NBA Draft: Top-5 Shooters Of The 2021 Draft
The NCAA Tournament is approaching. This means there will be a lot of jockeying for NBA Draft position. While some players will indeed shoot up draft boards, there are a few who have already cemented themselves as the draft’s elite scorers. Which prospects take the cake as the best of the class?
1. James Bouknight, UCONN
The Sophomore guard from Connecticut can outscore anyone in this draft. He’s excellent at getting the ball to the basket. A very crafty and quick scorer, who can use his speed to get past his defender. The 3-point shot needs work. Bouknight shoots over 5 per game and eventually, that will become a big part of his offensive skill set. This ranking may be more on potential than what he’s actually doing now, however, there’s little doubt Bouknight can be the best scorer in the draft.
2. Cameron Thomas, LSU
Thomas has scored 20 or more points in 20 of his first 24 games. The freshman guard has been the catalyst for the LSU Tigers offensive attack. While not much else in the way of contributing stats, Thomas will make a name for himself in the NBA as an elite scoring threat. You need a player with a killer mentality when it comes to getting the ball in the basket.
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3. Corey Kispert, Gonzaga
Jalen Suggs gets all the hype at Gonzaga. Kispert is the one who deserves the most credit for the Zags’ success. He’s shooting the ball at a .544 rate. He’s only taking 12 shots per game. While no NBA team will use him in a feature scoring role (think Kyle Korver or J.J. Reddick), Kispert will make the most of his time on the court. He’s going to knock down big shots.
4. Taevion Kinsey, Marshall
A relatively unknown prospect by many, Kinsey is one of my favorite prospects. He’s able to score from all over the court. His percentages increased during his sophomore season, making him one of the most deadly, and improved, shooters in the NCAA. I do hesitate to put him on this list because he very well might not declare. His shot selection and basketball IQ will have one NBA GM smiling if he does indeed make the jump.
5. Moses Moody, Arkansas
I suppose Moody needs to be on this list. He’s been said by many to be the best scorer in the draft. I don’t think he’s anywhere near the scoring ability of these first four prospects. He does have a deadly 3-point shot and will use that in the NBA. I just feel he profiles as a 3-and-D guy who will be settled into a bench role. I don’t see a 20+ ppg scorer. But, as with any player that can score at his rate at the collegiate level, he needs to be mentioned.
There are a few other players who need to be, at the very least, given their due. Josh Giddey shows the potential to be an NBA scorer. There’s just so little known about him to call him one of the best. Luka Garza, a household name in college basketball circles, can obviously shoot, but he’s got no other NBA standout skills.
Image Source: Jessica Hill, Associated Press
Daniel is a guru of baseball and basketball prospects. He’s a very experienced Amusement Park traveler as well. Follow him and his hot takes on Insta @dgentleman9288
