Milwaukee Bucks: 5 options for pick No. 48 in 2017 NBA Draft

5. Frank Mason, PG, Kansas

It’s strange for the best player in college basketball to fall deep into the second round, but that’s the current projection for Kansas point guard Frank Mason. After leading the Jayhawks to their 13th consecutive Big 12 regular season title, the senior guard could be available when the Bucks pick at 48.

At 5’11”, Mason is not the size of a modern point guard, and would instantly be the shortest player on Milwaukee. But his wingspan is over 6’3″ long, allowing him to recover some of his height disadvantage. His athleticism is also underrated, as he posted a 41″ vertical leap at the NBA combine, in the 97th percentile historically.

While Mason doesn’t bring elite size to the equation, he does bring elite toughness, with no fear of attacking the rim on offense or opposing ball-handlers on defense. As the third point guard he can come in and lay everything out for a few minutes a game.

Mason’s other key strength is his outside shooting. The Jayhawk guard hit 47 percent of his shots from long distance, on a robust 4.8 attempts per game. He did so both on pull-up shots and in catch-and-shoot situations playing off the ball alongside Devonte’ Graham. On this Milwaukee roster, both aspects would be useful.

The reality is that Mason is unlikely to be a game-changer at the NBA level. He may spend his career fighting for the last couple of spots on an NBA roster. But many scouts said the same about Malcolm Brogdon last season, and Mason has proved doubters wrong since he first arrived at Kansas. The Bucks may benefit from not doubting him this time around.