2018 NBA Draft: 5 best senior prospects

1. Grayson Allen, SG, Duke

You either love or hate Grayson Allen, and the majority of non-Duke fans tend to lean towards the latter. From the tripping incidents to the general disdain that comes from carrying that bad boy vibe on a Blue Devils team, Allen has found no shortage of controvery in his three years under Coach K.

With all of that put aside, though, Allen is still a first round talent with room to grow. He’s a sneaky good athlete at 6’4″ with a 6’7″ wingspan, and has a combination of toughness and shot-making ability that could translate into a solid sixth man-type role at the next level.

Allen had a down year last season, with injuries, Luke Kennard’s breakout and those aforementioned tripping incidents all contributing to his struggles. His head wasn’t quite right, and his scoring average dropped to just 14.5 per contest — a sharp decline from his 21.6 the year before.

He’s still a career 38.6 percent 3-point shooter when at this best, and can both spot-up and play off the ball or carry some point guard duties when asked to. His decision-making is a work in progress, but he’s a crafty pick-and-roll threat who gives NBA teams a couple of options when it comes to deciding his niche long-term.

Next: 2018 NBA Draft - 5 under-the-radar PF prospects

On top of that, he’s the kind of gritty, in-your-face defender that any rotation can use. He’ll cover either guard spot with success, and plays the role of irritant as well as anybody in the 2018 class can. Some are higher on Allen than others, but the talent has always been there. A bounce-back fourth season is to be expected.