Who Are The Deep Sleepers Of The 2020 NBA Draft

We know the names of  LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman, and Obi Toppin. What about those under the radar NBA Draft prospects? We aren’t talking late lottery, not even late first. These are the second round players and the less-heralded guys that will make a team very successful.

Grant Riller
PG, College of Charleston

There isn’t a more obscure collegiate player on this list. A star PG at the College of Charleston, yes, College of Charleston, Riller is the best PG prospect you’ve not heard of. With averages of 21.9 points, 3.9 assists, and a 49 percent field goal percentage for his senior year, Riller needs to be in the conversation for the biggest draft day sleeper.

Riller had 11 games of 25 or more points during his senior season. This included 3 games of 30 or more points. He can be a scorer when needed, but Riller is also a crafty defender with 9 games of 3 or more steals. There are teams on the board who need a defensive-minded guard to come off the bench, similar to a Fred VanVleet or Marcus Smart. Riller is that guy in this draft. His scoring ability is noticeable, yet, it is his defense that sets him apart.

Paul Reed
PF, DePaul

Reed has the stats of a first-round prospect. He averaged 15.1 points during his Junior year at DePaul, adding 10.7 rebounds as well. Reed is a tremendous shot blocker. He averaged 2.6 per game in his final collegiate season. Why isn’t he ranked higher?

A lot say Reed has an inconsistent motor. He’s not always giving it his full effort. That’s a red flag for every NBA team. And as a Junior, the ceiling isn’t as high for him as some other prospects. Still, there has been a buzz surrounding Reed. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he went very late 1st, although it’s unlikely.

Isaiah Stewart
C, Washington

Stewart is one of the hardest players to project. He displayed good stats in his lone collegiate season (17 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.1 BPG). The main concern is whether he can develop a jump shot. Right now, Stewart is a paint presence. That’s not the style most NBA teams want to run. In all fairness, Stewart was once a top prospect coming out of high school. He just didn’t develop enough at Washington to keep his momentum.

Yam Madar
PG, Israel

In the most recent Daily Culture Mock Draft, Madar was projected as the last 1st and pick. His only likely destination in the 1st and is Boston, who will do a draft and stash approach. More than likely, Madar will be a 2nd round pick, but that’s a steal for any team.

Madar isn’t as well known as fellow Israeli prospect, and former teammate, Deni Avdija, but he’s been just as impactful. With Hapoel Tel Aviv, Madar averaged 8 points and 3.1 assists in 21 minutes, showing enough promise to NBA scouts to warrant a draft selection. He’s still a work in progress at 19 years of age but has a high basketball IQ.

Isaiah Joe
SG, Arkansas

There are a lot of pure shooters in the late lottery of this draft. Joe is just as solid as any other mid-1st selection. His issue is whether or not he can do anything else. Not known for defense, his main weapon is a deadly 3-point shot. He attempted 10.6 per game during his Sophomore season at Arkansas. While it’s extremely unlikely Joe makes an All-Star team at any point, a spot as a role player off the bench is entirely feasible. His knack for the 3 ball makes him very valuable to a team looking for shooting depth.

There is a slew of other names that could be steals in this year’s NBA Draft. Of the five mentioned, these are the ones who can make the biggest impact over time. None will be instant stars in the NBA, some will never be more than role players. That’s the beauty of the NBA Draft.

Image Source: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY

Daniel Gentile

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