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Top 5 Players From 2014 NBA Draft

By Carter Johnson

Mar 4, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) drives for the basket against Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker (12) in the first quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) drives for the basket against Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker (12) in the first quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 20, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) celebrates making a basket against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeat the Timberwolves 106-94. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) celebrates making a basket against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeat the Timberwolves 106-94. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves

2014 Draft Selection: Round 1, No. 1 (CLE)

2015-16 Stats: 20.7 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.6 BPG, 1.0 SPG

Accolades: NBA Rookie of the Year (2015), NBA All Rookie First Team (2015), Rising Stars Challenge MVP (2015)

Going into the 2014 NBA Draft, Andrew Wiggins was the crown jewel of the class.

Boasting rangy length, freakish athleticism, some isolation skills and elite defensive potential, the player nicknamed “Maple Jordan” was projected to be a phenomenal, transcendent player in the vein of LeBron James.

He hasn’t quite been that, but he has developed into one of the best slashers and finishers in the league with a knack for stepping up in big moments and matchups.

Wiggins came into his own as a bonafide scorer in his sophomore effort, going toe-to-toe with some of the best players in the world on the perimeter and often holding his own.

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He scored 30 points in a duel with Kobe Bryant, poured in 32 in an upset victory over the world-beating Golden State Warriors, amassed 20 points and five steals in a win over Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder and dropped a career-high 35 points against LeBron James and the team that drafted him (and subsequently traded him away) in the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Known for his slashing ability, Wiggins built upon the signs of a solid midrange game that he displayed in college in his second season, showing off immense skill with pull-up jumpers, step backs and post fadeaways.

Wiggins is still a streaky three-point shooter at best (30.0 percent mark in 2015-16), but his ability to score in a multitude of ways inside the arc have quickly and quietly made him one of the elite perimeter scorers in the league.

With an offensive threat of Wiggins’ caliber partnering with an MVP in the making in Karl-Anthony Towns and other elite youngsters in LaVine and Kris Dunn, the sky is the limit for this young Timberwolves squad that was the league’s worst team just two seasons ago.

Next: 2016 NBA Offseason Grades For All 30 Teams

Wiggins undoubtedly has an All-Star caliber career ahead of him and will help bring monumental success to a formerly downtrodden franchise in the near future.