2018 NBA Draft: 5 under-the-radar small forward prospects

5. Jeffrey Carroll, Oklahoma State

Carroll exploded onto the scene last season, upping his scoring average from 8.2 to 17.7 points per game for a competitive Oklahoma State squad. Now entering his senior season and with Jawun Evans in a Los Angeles Clippers uniform, there’s a clear avenue for Carroll to emerge as one of the Big 12’s most productive players.

There isn’t anything overly impressive about Carroll’s physical tools, but he’s a solid athlete who has shown he can compete against high-level competition. He shot 44.3 percent from deep on 4.1 attempts per game last year, which in and of itself gives him a clear path forward as an NBA prospect.

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He also did a nice job on the boards, grabbing 7.3 rebounds per game while making the kind of winning, intangible-driven plays that upperclassmen tend to make. There’s something to be said for playing more than one season in college — something Malcolm Brogdon and Josh Hart, a Rookie of the Year and first round pick respectively, can attest to.

A smart player who knows his spots and can shoot at a high rate always has a chance in the league. Expect Carroll to generate some buzz as a second rounder once the season gets underway.