Toronto Raptors: 8 players to eye in the 2020 NBA Draft

1. Vernon Carey Jr. (Duke)

Best-case comparison: Deandre Ayton; Realistic comparison: Larry Nance Jr.

Vernon Carey is a 6’11 center from Duke and a super athletic big man with incredibly high upside that could easily be the Raptors big man of the future once Gasol and Ibaka are gone.

Carey Jr. is a modern-day face-up style big man that attacks the basket relentlessly. He doesn’t take too many jumpers (only 0.7 3-point attempts per game) but he does have a good form so it’s easily something he could work into his game, having shot 38.1 percent on those attempts.

He also has really good defensive instincts blocking shots and getting in passing lanes. He averaged 0.7 steals and 1.6 blocks in his lone season at Duke which is certainly nothing to scoff at.

His raw stats in his lone season at Duke were quite incredible. He averaged 17.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in only 24.9 minutes a night. He was also named to the AP All-American second team as a freshman.

Vernon Carey Jr. is seen in mock drafts anywhere from top 10 to late first-round so there’s no telling where he might land. He isn’t likely to make it past the lottery, so the Raptors may need to trade up in the draft to ensure they get him.