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NBA Draft 2016: Unheralded Prospects with Pro Potential

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 22, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Oakland Golden Grizzlies guard Kahlil Felder (20) is announced before the game against the Michigan State Spartans at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Oakland Golden Grizzlies guard Kahlil Felder (20) is announced before the game against the Michigan State Spartans at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 30, 2015; Ames, IA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Monte Morris (11) dribbles against the Coppin State Eagles at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2015; Ames, IA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Monte Morris (11) dribbles against the Coppin State Eagles at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports /

Monte Morris, Iowa State Cyclones

Position: Point Guard

Age: 20 (6/27/1995)

Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’3″, 175 pounds, 6’5″

Slash Line: .522/.340/.622

Season Averages: 36.5 MPG, 14.4 PPG, 7.3 APG, 4.1 RPG, 2.3 SPG, 1.0 3PM

Iowa State Cyclones point guard Monte Morris is the prototype for an NBA point guard—sort of. He’s a strong 6’3″ with exceptional court vision, high defensive potential, a great first step, and a solid shooting stroke from beyond the arc.

One simply can’t help but wonder if Morris can consistency create his own offense at the next level.

Morris’ 3-point and free throw shooting have declined over the past three seasons, and that’s occurred with a greater emphasis on creating off the bounce. He’s converting just 62.2 percent of his free throws in 2015-16, and while he doesn’t attempt a high volume of shots at the charity stripe, it’s still a troubling number.

The good news: Morris is one of the best facilitators in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Morris is dishing out 7.3 assists to just 1.5 turnovers in 2015-16—good for an obscene assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.9. He was just as good a season ago, accumulating averages of 5.2 assists and 1.1 turnovers for an assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.7.

Coupled with his elite production as a ball-hawk, Morris has all of the tools to thrive as a traditional point guard in the NBA. The question is, do teams still want to find traditional point guards in the draft?

Next: Uphill Battle

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