NBA: 5 Rookies That Will Exceed Expectations

2 of 6

Mar 17, 2016; Providence, RI, USA; Baylor Bears forward Taurean Prince (21) dunks against the Yale Bulldogs during the first half of a first round game of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Dunkin Donuts Center. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Taurean Prince

Team: Atlanta Hawks
2015-16 statistics (Baylor): 15.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.3 APG
Slash Line: 43.2/36.1/77.4

Taurean Prince is a 6’8” 220-pound small forward out of Baylor University.

Throughout his four seasons there, Prince developed over time into an elite defender and a true weapon off the bench during his junior campaign and with a growing offensive game to go with it, he earned Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year.

His senior season is when he saw his name appear on the radar of NBA teams. His size alone sticks out immediately. Even during summer league, it looked as if Prince was a player who had already been in the league for at least a year or two.

Prince has drawn comparisons to former Atlanta Hawk, DeMarre Carroll. Prince will fill the role of the 3-and-D style of player that Carroll was during his tenure in Atlanta, but Prince will be coming off the bench behind either Kent Bazemore or Kyle Korver.

Prince appears to be more athletic than Carroll was, especially at 22 years old. The Texas native is always a threat in the open floor with the ability to rise up over defenders and put them on a poster.

His size also gives head coach Mike Budenholzer the option to play him at the stretch-4 in a small-ball lineup. The Hawks have shaken up their roster with plenty of wing players, so seeing Budenholzer utilize a smaller lineup could definitely be in the cards.

You could put Prince into any system on any team and he would find a way to contribute. Add that to the fact that he’s playing in the free-flowing system that Budenholzer implements and Prince could easily be a rookie that catches many off guard in 2016-17.

Next: No. 4