2019 NBA Draft: Intriguing prospects at each position to watch for

Center: Bol Bol, Oregon

Bol Bol is 7’2″, has a 7’9″ wingspan, and is still a month away from turning 19. It would be criminal to leave him off of a list of the most intriguing 2019 NBA Draft prospects.

Bol is bound to attract many opinions and be one of the most divisive players in NBA Draft circles this season. There will be some people who can’t help but take a chance on his insane physical measurements, and some people who believe his body won’t be able to handle the NBA, both in regards to health and competing against incredible athletes.

With a 9’8″ standing reach, it’s a given that he has special skills as a shot-blocker. Even if he doesn’t develop the defensive IQ and instincts to be an elite blocker, his presence alone will be enough to alter shots and the opposing team’s offensive game plan. It will be crucial for him to add some weight to avoid being backed down in the paint by stronger big men.

His ability to score outside of dunks and put-backs is extremely encouraging for someone at his size. Bol has shown confidence and efficiency shooting from beyond the 3-point line, and shooting over 80 percent from the free throw line speaks volumes to the quality of his shot. For a player who won’t be asked to do to much of either, his ball-handling and passing also shouldn’t be viewed as a weakness, as Bol is capable in both.

Center: Charles Bassey, Western Kentucky

Ranked 18th on ESPN‘s top 100 for this year’s recruiting class, Bassey surprised many people selecting Western Kentucky where he won’t face the level of competition that fellow draft-hopefuls will go against. This may hurt Bassey’s stock, but will give him the opportunity to dominate mid-majors and potentially be “the guy” for Western Kentucky.

Bassey is an athletic and energetic big man that looks to thrive off outworking others. He’s around 230 pounds, has a built frame, and can explode off his feet for dunks, alley-oops and blocks on defense. He has great hands and can make for a dominant pick-and-roll player, demanding defensive attention to gravitate toward him as he rolls to the paint.

Without expanding his offensive skill-set much, he projects to be a solid role player in the NBA. He can step out and consistently make mid-range shots, so look for him to try and incorporate 3-pointers into his game more this season at Western Kentucky. As a good pick-and-roll player, a huge step would be improving his passing off quick reads in the paint when defenses close in on him, as he has not shown much in the playmaking department so far.

Bassey is going to physically dominate the mid-major teams he plays against this season, but for his stock to rise he must add some weapons to his offensive portfolio. Teams look for a difference-maker when picking in the first round, and for such a highly ranked prospect, Bassey must show he has irreplaceable skills to offer on the court. His defense and hustle will attract teams to him, but the little offensive adjustments will be key in proving he can be a positive in an NBA offense.