2019 NBA Draft: 5 players with steal potential in the first round
By Nick Crain
1. Kevin Porter Jr.
Kevin Porter Jr. is a hyper-athletic guard who played just one college season at USC before deciding to take his talents to the next level. Still 19 years old, Porter is tough to read. At 6’5.5″ with a 6’9″ wingspan, he has the potential to be a solid combo guard in the NBA.
While his freshman season numbers were not very impressive, he is still one of the most athletic players in the entire draft class and already has the ability to create his own shot. He is also an exceptional ball-handler and has already proven he will not have much trouble adapting to the isolation style of play in the NBA.
In his one college season, he produced 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. He was an elite 3-point shooter at 41.2 percent on 5.3 attempts a night. Surprisingly, his smooth shot from deep did not translate to the free throw line, as he shot 52.2 percent from the foul line. One big issue with Porter is his decision-making. He averaged 1.9 turnovers while only producing 1.4 assists per game.
Porter is another player who had a small sample size of college play due to his suspension 21 games into the season. He had issues with the coaching staff, clashing the entire season. He seems to be somewhat immature and could continue to have off-court issues as a professional.
While it appears he could probably use another college season to polish his game, he has enough potential to at least get snagged by the end of the first round. As of now, Kevin Porter Jr. is projected as a mid-to-late first round pick. With that being said, he is certainly a top-10 talent. Which team will be willing to pull the trigger on Porter, and when will it happen?
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If he can keep his head on straight and focus on improving his craft, Porter could prove many teams wrong who may pass on him for various reasons. Overall, in a draft with much uncertainty beyond the first three picks, there are many players who will prove to be steals at their respective draft position.