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

By Max Holm | Oct 28, 2017

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 09: Bennie Boatwright #25 of the USC Trojans handles the ball against Ike Anigbogu #13 of the UCLA Bruins during a quarterfinal game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 9, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. UCLA won 76-74 (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images /

2. Bennie Boatwright — USC

With the two aforementioned Kentucky freshmen, they’re intriguing in many ways because we’re not sure what they can be. They have the physical tools and whether or not he lacks it on the developmental side of the game, John Calipari gets his guys to the NBA. Bennie Boatwright, on the other hand, is a known commodity. The 6’10” co-captain of USC, one of the most watchable teams in college hoops, is a pure stretch-4.

Players like Boatwright, who mostly live off scoring and aren’t extremely athletic, seem to be huge question marks for the NBA. However, in three NCAA tournament games filled with NBA-level athletes, Boatwright carried USC by scoring 54 points. Though he’ll likely never be a great rebounder nor a great defender, there’s immense value in a forward you can trust to stretch the floor.

During his junior season, expectations are high for both player and team. We’ll see if he’s added anything to his offensive game and if he can make improvements in his defense and passing. Even still, he would be a liability against elite NBA opposition, but look at the kind of asset someone like Ryan Anderson still is. Don’t sleep on Boatwright.

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