NBA teams and scouts favor youth when it comes to drafting, but the following juniors have a chance to be very good players in the association in the 2018 NBA Draft.
The college basketball season is here, but don’t worry, we still have plenty of content to get you ready as teams embark on their current journeys. We’ve already walked you through the best senior prospects to watch for the 2018 NBA Draft. Now, we turn our attention to the best juniors.
Admittedly, this group doesn’t have as much upside as the sophomores and freshmen. That’s partially common sense as these players are already closer to their floors and ceilings. However, we’ve seen countless times that upperclassmen can become great NBA players. From Damian Lillard to Klay Thompson, they’re out there.
But these prospects don’t have become a Lillard or Thompson to be successful. In fact, the path for the five guys we’ll discuss here, their path is best suited as a super role player, similar to an Andre Iguodala (later in his career, of course).
Whether it’s a bench big, spark plug guard or 3-and-D wing, there are important roles players can carve out that are just as valuable. Before getting started, here are three honorable mentions: Deng Adel (Louisville), Allonzo Trier (Arizona), and Moritz Wagner (Michigan).