Race between Cole Anthony, Anthony Edwards at top of 2020 NBA Draft starts now
Who goes first?
I’ll predict that Anthony Edwards gets picked first. The physical package will be too much to pass up on, which is why he is my early favorite to be the top selection overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. Beyond the raw tools, he also just turned 18 in August, meaning he still will be that age when he shakes the hand of Adam Silver next June.
Cole Anthony, by comparison, will be 20 by the night of the NBA Draft.
Obviously with that being said, let me clarify that a higher ceiling never closes the door on anything. A player that Cole’s skill set may invoke memories of is Ja Morant, who went from an early season mid-major sleeper to the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft with a stat-stuffing season.
I also want to see just how much hunger Edwards displays throughout the season. He has a golden opportunity to display his winning impact by turning around a Georgia team that only managed to win 11 games last season.
Where Cole can bridge the gap is team success and spotlight, both of which are expected to favor him this season. He arrives on Tobacco Road with massive expectations. He also gets to take part in the biggest rivalry in the sport, leaving room for him to make a captivating stamp on the biggest stage.
North Carolina expects to compete for an ACC title and Final Four, whereas Edwards merely leading his Georgia team to a tournament bid would be a great success.
Both of these players look to be relatively safe picks with minimal bust potential. Sitting here today, they could each easily become multi-year All-Stars, and Edwards should be a top scorer sooner rather than later.