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NBA Draft: Five hidden gems in this year’s draft

By Jono Perilli

Jan 28, 2020; New York, New York, USA; Villanova Wildcats forward Saddiq Bey (41) dribbles up court during the first half against the St. John's Red Storm at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 28, 2020; New York, New York, USA; Villanova Wildcats forward Saddiq Bey (41) dribbles up court during the first half against the St. John's Red Storm at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA draft Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
NBA draft Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

NBA draft hidden gem No. 3: Cassius Stanley

Projected: Early – Mid Second Round

If you’re a high school basketball fan, you know exactly who Cassius Stanley is, in fact, his potential has gone forgotten since he came into college.

A 6’6″ shooting guard coming out of Duke, Stanley has insane athleticism and is a beast of a player, with an impressive vertical. He has a very well-rounded offensive game, with an NBA ready offensive toolkit, making him effective everywhere. Defensively, Stanley is still developing and learning to become an effective perimeter defender. He has insane potential to become of the league’s brightest players, with a high ceiling. So what’s the deal? Why isn’t he projected to be in the first round or even the lottery for the matter?

Stanley’s issue, if you could call it that, is his age, as a 21-year-old rookie. He can fulfil his potential as a mainstay on any roster, but teams want someone younger to build around. This is where his potential is in question, whether or not he can adapt as a 3-and-D role player, with an immediate off-the-bench spot for whoever he’s drafted to. The chances of him being a team’s first option is heavily low, and he’ll need to develop into a role-player to be draft worthy. It’s unfortunate, since he has insane potential to be an impressive young star, and truly is worth talking about.

We’ll have to see who he’s drafted to, but for now, we can consider Cassius Stanley a hidden gem if used correctly.

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