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2017 NBA Mock Draft: Point Guards Dominate The Early Field

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 17, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) celebrates after the Wildcats defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 103-100 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) celebrates after the Wildcats defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 103-100 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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January 8, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) controls the ballagainst the Stanford Cardinal during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
January 8, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) controls the ballagainst the Stanford Cardinal during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Lonzo Ball, UCLA Bruins

Position: Point Guard
Age: 19 (10/27/1997)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’6″, 190 pounds, 6’7″
2016-17 Slash Line: .538/.431/.658
2016-17 Season Averages: 35.5 MPG, 14.9 PPG, 8.0 APG, 5.8 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 2.4 3PM

Lonzo Ball is the latest UCLA Bruins point guard to be highly-regarded in the NBA Draft process. Following in the footsteps of the likes of Darren Collison and Russell Westbrook, Ball has a chance to be one of the best players in this draft class.

With a remarkably balanced skill set and the size to be a dominant force at point guard, Ball has a chance to be an elite NBA player.

Ball’s versatility includes tremendous court vision, elite size, the ability to rebound at a high level, and range on his outside shot. If nothing else works out for him, however, his translatable skill will be his ability to facilitate.

Ball’s ability to not only create shots for himself, but for others, is what will help him make the leap to the NBA and find his role.

The advantage that Ball has over players like Michael Carter-Williams is that he’s already a strong 3-point shooter. He can space the floor with considerable distance and range on his shot, and has the potential to be an outstanding defender.

Ball has the ability to play both with and without the ball, which is the type of versatility that every coach and general manager dreams of.