10 under-the-radar NBA draft prospects that every team should target

Under-the-Radar Prospect #9: Jalen Slawson, Furman

If you didn’t know Jalen Slawson before the NCAA tournament, you likely do now, as he was the architect behind Furman’s massive upset over the Virginia Cavaliers. Although he didn’t hit the game-winning shot, the Paladins would’ve been hopeless without Slawson’s star performance.

It’s not like Slawson came out of nowhere; he was the SOCON player of the year and has been a mainstay for Furman for years. It’s more than Slawson’s age and the fact that he plays in a minor conference that has kept him from getting a bigger slice of the draft limelight.

Not anymore. Slawson’s shown a complete and versatile game this year, flexing his muscles on defense while using his creative chops to be an offensive hub for Furman. He was first or second in every major statistic for the team, has the athletic frame to finish aggressively at the rim, and can hit deeper shots than expected for a player his size:

Any team that picks Slawson knows exactly what they’re getting, as at 24, he’s more than a finished product. That player, even though he’s flown under the radar, is one that could help any team out. With the ability to shoot and defend at his size, Slawson would be a valuable bench player for an NBA team and would give them an infusion of reliable depth at the forward position.