NBA
2020 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings
Ranking the top 15 prospects in the 2020 NBA Draft. Find more information about the next generation of professional talent
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The 2020 NBA Draft is unique in many ways. Not only will it be the first-ever virtual draft, but it also lacks a clear-cut #1 pick, unlike previous years where guys like Zion Williamson, DeAndre Ayton, and Markelle Fultz were viewed as the consensus top prospect (for better or for worse).
This year, three different players (Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, & James Wiseman) have taken turns topping 2020 big boards, but PSO has a fourth name to include in the conversation as the most likely player to reach his All-Star potential. While there isn’t any generational talent in this draft, it does have a plethora of quality players who can be valuable contributors for a championship team and many prospects who will be mainstays in the league for years to come.
PSO’s original Scouting Reports strive to be uniquely valuable in evaluating a player’s future outlook by focusing on the four main subjects that summarize a player’s likelihood of succeeding at the next level including: Natural Athleticism, developed NBA-Caliber Skills, proven Production, and overall Risk that each individual player presents to a team drafting him. For a full breakdown of PSO’s Scouting Reports, click here.
The cancellation of the NCAA tournament in March was devastating for players and fans alike. Perhaps no team was hurt more by this than the Dayton Flyers, who were ready to prove that their 29-2 season was no fluke. The main reason for their success was sophomore forward Obi Toppin. Toppin burst on to the scene with an electrifying season, and finished it off with a sweep of the National POTY honors (Naismith, AP POTY, and Wooden awards). The Brooklyn native declared for the draft after the season and will attempt to continue his overachieving run at the next level.
Toppin does a lot of things well on the court, but his dunking ability is truly a box office attraction. His leaping ability paired with his strength is a unique combination which provides for powerful, earth-shaking finishes. Toppin also showed his leadership skills and always seemed to make the right play during the Flyer’s terrific season. There are questions about how he will adjust to the speed of the NBA game, but he has proven doubters wrong at every level so far in his career.
As the shift in the NBA continues towards isolation and pick and roll basketball, it is obvious why GMs see Edwards as a future star. He is a pure scorer with a plethora of pro-ready moves. The scary part is that he has the potential to build upon this already strong base that was seen from James Harden and Donovan Mitchell during their first few years in the league.
Edwards is obviously not at that level yet, but he showed more than just “flashes” during his freshman year at Georgia. He was head and shoulders above his teammates in terms of pure talent which was a blessing and a curse. Often finding himself doubled or needing to take difficult shots late in the game, his shooting percentages were low as a result. Despite these struggles, whatever franchise decides to take Edwards will be getting someone who has the potential to develop into one of the premier players in the league.
Wiseman burst on to the scene in 2017 and has been the face of his class ever since. The massive big man out of Memphis is not only unique in his size, but the way he dominates in the paint on both ends. Playing in Penny Hardaway’s system in AAU, high school, and college, Wiseman excelled by attacking the rim in transition and on the offensive glass. With the up-tempo styles many NBA teams are running, Wiseman will look to be the go-to big man running the floor.
There are many other parts to Wiseman’s game that have piqued scouts interest. He has all the pieces to build a solid jump shot. If he is able to do this, he can become an elite pick and roll/pop threat. His defense is already above average and footwork development could put him in the all-defensive team conversation.
The major questions revolve around where his ceiling is athletically and how he will hold up throughout an entire NBA season. Wiseman only played three games this season before sitting out after an NCAA ban. The organization that drafts Wiseman is getting an incredible talent with the potential to match. If put in the right system, Wiseman can be a major piece for a future contender.
Despite people’s previous perceptions about LaMelo Ball, there is no doubt he can hoop and has the potential to be a star in today’s NBA. There are a lot of areas for improvement, but he has already faced a ton of adversity in his career and shown the ability to ball at a high level in spite of it. The distractions that come along with LaMelo will be more of a problem for the team than for him since he has been in the spotlight since his freshman year of high school and knows how to deal with all that attention but of course, that level of national exposure will be on another level, especially if he joins a big-market team like the Knicks.
However, despite the “baggage” that comes along with an already-made superstar like LaMelo, there is too much potential and understanding of how the modern game is played for a team to pass up on the youngest Ball brother because of off-court factors, none of which include any real red flags. He has the talent and upbringing to become one of the best players in the game, and his older brother proved he can also develop defensively once he gets coaching from NBA staffs.
Considering his ridiculous handle, finishing, and passing abilities at 18 years old, LaMelo Ball has as high of a ceiling as a prospect can have if everything goes right, with a future MVP award not out of the question. The team he’s drafted by is probably more important than any other prospect in this draft with a need for accountability, leadership, and a strong supporting cast to put Ball in that perfect position to thrive at the next level.
Okongwu was first seen by the national basketball audience in highlight tapes of the #1 nationally-ranked Chino Hills team led by the trio of the Ball brothers. After his sophomore season, the Ball family left town, but Okongwu still had a fantastic high school career, winning a state championship and staying home to play for USC. His defensive skills shined at USC where he became an instant impact player. OO projects to have the same impact in the NBA with his elite defensive prowess and aggressive overall game.
Despite being only 6’9″, Okongwu has the ability to alter any shot thanks to his great timing and vertical leap. In the modern small-ball NBA, he could be an ideal center; locking down the defensive paint while rim-running and feasting on offensive put-backs. He showed some very promising moves in half-court sets, but there are still parts of his game he needs to develop more to become a complete player. Whichever organization ends up with Big O will have a player that can immediately start due to his defense. If his offense develops over the years, he could become a borderline All-Star and All-Defensive team staple with Bam Adebayo’s early success playing a role in Okongwu’s boosted draft stock considering the two’s very similar prospect profiles.
Every NBA draft contains a handful of European prospects who come into the NBA world with plenty of potential and just as many question marks. Deni Avdija is the latest of these foreign phenoms and looks to bring his confident play style to the league. He has had a fantastic start to his young professional career which officially began at the age of 16. He led Israel to back-to-back FIBA U20 championships being named MVP of the latter tournament in 2019.
Deni posses much of the common European traits. He has an incredible feel for the game and basketball IQ at such a young age. He can make incredible passes and is a solid size for a point forward (6’9″). Scouts have also noted an “American” side of his game which is more swagger and confidence than anything, but should help in adjusting to the NBA style of play.
As with many international prospects, there are questions about how far along in his development is he at and how he will adjust to the very new style the NBA brings. Regardless of these questions, he proved to be a valuable contributor in one of the most competitive leagues in the world, and should be an immediate help to any NBA team with a long-term ceiling about as high as any other player in the class.
The rise of “3 and D” players in the NBA has caused a similar spike in the draft stocks of people that would have flown under the radar 5 years ago but now present teams with a valuable contributor. Vassell stands out the most in this class as one of these players. Coming out of high school, Vassell was relatively unknown, but after a breakout season in his sophomore year, the 20-year-old is skyrocketing up draft boards due to his potential as a “3 and D” rotation piece. His defensive ability is great with the potential to get better as he adds weight, and he demonstrated a high basketball IQ at FSU on both ends of the floor.
Although he does not have the form or mechanics of a knockdown shooter, Vassell’s numbers do not lie. He shot over 40% from behind the arc and has the ability to guard most positions on the floor. He can score inside the paint and has shown early stages of an isolation game which makes his ceiling even higher.
He will be solid his rookie season, but if he is able to gain the necessary weight and get better, Vassell could end up being the steal of the draft. Coming into the year, he was projected towards the back end of the first round at the highest. Now, he is being viewed as a late lottery pick at the very least with an arrow that’s still going up.
Despite being only 19 years old, Isaac Okoro is one of the most physically ready players in the NBA draft. He possesses an impressive basketball IQ and will to win along with his great frame. He came to Auburn as a highly touted recruit and immediately showed why by dominating on the defensive end of the floor. Both his on-ball skills and team defense instincts are the main reasons why NBA scouts are high on Okoro. No one is more confident than Isaac himself, who recently said he “deserves to be the #1 pick” in the upcoming draft.
At the next level, the Georgia native will look to make an immediate impact on the defensive end. He has all the skills to guard the majority of NBA wings from day one. His intangibles on offense are exactly what teams want from a wing, and he shows good promise as a passer and creator for others. The major questions all revolve around his jump shot. His form and mechanics are not great and he did not shoot well from behind the arc or the free throw line during his freshman season. Even with offensive improvement to be made, Okoro will still be a high draft pick due to his defensive ability and work ethic.
3-star recruits rarely find themselves in the lottery discussion after just two years at school. When it comes to Tyrese Haliburton however, many have come to expect the unexpected. As a Freshman, he found playing time in a very crowded backcourt at Iowa State. His first breakthrough came for the U19 USA team during the FIBA games in Greece where he led the entire tournament in assists per game and won a gold medal.
Iowa State suffered a severe talent drop off in 2020, but Haliburton exceeded expectations. He showed that he is able to command an offense and run a fast-paced attack. His basketball IQ and passing abilities should adjust well to the NBA and he has an uncanny knack to find open shooters behind the arc. There are some questions about his isolation play on both sides of the ball which are legitimate and could hold him back from reaching All-Star potential. Nevertheless, teams would be lucky to add a player like Haliburton who will always play his role and make others around him better.
When anyone who has watched Kira Lewis is asked to describe him the first word that comes to mind is speed. Speed is everything for Lewis, who is most likely the fastest player in the draft (although without a combine, it’s impossible to definitely prove it with measurables). Lewis played for two seasons under two different coaches at Alabama, and really came into his own under Nate Oats’ fast-paced offense. Coming off a successful sophomore season, Lewis is looking to bring his game to the next level, and should fit right in with the fast-paced style the league is adopting.
Offensively, Lewis has dynamic potential once he gains a little more experience. He is a great catch-and-shoot player already and his midrange game improved a lot. If he is able to get better in isolation he will be a true threat to hurt defenses from anywhere on the floor. His passing is something that does need work, but he made advanced reads occasionally during his time at Bama and showed some improvements NBA teams will respect. Defensively, there are more questions than answers about Lewis. Most of them revolve around his weight and if he will be able to add muscle to compete with larger players in the Association. Despite the doubts about his size, teams are still very interested in Lewis because of all the potential he brings to the offense, and immediate impact he can make running the floor.
Achiuwa has been garnering interest from NBA teams since he was in high school. He attended three of the top prep schools in the country before committing to Memphis and playing under Penny Hardaway. At Memphis, Achiuwa excelled with his aggressive style of play. Precious led a team full of young talent to a solid season after the #1 recruit, Wiseman, decided to leave them mid-season. Achiuwa set multiple conference records during his time at Memphis and looks to bring his high energy style to the next level.
Precious is an enticing prospect because of his elite athleticism and defensive-first mindset. He has the frame to defend any player in the NBA, similar to that of Jerami Grant who guarded LeBron and Anthony Davis at times in the Western Conference finals. His offensive game is still a work in progress, but if he puts in the work on his jump shot, he could turn into a late-lottery steal. Even if the jump shot never comes around, Achiuwa should be able to carve out a role nicely due to his presence on the glass and overall hustle.
After being in the national spotlight for a few years, it is finally time for Cole Anthony to make the jump to the next level. The son of former player and current analyst Greg Anthony, Cole is the definition of a playmaking point guard. His intensity level and work ethic are just what coaches want, and he has been at his fair share of blue-blood programs from Archbishop Molloy HS, to Oak Hill, to UNC. Despite a disappointing freshman season, which included injury and overall poor team performance, Anthony showed glimpses of the special things he can do when he is on the court.
His main strengths are in situations when he needs to make a play. He has every move in his bag at a variety of skill levels. His percentages were poor last year, but a lot of that is due to being double-teamed and forced to make plays for an otherwise mediocre team. He can drive to the basket very well, and contort his body in Derrick Rose fashion. His jump shot is good and once he experiences more high-level basketball, he’ll likely develop better shot selection. People will doubt him because of his size and lack of production, but Cole Anthony wants to be big-time in this league and will outwork everyone to do so.
Year after year, a new batch of Kentucky products leave Lexington with their sights on the NBA. This year, the best of the bunch is arguably Tyrese Maxey, the Dallas native who seemingly scores from anywhere on the court. There is a lot to like about Maxey, but his willingness to attack the basket and creativity while doing so is what has scouts so intrigued. At Kentucky, Maxey displayed his ability to take over games with his scoring, which he establishes by attacking the rim. His outside shot was streaky this season, but he demonstrated an ability to knock down long-range contested jumpers at a steady clip.
As he heads to the next level, Maxey has a lot to be excited about. He will be 20 for his entire rookie season and be able to see how his offensive game translates to the next level. On the defensive side of things, Maxey is very quick on his feet and should have no problem being competitive with guards in the Association. There could be a mismatch issue as he weighs in a little on the lighter side. There are also concerns about his shot release point and shooting percentages overall, but the talent is hard to ignore. A late lottery team will look to scoop up Maxey and instantly insert him into the rotation on a playoff contender.
There is no denying that the 3-point shot is now the focal point of NBA offenses. Teams are always looking for a chance to add a 3-point specialist, and Aaron Nesmith fits the build of the modern long-range sniper. The combination of his production and efficiency from behind the arc will make him desirable for many teams looking to fill that hole. What makes Nesmith’s shooting so valuable is the variety of ways he beats teams from behind the arc. He has no issue running off screens and taking 3s right when the ball touches his hands, something Duncan Robinson did consistently for the Miami Heat during their incredible playoff run.
Nesmith also brings value by knowing his role and where to be on the court at all times. He was the main scorer at Vanderbilt, but will play much more of a supporting role in the NBA. He would flourish with a dynamic ball-dominant back court finding him around the arc. He is currently one-dimensional on offense as a pure shooter and his defense leaves a lot to be desired, but that is a critique of many shooters when they enter the league. Nesmith’s value will only rise as the three ball continues to dominate the league. If his defense can reach its potential throughout the years, he will be a key two-way contributor in the NBA for a long time.
As different paths to the NBA outside of college basketball emerge across the globe, prospects such as Killian Hayes are viewed as guinea pigs to this approach. Despite being born in the United States to American parents, Hayes has spent his whole life and career development process abroad. His father, a former professional player, opted against having Hayes return to the states for high school and college, and decided to put him through the European system.
Clearly this decision worked out. Hayes is a fantastic prospect with a basketball IQ beyond his years. His passing ability, size, and fluidity at the guard position makes him a potential floor general in today’s NBA. He has the building blocks for a good outside game and the frame to make him a solid defender. The main questions for Hayes revolve around his defensive ability and if he is quick enough to keep up with the fast pace of the league.
He is coming into the league with three years of professional experience and a wealth of basketball knowledge that no other prospect could have. Whatever team gets him has the benefit of starting him at either guard spot or having him lead the second unit with a team-first mentality.
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