees to help him explode off the floor. Sometimes, he feels a bit rushed and uncoordinated inside. He can also settle for tough, floater-range shots too early in the clock. <\/p>\n

Final Assessment:<\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s reasonable to have some apprehension about Yaxel Lendeborg. He\u2019s going to turn 24 years old prior to playing in his first NBA game. Historically, the hit rate on much older prospects isn\u2019t great, and the ones who pan out are usually more in the role player mold than the high-level starter mold. Then, there\u2019s the fact that he really struggled to put the ball in the basket against UAB\u2019s better opponents this past season. If he\u2019s not going to be able to score inside in the NBA, he\u2019ll need to become a more prolific jump shooter. And if that doesn\u2019t come along, then what?<\/p>\n

Still, I remain an optimist, and I think Lendeborg is going to be a good NBA player. He becomes all the more intriguing when you factor in his background. Lendeborg barely played in high school. He just started shooting jumpers two years ago. He\u2019s a genuine late bloomer, but his combination of a high level of feel and ball skills is quite unusual for someone who didn\u2019t begin playing until later on in life. Often, players who came to the game late can struggle to keep up with the mental pace of the game at the NBA level. With Lendeborg, that dynamic is inverted, as he always feels a step ahead of his opponents. His blend of size, skill, savvy, and all-around versatility feels tailor-made for the five-out and double-big oriented schemes we continue to see more and more frequently. His upward trajectory and the value of his traits at his size make him an easy Top 20 guy to start the year for me. <\/p>\n

24-25 Stats (at Texas Tech): 15.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.9 TOV, 1.3 SPG, 0.4 BPG<\/p>\n

24-25 Shooting Splits: 43.9\/34.0\/83.6<\/p>\n

The Buzz:<\/p>\n

–33rd on Sam Vecenie\u2019s 2026 Mock Draft<\/a>
–41st on Jonathan Givony\u2019s 2026 Mock Draft<\/a><\/p>\n

The Pitch:<\/p>\n

Darrion Williams<\/a> is a big-bodied wing with exceptional feel who always finds a way to stuff the stat sheet.<\/p>\n

Williams has been an impactful player on both sides of the ball throughout his college tenure. Defensively, he does a good job of making opponents deal with his large frame. He uses his chest well, routinely wins the bump battle, and forces opponents to play through him. Off ball, he has a strong understanding of where to be. Additionally, his hand-eye coordination shines when he pinpoints the ball for steals and gets in low for blocks, as he routinely manages to get a hand on the rock without fouling. Offensively, he\u2019s been a good shooter throughout his college career, going 37.9% from distance on 6.5 attempts per 100 possessions and hitting 84.2% of his free throws. His skill set lends itself to a complementary role, as he\u2019s sunk 41.7% of his catch-and-shoot triples in the halfcourt throughout his college career. He\u2019ll also readily punish size mismatches with his post-up game, and he\u2019s comfortable using his body to carve out bits of space for his mid-range pull-up when necessary. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

What makes Williams particularly interesting, though, is his passing. Nowhere else does his feel shine through as brightly. Williams\u2019 shooting gravity, craft as a ball screen operator, and his sense of his defender\u2019s momentum allow him to generate advantages. His power helps him hold his line, too. But Williams\u2019 on-the-go vision sets him apart from most of his wing peers. He\u2019s comfortable operating in tight spaces, he knows which type of pass to throw, and he has the touch to thread needles. There\u2019s some flair to him, but he\u2019s never creative for creativity\u2019s sake; rather, he’s only creative when it bolsters his functionality. Plus, he doesn\u2019t need to stop the ball, as he excels at hot potato style touch passes that can be a necessity in the NBA. His floor mapping is outstanding, whether it\u2019s in transition, early offense, or the halfcourt. It feels like he always knows where his teammates are while also knowing the best way to get the ball to them. Mentally, it feels like he\u2019s operating on a different tier. There just aren\u2019t that many players who can make as good of decisions as quickly or as skillfully as Darrion Williams.<\/p>\n

The Swing Skill(s):<\/p>\n

I have significant athletic concerns about Darrion Williams. Offensively, he loves to operate with his back to the basket, even on the perimeter. Most NBA role players don\u2019t get to do that and play in an entirely face-up oriented role. The reason for this is partially that he can get to his spots in college that way, but it\u2019s also because he struggles to get to them the more traditional way for a wing, which is with a speedy first step. It\u2019s hard for me to imagine him getting to the rim much at the NBA level. And even when he does get to the basket, he\u2019s pretty ground-bound. He\u2019s registered six total dunks through three college seasons. For reference, Corey Kispert had ten dunks in his final college season at Gonzaga. Defensively, he\u2019s going to have foot speed issues at the point of attack. I worry more about him more off ball, though. He has a hard time chasing his man around screens and he\u2019s slow covering ground. <\/p>\n

Final Assessment: <\/p>\n

When I covered Darrion Williams during the 2023 edition of No Stone Unturned, I wrote the following:<\/p>\n

Darrion Williams is going to be one of the most fascinating test cases in the draft space going forward. He\u2019s going to tell an interesting story as far as how far feel and intelligence can carry a player in the face of pretty severe athletic limitations.<\/p>\n

Really, that\u2019s still where we\u2019re at. Williams is undersized for a four while being slow for a three. The dunk numbers are a red flag I take pretty seriously, too. The wings who overcome low dunk numbers are typically elite shooters. Williams is a good three-point shooter, but I wouldn\u2019t call him elite. And while he\u2019s up to speed mentally, I worry about his ability to keep up with the pace of an NBA game from a physical standpoint. He\u2019s going to need to maximize every ounce of athleticism he\u2019s got in order to hang defensively. At the NBA Combine, he registered a 6\u20196.5\u201d wingspan, so he doesn\u2019t have a ton of length to bail him out, either. <\/p>\n

There\u2019s not much room for error here. If Williams struggles with his shot out of the gate at the NBA level, things could get ugly in a hurry. Look at a player like fellow No Stone Unturned prospect Dillon Jones, an undersized, high-feel wing who the Thunder were more than happy to move on from after one season. That\u2019s not to say that Jones won\u2019t pan out; there\u2019s still plenty of time for him. But the risk tolerance for subpar wing athletes with shooting woes isn\u2019t particularly high at the moment. <\/p>\n

That said, there\u2019s hope for Williams. He\u2019s a much better three-point shooter than a player like Dillon Jones was at any point in his college career, and he\u2019s faced better competition, too. He\u2019s also a much more active, proven off-ball defender who knows how to use his body at the point of attack. On offense, he\u2019s consistently shot the ball well off the catch. Few can connect the dots as effectively and quickly as him, too. His feel is off the charts, he\u2019s made threes at a solid clip, and he\u2019s really strong. As a result, it\u2019s easy to see why teams could be eager to take a crack at him. There\u2019s some Royce O\u2019Neal, Grant Williams-ish type stuff in here that you can talk yourself into. I\u2019m intrigued to see what he\u2019ll look like in another context this season, and if he can propel himself into first-round territory. For the time being, his traits make him an intriguing swing come the second round. <\/p>\n

24-25 Stats (at Xavier): 16.5 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.6 TOV, 1.3 SPG, 0.2 BPG<\/p>\n

24-25 Shooting Splits: 45.0\/41.3\/82.8<\/p>\n

The Buzz:<\/p>\n

–43rd on Sam Vecenie\u2019s 2026 Mock Draft<\/a>
–52nd on Jonathan Givony\u2019s 2026 Mock Draft<\/a><\/p>\n

The Pitch:<\/p>\n

Ryan Conwell <\/a>is a lights-out shooter who is built for the physicality of the NBA.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Conwell broke out as a sophomore at Indiana State, where he shone as a sharpshooter. Still, there were concerns as to how he\u2019d scale up at Xavier, as he\u2019d be facing stiffer competition, and he wouldn\u2019t be playing off of an elite passing big man anymore. Despite a tougher context, Conwell increased both his volume and efficiency, going 41.3% from long range while taking 12.3 attempts per 100 possessions. The lefty sniper is particularly deadly off movement. Per Synergy, Conwell hit 41.5% of his transition threes, 43.8% of his threes coming off screens, and 46.3% of his threes in handoff scenarios. Whether he\u2019s sprinting forward, back-pedaling, running right, or shuffling left, Conwell is a big-time threat from distance. His track record of high-volume efficiency from behind the arc, paired with his dynamism, should make him one of the best shooters in the 2026 NBA Draft class. In an era where NBA teams are shooting more threes than ever, that\u2019s significant.<\/p>\n

What I like about Conwell relative to other sharpshooters of his height is that he brings a different level of physicality to the table. He\u2019s 215 pounds, with broad shoulders and chiseled arms. Offensively, that gives him more ways to get his shot off the ball. He can use bumps prior to movement to gain separation or get himself open after setting screens. Where I really like it, though, is on the defensive end. Conwell is an ultra-physical defender who makes opponents try to play through him. He does a great job of walling up and forcing his opponents into mistakes. He was able to hold his ground even when crossmatched against college fours. Conwell shows a solid level of effort when navigating ball screens, and he uses his length well. His combination of determination and power should give him more versatility than your typical 6\u20194\u201d player. Guards get mismatch hunted by bigger players more than ever, making the fact that Conwell is far from a pushover quite valuable. Oftentimes, the concern with premier shooters is whether or not they can hang on an NBA floor defensively, and I worry about that less with Conwell than others. <\/p>\n

The Swing Skill(s):<\/p>\n

Ryan Conwell\u2019s stock would be higher if front offices felt more confident in what he could do when run off the line. His first step is a bit lumbering, and when he does get to the rim, he lacks vertical pop. As a result, he only made 51.4% of his halfcourt rim attempts. His passing isn\u2019t anything to write home about, either. He does a nice job of making the simple, basic read against help or when he draws two on the ball, and he\u2019s far from mistake-prone, but there isn\u2019t anything exciting about his playmaking. As a result, he\u2019s typically played more of an off-ball role, and his career assist rate sits at just 14.6%. Defensively, he\u2019s a hair clunky laterally, and he has to cross his feet to try to stay in the play at times. <\/p>\n

Final Assessment:<\/p>\n

Conwell\u2019s current shortcomings are pretty serious ceiling inhibitors. He\u2019s an older, sub-6\u20195\u201d prospect who\u2019s never posted a usage rate over 24%. He doesn\u2019t have a particularly impressive dribble game or a mesmerizing passing bag. But what Ryan Conwell does have is one of the best, most dynamic jumpshots in the sport. Throw in the fact that he has the strength to knock people around and a good understanding of how to operate within a team construct, and it\u2019s easy to understand the appeal. He\u2019s a plug-and-play shooter who will stretch the floor at an elite level, keep the offense flowing, and hold his own physically. While it\u2019s not the most coveted archetype in the league, it\u2019s one that you\u2019ll find around the association. If Conwell can display growth as a playmaker this year, he could ascend into the first-round conversation. But at worst, I\u2019d love him as a two-way target. <\/p>\n

24-25 Stats (at West Virginia): 14.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.9 TOV, 1.8 SPG, 1.5 BPG<\/p>\n

24-25 Shooting Splits: 41.2\/47.3\/82.1<\/p>\n

The Buzz: <\/p>\n

–54th on Sam Vecenie\u2019s 2026 Mock Draft<\/a><\/p>\n

The Pitch:<\/p>\n

Tucker DeVries<\/a> is a dribble-pass-shoot wing with a great frame who really knows how to play basketball. <\/p>\n

What I like most about DeVries offensively is that he feels like the ideal \u201cscale down\u201d bet at the NBA level. Throughout his college tenure, he\u2019s been tasked with initiating a larger share of the offense than most at his position, as evident by his career usage rate of 28.1%. It\u2019s tough to put too much weight into his eight-game sample from last season, which was cut short due to injury. But the year prior at Drake, DeVries\u2019 most common play type was operating as a pick-and-roll ball handler, and he ranked in the 91st percentile in efficiency on those play types. He plays really low with his dribble, he has the physicality to get to his spots, and he has multiple counter moves at his disposal. Better yet, he always has his head up for teammates and can make smart passes on the move. His 20.4 AST% over the past two seasons is a testament to that. It\u2019s highly unlikely that DeVries will be a primary initiator at the NBA level, but the fact that he has an established track record of putting the ball on the floor, playing efficiently while doing so, and making good decisions demonstrates that he may be able to take on more when need be.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

On a more basic level, DeVries should be able to butter his bread as a shooter. His career mark of 36.7% from deep might seem more \u201cgood\u201d than \u201cgreat,\u201d but dig deeper, and you\u2019ll get excited. For starters, there\u2019s the volume, as he\u2019s taken 12.2 threes per 100 possessions over the course of his career. Then, there\u2019s the difficulty. As his team\u2019s primary option throughout his time in college basketball, DeVries has been a primary focal point of defensive scouting reports. As a result, nothing comes easy, so he has to play with real dynamism from long range. He can drain threes flying off screens and handoffs, even if he doesn\u2019t have his feet and body aligned perfectly with the basket before going into his shooting motion. He\u2019s also comfortable pulling up from behind the arc. I anticipate that his shooting is what will allow him to carve out his niche, but it\u2019s the other elements of his offensive game that make him more intriguing to me than other \u201cshooting specialists.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The other thing that draws me to DeVries over other marksmen is his ability to defend within a team concept. Simply put, he always knows where to be. He has a great understanding of what the opposing offense is trying to accomplish. He doesn\u2019t gamble often, but when he does, it\u2019s well timed. He reliably gets into position on his low man rotations. His ground coverage on rotations is pretty solid, and his engagement has him ready to move. It also doesn\u2019t hurt that he\u2019s 6\u20197\u201d and 220 pounds. He uses his frame well while guarding the ball, bumping bodies to stifle dribble penetration. He does a great job of throwing his chest on smaller, quicker opponents to contain the ball. His career defensive playmaking metrics (2.3 STL%, 2.0 BLK%) are rock-solid for his archetype, and the fact that he rebounds (career 17.2 DRB%) shows that he\u2019ll exert the necessary effort to end possessions. There\u2019s a real case that he\u2019ll be able to hang on this side of the ball, too.<\/p>\n

The Swing Skill(s):<\/p>\n

One big concern about DeVries is his health. He\u2019s been banged up a lot over the years. He injured his shoulder at Drake in January 2024 and then missed most of last season due to a shoulder injury suffered in December of 2024. Beyond that, he\u2019s not the greatest athlete. His advantage creation is largely the product of his ability to manipulate ball screens and overpower opponents, which will be a bit tougher to scale up to the next level. When teams run him off the three-point line, he\u2019s not a blur downhill, nor does he easily soar above the rim off one foot. Defensively, his lateral footwork can get a bit clunky, and he doesn\u2019t change directions particularly well. <\/p>\n

Final Assessment:<\/p>\n

DeVries\u2019 injury and athletic concerns, in tandem, are a bit daunting. He\u2019ll need to maximize his agility, speed, and lift while managing to stay healthy. Still, I remain fully aboard The Tuck Train. At the end of the day, I think he\u2019s a terrific basketball player. He can shoot the cover off the ball in a variety of contexts, I trust him to make decisions, and I think the combination of his strength and timing will enable him to do enough defensively to stay on the floor. Dribble-pass-shoot players will always be enviable, and that\u2019s DeVries. It may take a while for his timing to adjust to the NBA\u2019s pace of play, but I think he\u2019s a better bet than most to carve out a rotation spot. I\u2019m bullish on his stock relative to consensus. <\/p>\n

24-25 Stats: 13.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.4 TOV, 2.1 SPG, 0.7 BPG<\/p>\n

24-25 Shooting Splits: 52.0\/31.0\/75.6<\/p>\n

The Buzz:<\/p>\n

–55th on Sam Vecenie\u2019s 2026 Mock Draft<\/a><\/p>\n

The Pitch:<\/p>\n

Joshua Jefferson<\/a> is an elite defender with NBA size who can pass the hell out of the ball.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

His defense is a work of art. Nothing comes easy against Jefferson at the point of attack. Per Synergy, Jefferson registered 35 isolation defense possessions last year and surrendered a measly 13 points on them. He\u2019s big enough that opponents can\u2019t get through him and long enough that they can\u2019t go around him. But beyond his measurements, he\u2019s technically proficient. He does a great job of mirroring the ball and staying square. As a result, he\u2019s able to guard up and down the positional spectrum effectively. If you\u2019re more into off-ball defense, he\u2019s got you covered there, too. His hand speed is outrageous. Watch the first clip in the video above. As Richie Saunders drives to the rim and Jefferson slides into position, he initially sets up to take a charge before deciding at the last second, \u201cyou know what, I\u2019ll actually block his shot instead.\u201d And he had the hand speed to pull that off! He has sharp rotational instincts as the low man and smells blood in the water when opportunities for a rejection come his way. Plus, his strong chest enables him to stay vertical well. He\u2019s a nightmare in passing lanes, covering ground well, and taking up large amounts of space with his length. His motor runs hot in transition, too. The tools, effort, and feel are all there. As a result, Jefferson is a versatile, productive (21.7 DRB%, 4.1 STL%, 3.0 BLK%) defender in a way that should be scalable to the NBA. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Offensively, Jefferson\u2019s best skill is his passing. He registered a 19.6 AST% this past season and often acted as a hub of offense for the Cyclones. He picks up the low-hanging fruit created by defensive lapses on a consistent basis, but there\u2019s more to him than that. Jefferson often makes intermediate and advanced reads that further scramble defenses. Whether facing up or posting up, Jefferson loves to palm the ball like a water polo player before slinging it to open teammates. He can make long, cross-court deliveries from a standstill, whether it\u2019s to an open shooter or a slashing teammate. He\u2019s also comfortable putting the ball on the deck, whether he\u2019s running a ball screen, attacking a closeout, keeping it out of a DHO, or operating out of the short roll. From there, he can manipulate rim protectors before making clever dishes through tight spaces or punish perimeter defenders who over-help. This blend of feel and skill could make him a weapon on the offensive side of the ball, too. <\/p>\n

The Swing Skill(s):<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not entirely sure how Joshua Jefferson scores on an NBA floor currently. For starters, he\u2019s not a shooter at the moment. Over the course of his college career, he\u2019s made only 29.3% of his threes on low volume while shooting an acceptable-but-uninspiring 74.2% at the charity stripe. Typically, the idea would then turn to, \u201cOK, well, just roll him to the basket,\u201d but he\u2019s not great there, either. Jefferson only made 55.8% of his halfcourt rim attempts this past season, which is a poor mark for a player his size. He\u2019s not particularly fast or vertically explosive, limiting his value as a roll man and lob target. There aren\u2019t many players who found NBA success at the forward spot after entering the league as an inefficient, low-volume three-point shooter and a subpar finisher. <\/p>\n

Final Assessment:<\/p>\n

If Joshua Jefferson doesn\u2019t pan out in the NBA, it will almost certainly be because he didn\u2019t present enough of a scoring threat to earn the respect of defenses and weaponize his passing arsenal. This year, front offices will be locked onto his jump shot and interior scoring game to see if he can find a way to put the ball in the basket efficiently. If he does, there\u2019s plenty to get excited about. Jefferson is a big, physical forward who thinks the game two steps ahead of his opponents. He\u2019s an excellent, versatile defender both on and off the ball. He\u2019s a magnificent passer. The question is just whether or not he can score enough for any of it to matter in an NBA context. I love Jefferson as a second-round swing right now because he has clear-cut NBA-level skills in a vacuum. The hope is that he can take the offensive steps forward this year to alleviate concerns about his projection on that side of the floor. <\/p>\n

These players may not have as much buzz as the prospects in the tier above them. Still, there\u2019s a lot to like about their game. I anticipate that at worst, they\u2019ll get NBA looks when their college career comes to a close, but that doesn\u2019t mean they can\u2019t hit a much better outcome than simply being on the radar.<\/p>\n

Aly Khalifa<\/a> is one of the best passing big men in college basketball. He\u2019s an electric orchestrator at the top of the key, capable of threading needles to cutters. During his junior season at BYU, he registered a comical 32.6 AST%. Look at these passes!<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

I can hear the complaints coming now. \u201cHe\u2019s going to turn 24 in November!\u201d \u201cHe had a sub-50 True Shooting Percentage!\u201d \u201cHe\u2019s super slow and ground-bound!\u201d \u201cBYU got torched defensively when he was on the floor!\u201d All of that is valid. But what if I told you that in the time since we last saw Aly Khalifa, he got absolutely shredded?<\/p>\n

\"Image\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Maybe he\u2019ll still be too far behind the defensive curve. Heck, he still has a long way to go as a scorer, too. A guy like Drew Timme has been cutting his teeth on the margins for what feels like forever now, and he was a much more polished finisher than Khalifa. Still, 7-footers who pass like Khalifa don\u2019t come around very often, and I\u2019m incredibly intrigued to see what he\u2019s going to look like post-body transformation. It\u2019s hard for me to imagine that an NBA team won\u2019t at least kick the Summer League tires on him. I wanted to lead off the \u201cDon\u2019t Write Them Off!\u201d tier with Khalifa, because while he\u2019s been out of sight, out of mind after redshirting this past season, I think his unique skill set and new physique make him incredibly interesting if nothing else. <\/p>\n

Juslin Bodo Bodo<\/a> is an awesome run-jump athlete who thrives at the classic big man stuff. He won back-to-back Big South Defensive Player of the Year Awards at High Point. His length and speed off the floor make him a big-time rim deterrent, and his 7.6 BLK% through two college seasons is a strong mark. Better yet, he has heaps of lateral agility, and the former soccer player is more than capable of holding his own on an island. Bodo Bodo is also an elite rebounder (18.3 ORB%, 27.4 DRB%) who will do the dirty work on the boards. Offensively, he thrives off put-backs, dump-offs in the dunker spot, and opportunities as a roller. His bounce enables him to finish above the rim on a consistent basis (40 dunks, per Synergy). <\/p>\n

I\u2019m generally a believer in keeping the big picture in mind, and Bodo Bodo checks the big picture boxes for a center. He can anchor a defense, own the glass, and finish plays. While few can do the big picture things as well as Bodo Bodo, he offers very little else. He can\u2019t stretch the floor, and while he got better at the free-throw line, he still shot under 60% there. More concerning is the fact that he\u2019s had back-to-back seasons of a sub-2% assist rate, which is far from ideal. Bodo Bodo has posted 13 total assists in 1630 minutes played. While part of it can be chalked up to his role, it\u2019s still exceedingly rare to see such a low number, regardless of context. Bodo Bodo appears uncomfortable dribbling the ball, and he freezes up when he has the rock for more than a few seconds. As good as he is at some of the most important elements of playing his position, big men are required to have more ball skills than ever before. He\u2019ll need to prove he can do more with the ball. But if he does that over the next two years, he\u2019s off to the races. His blend of physical gifts and motor is tough to match. <\/p>\n

Kasean Pryor<\/a>\u2019s last season at Louisville got cut short due to injury. The downside is that Pryor turns 25 in January, and he posted a brutal 40.4 eFG% in his seven games last season. The upside is that he\u2019s a great mover for his size who gets after it on the glass, generates stocks on defense, puts up threes, and makes some impressive passes. From a physical and movement perspective, he absolutely looks the part. If he can get his jumper going, he could easily find his way back into the mix, even at his advanced age. Pryor went 35.2% from deep during the 23-24 season, so that outcome is indeed on the table. The skill and athletic profile here are really great; I\u2019m just concerned about his age, the size of his role, and how he\u2019ll bounce back from injury.<\/p>\n

Kimani Hamilton<\/a> has an interesting swing season coming up. He led the Big South in BPM (4.4) for High Point last season. He stuffed the stat sheet with an 11.3 TRB%, 17.3 AST%, 2.4 STL%, and 1.9 BLK%. Hamilton also scored an efficient 13.1 PPG while carrying a 26.7 USG%. There\u2019s a lot to like here. Hamilton is a big wing with ball skills who can put it on the deck, read the floor, draw fouls (.507 FTr), finish above the rim (26 dunks, per Symergy), and guard multiple positions. There are two holdups. The first is that Hamilton is most comfortable with the offense flowing through him right now, and he can tend to stop the ball. I don\u2019t worry about that too much, as it\u2019s something we see players adapt to pretty consistently when they scale up. I do worry about his shot, though. Hamilton went 32.2% from deep on 6.1 attempts per 100 possessions. He\u2019s also more comfortable pulling up, going only 29.0% on his catch-and-shoot attempts, per Synergy. He\u2019ll need to get those numbers up to prove he\u2019s cut out for a complementary role at the pro level. If he can do that, he has just about everything else you could ask for in a role player. <\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot working against Micah Handlogten<\/a>. For starters, there\u2019s a massive logjam in the Gators\u2019 front court, with NBA prospects Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, and Rueben Chinyelu all in front of him. Then, there\u2019s some on-court stuff. Handlogten shot a measly 18.2% at the charity stripe last season. Despite his size, he\u2019s only posted a 4.5 BLK% during his two seasons at Florida. Still, he\u2019s an absolutely massive human who moves well for his size, controls the glass (18.0 ORB%, 21.4 DRB%, and demonstrates better feel than most bigs (13.2 AST%, 2.7 STL%). He\u2019d probably be further up the board in any other context. If he can start to make free throws at a respectable level, there could be a Dylan Cardwell-style, \u201cI know he doesn\u2019t play a huge role, but he\u2019s actually quite valuable\u201d push for him as the draft draws near. <\/p>\n

Let\u2019s get the negatives out of the way, and then we\u2019ll get to why I remain optimistic. Amarri Monroe<\/a> had a brutal 1.6-to-2.6 assist-to-turnover ratio this past season. He also shot a meager 27.3% from deep. In the modern NBA, the standard role for a wing on offense is basically \u201chit shots and keep the ball moving,\u201d and Monroe did a poor job on those two fronts this past season.<\/p>\n

Still, I think the context surrounding Monroe warrants consideration. As a sophomore, Monroe posted a 22.5 USG%, with his role being much more focused on his defensive output. This past year, his usage rate climbed to 29.5%, which is astronomical for any wing, but particularly one who never came close to spearheading an offense before. And while Monroe struggled from deep this year, he did take 9.9 attempts per 100 possessions. Plus, he hit 35.1% of his threes on decent volume as a sophomore, and he\u2019s shot over 80% at the line over the past two years. And while his scoring\/playmaking wasn\u2019t ideal, Monroe still did all of the hard-charging athlete stuff you could possibly ask for. He posted a 7.5 ORB%, 23.6 DRB%, 3.8 STL%, and 2.5 BLK% despite shouldering a massive offensive burden. If Monroe can get his three-ball back going while settling into his initiator digs as a decision maker, he could emerge as one of the best mid-major prospects in the country. <\/p>\n

I\u2019m really looking forward to seeing Robert McCray V<\/a> as a part of the new-look Seminoles this year. He spent the past two seasons doing just about everything for Jacksonville. There, he hit 34.2% of his threes on good volume, consistently produced highlight reel caliber dunks, and set up looks for his teammates (32.7 AST% last season). While his efficiency took a bit of a dip last season, I was encouraged by how much better McCray leveraged his athleticism on defense (2.7 STL%, 2.4 BLK%) despite his hefty usage load (31.6 USG%). McCray can get too forceful with his passing, and I wish he exercised better command over the ball in tight spaces. He\u2019ll also need to be a bit more reliable from deep. Nevertheless, there\u2019s an exciting framework to McCray\u2019s game. He\u2019s an NBA-level athlete who can create looks for himself and others, he has good size, he rebounds, and he can make plays on defense. Those are important boxes to check, and they give McCray a chance to scrap his way onto draft boards. <\/p>\n

During his first two seasons at South Dakota State, William Kyle III<\/a> emerged as one of the nation\u2019s most prolific dunkers. Defensively, his effortless bounce enabled him to swat shots, and his foot speed helped him to switch onto smaller defenders. He also started to show some flashes as a passer, posting a 12.8 AST% and orchestrating more offense as a sophomore. Kyle transferred to UCLA, which seemed like a great fit to me on paper. I thought his hard-charging, high-motor style would allow him to carve out a role similar to the one Adem Bona had for the Bruins. Unfortunately, things didn\u2019t click, and Kyle played only 9.8 MPG. He\u2019ll have a chance to get back on the horse at Syracuse. It\u2019s tough work for non-shooting, undersized bigs, but I wouldn\u2019t totally write off Kyle given his athleticism and passing upside.<\/p>\n

Cade Tyson<\/a>\u2019s stock took a bigger hit than any other player in the series this past season. He was on mock drafts at this time last year after his efficient scoring arsenal at Belmont put him on the radar. Then, he had a disastrous junior year at North Carolina. Tyson played under eight minutes per game. He struggled mightily with his shot (40.3\/29.2\/56.3 splits) and looked a step slow defensively. So, why is he still in this tier? Because the Tyson we saw at Belmont still exists. There, he scored 16.2 PPG on 63.4 TS%, fought hard on the glass, and used his frame to hang on defense. That\u2019s not to say that his high-major struggles aren\u2019t concerning; they absolutely are. But I do wonder if his new coach at Minnesota (Niko Medved) can find an effective way to deploy Tyson, and in turn, get him back on the map. There\u2019s always a degree of appeal to a physical marksman, and Tyson shot 46.5% from three as a sophomore. I\u2019m keeping an open mind here. <\/p>\n

Injury prevented us from getting to see Jadon Jones<\/a> last season, which was a shame. There\u2019s a really nice modern framework to his game. During his senior year, Jones hit 37.7% of his threes on 6.0 attempts per game. He\u2019s also one hell of a defensive playmaker, tallying 1.8 SPG and 1.0 BPG that same year. He\u2019s a super functional mover, covering ground quickly and elevating with ease. Plus, he\u2019s added more of a playmaking wrinkle to his game in recent years. Over his past two seasons, he averaged 1.8 APG to only 1.0 TOV. This combination of shooting, defensive event creation, and decision-making is intriguing. The question for Jones is how well he\u2019ll deal with SEC physicality. He\u2019s really skinny, and he\u2019s always had a hard time playing through contact offensively, especially on the interior. If he can still hang at that level, he should get some NBA looks. <\/p>\n

After a fantastic NAIA career, Javan Buchanan<\/a> had a good first year with the Broncos. His physicality scaled up well to the Division-I level, which worked wonders for him. It enabled him to score efficiently inside the arc, as he made 66.3% of his halfcourt rim attempts. He did a good job on the boards (6.4 ORB%, 15.9 DRB%). Defensively, he successfully bodied up opponents and made plays off the ball (2.0 STL%, 3.2 BLK%). This overall production led to a rock-solid 5.8 BPM and the Mountain West Sixth Man of the Year Award. With many of his teammates graduating, he should be in line for a big role this season. <\/p>\n

I\u2019m curious to see how much further Buchanan can take his game. He\u2019ll need to become a more consistent shooter. He only hit 31.9% of his threes on moderate volume, but he did make 81.3% of his free throws. Additionally, he\u2019ll have to get a bit quicker. He plays more of a back-down, post-up oriented style that doesn\u2019t lend itself to the speed of the NBA. On top of that, he\u2019ll need to refine his playmaking, as his assist-to-turnover numbers were underwater. He\u2019ll need to turn the dial in a lot of areas. That said, there\u2019s a blend of physicality and productivity that I don\u2019t feel entirely comfortable dismissing. <\/p>\n

Andrew Rohde<\/a> has been on a strange trajectory. He burst onto radars as a freshman at St. Thomas, showing enticing flashes of long-range shooting, high-level passing for his height, and defensive feel. He transferred to Virginia, and his sophomore year was a disaster. He struggled mightily with the physicality of the ACC and couldn\u2019t put the ball in the basket (37.4 TS%). If you didn\u2019t watch Virginia last year, I wouldn\u2019t blame you, but Rohde quietly started to right the ship. He hit 41.3% of his threes on solid volume, racked up assists (4.3 APG vs. 1.8 TOV), and it felt like he was better processing the game defensively (2.5 STL%). That said, Wisconsin has heaps of talent. Returning hybrid big Nolan Winter has long drawn interest, and offensive dynamo John Blackwell has started to generate a lot of buzz behind the scenes, too. Rohde will have to earn his spot in the pecking order. At the end of the day, though, his combination of length, shooting, and intellect gives him a puncher\u2019s chance.<\/p>\n

These are players who are on the outside looking in. They\u2019ll need to make significant headway to get into the draft mix. <\/p>\n

Caden Pierce<\/a>, 6\u20197\u201d, 220 Pounds, Redshirt Senior, ???: I\u2019ll explain the question marks in a second. Pierce is a super intelligent wing (19.6 AST% the past two seasons) who plays his tail off on the glass (career 7.6 ORB%, 21.9 DRB%). Unfortunately, he\u2019s a lackluster defender and streaky shooter (career 32.7% from deep). The former Princeton Tiger is currently in the transfer portal, as he\u2019ll be redshirting and finishing up his degree before transferring in the wake of changes to the coaching staff. We won\u2019t see Pierce this coming season, but keep him in mind for the next one. If he gets his shot right, he might be able to overcome some of his speed limitations. <\/p>\n

Steele Venters<\/a>, 6\u20197\u201d, 200 Pounds, Graduate, Gonzaga: Steele Venters is perhaps the most snakebitten prospect in the history of this series. The 2023-2024 season was supposed to be his senior year. Over the past two seasons, the tall marksman had drilled 40.3% of his threes. Unfortunately, injury would prevent him from seeing the floor that year. The next year, injury kept him off the court yet again. Now, he\u2019s finally back healthy! Venters won the team\u2019s three-point contest<\/a> and made it rain from deep during scrimmage play. Ultimately, I put him here because it\u2019s hard to know what the correct level of expectations is to apply.<\/p>\n

Jacob Crews<\/a>, 6\u20198\u201d, 215 Pounds, Graduate, Missouri: The idea with Crews was that he could basically turn into the type of player Jamison Battle ended up being for the Raptors this past season\u2014a big-bodied marksman who could use his physicality enough to stay afloat defensively and eat innings at the NBA level. Unfortunately, he only hit 33.6% of his threes at Missouri, and the issue with this archetype of player is that when the shot doesn\u2019t fall, the player\u2019s value diminishes significantly. Throw in the fact that he\u2019ll turn 26 next summer, and he\u2019ll need to take a mammoth step forward to draw NBA attention. <\/p>\n

Tucker Anderson<\/a>, 6\u20199\u201d, 230 Pounds, Junior, Utah State: Anderson is in a similar boat as Crews. As a freshman at Central Arkansas, he won Atlantic Sun Rookie of the Year, hitting 38.1% of his threes on high volume while sitting at the top of his team\u2019s scouting report. At Utah State, his three-ball betrayed him, and his value took a big hit. However, I\u2019m more optimistic in Anderson\u2019s case. He\u2019s younger, he has better defensive instincts, and he\u2019s a more reliable decision maker. Utah State\u2019s quite talented, so it\u2019s not like he\u2019ll have carte blanche to chuck shots, but I do think he has a path to get onto NBA radars if he can get his jumper back going. <\/p>\n

Darren Buchanan Jr.<\/a>, 6\u20197\u201d, 235 Pounds, Redshirt Junior, Rutgers: Buchanan is physically strong and a gifted passer. However, he\u2019s not quite impactful enough defensively or on the glass to cover up for the fact that he\u2019s a non-shooter (17.5% on 1.3 attempts per game) at the moment. I was hoping for a shooting leap last season, and it didn\u2019t come. If it happens, he could get back into the conversation. <\/p>\n

Myles Rigsby<\/a>, 6\u20196\u201d, 190 Pounds, Junior, Tulsa: I\u2019ve still got a degree of hope for Rigsby, who spent last season at Troy. He\u2019s an intense, dogged defender who incites havoc both on and off the ball (3.1 STL%, 2.4 BLK%). Offensively, he\u2019s as tenacious as they come, fighting through the paint and drawing fouls at an elite clip (.685 FTr). Unfortunately, he hit roadblocks in terms of his shooting and playmaking. While he has made 81% of his free throws in college, he only hit 28.6% of his threes on low volume this past year. He also coughed up the ball a lot, averaging 1.4 APG to 2.2 TOV. The motor, athleticism, and defensive production are here, but the big picture skills unfortunately remain a question. <\/p>\n

Michael Belle<\/a>, 6\u20197\u201d, 215 Pounds, Junior, VCU: This one hurts. I fell HARD for Michael Belle. Prior to coming to the States for college, Belle posted numbers in France\u2019s Espoirs league that weren\u2019t too far off from Bilal Coulibaly\u2019s. He averaged 17.0 PPG on 56.3\/45.5\/62.4 splits, 9.0 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.2 SPG, and 0.5 BPG. I did worry about the shot, as he only took two threes per game and the mechanics were funky. Still, I didn\u2019t think it would be \u201c16.4% from three\u201d through two seasons bad. He\u2019s been a good energy defender and rebounder off the bench, but he\u2019s miles away offensively. VCU\u2019s roster is arguably its deepest in years this season, too, further complicating his trajectory. <\/p>\n

Elijah Malone<\/a>, 6\u201910\u201d, 270 Pounds, Graduate, Colorado: Malone was the NAIA Player of the Year, and he really interested me going into last season. A big part of the appeal was that he had a five-out offensive skill set. At Grace College, he shot 37% from deep on nearly three attempts per game, showed an ability to attack closeouts, and made some intriguing passes. Unfortunately, Colorado primarily just threw him on the block. He took only 0.5 threes per game and made a meager 25% of them. What\u2019s more, there was a big scouting lesson for me here in terms of athletic scalability. Malone blocked three shots per game at Grace, but only 0.6 at Colorado. He couldn\u2019t dominate in the same way with physicality, he looked a step slow laterally, and he doesn\u2019t get off the floor nearly as well as his high-major peers. I anticipated a steep curve there, but it was even steeper than I\u2019d anticipated. He\u2019s facing an uphill battle at this point.<\/p>\n

Amar Augillard<\/a>, 6\u20195\u201d, 225 Pounds, Redshirt Senior, Milwaukee: Let\u2019s get the bad stuff out of the way. Augillard was wildly inefficient at Fresno State (37.3\/24.3\/82.9 splits), averaged 0.5 APG to 1.9 TOV, and departed from the team in December<\/a>. He\u2019s struggled at each of his Division-I stops. The hope is that Augillard can recapture the magic he found at Triton College, where he won the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Player of the Year Award. There, he shot 42.5% from three on 7.8 attempts per game while scoring 22.7 PPG on 64.9 TS%. He looked like a bucket-getter of the highest order there. There\u2019s a lot to work through, but Milwaukee has an excellent staff that has found great success with former JuCo standouts in the past. <\/p>\n

BJ Freeman<\/a> is a part of a \u201cwide investigation into impermissible gambling and game-fixing activity<\/a>.\u201d \ud83d\ude41<\/p>\n

Share No Ceilings<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"During the summer of 2022, I started a new series here at No Ceilings, titled \u201cNo Stone Unturned.\u201d…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":210310,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[557],"tags":[64,63,590,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-210309","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nba","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-nba","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210309","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=210309"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210309\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/210310"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=210309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=210309"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=210309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}