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NBA Draft 2016: Round 2 Prospects With Round 1 Talent

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 28, 2016; Corvallis, OR, USA; Oregon State Beavers guard Gary Payton II (20) celebrates a victory after a game against the Washington State Cougars at Gill Coliseum. The Beavers won 69-49. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2016; Corvallis, OR, USA; Oregon State Beavers guard Gary Payton II (20) celebrates a victory after a game against the Washington State Cougars at Gill Coliseum. The Beavers won 69-49. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 18, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Weber State Wildcats forward Joel Bolomboy (21) celebrates during the second half of the game in the first round against the Xavier Musketeers in the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Weber State Wildcats forward Joel Bolomboy (21) celebrates during the second half of the game in the first round against the Xavier Musketeers in the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

Joel Bolomboy, Weber State Wildcats

Position: Power Forward
Age: 22 (1/28/1994)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’9″, 224 pounds, 7’1.5″
Slash Line: .573/.364/.697
Season Averages: 31.5 MPG, 17.1 PPG, 12.6 RPG, 3.3 ORPG, 1.1 APG, 1.2 BPG, 0.7 SPG, 0.6 3PM

If Joel Bolomboy were the exact same player, but had attended a major-conference school, he’d be a first-round draft pick. He’s a genuinely elite athlete who dominates the glass, spaces the floor, and has a prototypical build for an NBA power forward.

It’s unclear when Bolomboy will come off the board, but his upside is as significant as any power forward in this draft class.

Bolomboy dominated the 2016 NBA Draft Combine, measuring at 6’9″ with a 7’2″ wingspan and a 40.5″ max vertical leap. He also ranked No. 1 in the lane agility drill, No. 5 in the three-quarter sprint, and No. 6 in the shuttle run.

In other words, Bolomboy has lateral quickness, end-to-end speed, and leaping ability that’s comparable to the best perimeter players in the NBA—skills that could enable him to switch on the pick-and-roll and defend multiple positions.

In terms of his skills, Bolomboy made 20 3-point field goals on 36.4 percent shooting—a sign of his improving range. He also led all 2016 NBA Draft prospects in defensive rebounding percentage, and was one of the Top 100 players in college basketball in offensive rebounding percentage.

An elite athlete with guard-like speed and quickness, a prototypical build, defensive potential, and expanding 3-point range? Sounds like a first-round prospect.

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