Hoops Habit
Fansided

2016 NBA Draft: Players with Most to Gain in NCAA Tournament

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 16, 2016; Des Moines, IA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers guard Yogi Ferrell (11) signs autographs during a practice day before the first round of the NCAA men
Mar 16, 2016; Des Moines, IA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers guard Yogi Ferrell (11) signs autographs during a practice day before the first round of the NCAA men /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
16 of 16
Next
Mar 13, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) brings the ball up court against Purdue Boilermakers guard P.J. Thompson (3) during the Big Ten conference tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) brings the ball up court against Purdue Boilermakers guard P.J. Thompson (3) during the Big Ten conference tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Denzel Valentine, Michigan State Spartans

Prospect Rank: No. 17

Position: Shooting Guard

Age: 22 (11/16/1993)

Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’6″, 220 pounds, 6’10”

Slash Line: .464/.447/.853

Season Averages: 32.8 MPG, 19.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 7.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 3.4 3PM

A case could be made that Michigan State Spartans shooting guard Denzel Valentine is the most well-rounded prospect in the 2016 NBA Draft. Kris Dunn and Ben Simmons would beg to differ, but Valentine is a nightly triple-double threat who shoots with elite volume and efficiency from beyond the arc.

If Valentine orchestrates the type of deep run that Michigan State is expected to make at the 2016 NCAA Tournament, he could sneak into the lottery on draft night.

Valentine isn’t the most explosive athlete, but he’s developed a skill that should help him overcome that potential flaw: an elite jump shot. He’s made an average of 3.4 3-point field goals per game on 44.7 percent shooting from distance in 2015-16, and is converting 85.3 percent of his free throws.

Averages of 19.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.6 assists don’t hurt, either.

Valentine can be a team’s primary facilitator, best 3-point shooter, and one of its top rebounders. He’s essentially the shooting guard version of former Michigan State star Draymond Green, albeit with less to offer on the defensive end of the floor.

More hoops habit: Who are the Top 30 prospects in the 2016 NBA Draft?

Valentine is projected by most to be a Top 20 prospect, but if he can lead Michigan State to the promise land, it’d be tough to argue against him as a lottery pick.