2018 NBA Draft: 5 under-the-radar prospects at center

3. Nick Richards, Kentucky

Richards, if nothing else, is an NBA athlete. As a true seven-footer with a 7’4” wingspan, the 19-year-old will enter one of the most successful factories for NBA talent in Kentucky. He’ll also join a long line of high-end frontcourt prospects under John Calipari, with names like Bam Adebayo, Nerlens Noel, Karl-Anthony Towns, and several more preceding him.

With that being said, there are parts of Richards’ game that still need a lot of work. He has the length and mobility needed to be one of the best rim protectors in this year’s class, yet questions about his motor and poor instincts will limit his effectiveness in the early going. On a Kentucky team loaded with athletes, he’ll need to show out as somebody capable of setting the tone on that side of the ball.

Richards is a niche player offensively, which is to be expected with players projected in the late first round. He hasn’t shown much outside of finishing at the rim, but provides value nonetheless as somebody who’s willing to run the floor and can finish off plays around the basket.

Richards was actually on the floor during the famous LeBron James/Kevin Durant/Carmelo Anthony scrimmage this summer. That doesn’t mean anything significant, but it’s nice to see that he’s out there putting in work with some of the best in the game. Even Durant had nice things to say about him and teammate Hamidou Diallo afterwards.