6 Underrated Mid-Major Prospects: Part Two
Despite not getting much attention during the last draft cycle, there are a few mid-major prospects who could burst onto the scene in 2024
Don’t wait until March to get a feel for the best mid-major players in the land. Let’s start now, with a focus on some players who have caught Coach Spins’ eye in some regard without moving up to the high-major level in college hoops.
We all know that the transfer portal has drastically changed how mid-major prospect evaluation works. Many of the highest-touted mid-major players move up to the high-major ranks for at least a season before going pro, cashing in on the opportunity to make more NIL money while increasing their draft stock in the spotlight. As a result, former high-major players end up moving down, meaning there are dozens of names already on scouting radars now playing in those low-to-mid-major ranks.
Put all that together and it’s much more difficult to nail down the guys who are next to breakout. The guys I’m featuring today are those who have decided to either stay at the school they were at last year or transfer to a non-power conference school. None of them are guards (the easiest statistical players to identify in those ranks) and only one of them is a rising senior — giving plenty of time between a potential 2024 breakout and when they’ll actually declare for the draft.
These are my top bets to break out this season and become, at the very least, fringe NBA prospects by the end of the 2024 draft cycle. Today we have part two of the series, featuring the final three prospects who have really caught my eye.
It’s worth noting that Weber State prospect Dillon Jones will receive his own article and will therefore not be included in this breakdown. To read and see our full dissection of Jones’ pro prospects, please check back this Fall.
Amari Williams - P, Drexel
If Bradley’s Malevy Leons isn’t the best defender at the mid-major levels, it’s definitely Amari Williams at Drexel. Playing for Zach Spiker (who really can coach on the defensive end), the British big man is a dominant presence on that end of the floor. He’s active while being disciplined, a great rim protector while being mobile on the perimeter, and a fantastic communicator.
Williams jumps off the page from an analytics standpoint, especially on the defensive end.
What I love about Williams’ defense is his mobility. He love to shoot passing lanes and apply pressure on the perimeter. He’s a disciplined and smart rim protector who can also switch onto the perimeter and punish bigs who try to take him away from the hoop. That’s a lethal combination, both in theory and in practice.
The mobility turns into Amari’s most tangible trait on the offensive end. He gets a ton of his points in transition, mostly off plays he creates for himself by shooting passing lanes. In the half-court, the lefty is able to attack other bigs and get downhill, though many of his offensive limitations come into frame.
Williams is left-hand dominant, not very bouncy near the rim, doesn’t have a reliable jump shot (yet) and tends to be rather predictable trying to score in the post. Scoring is just not his forte. Luckily, Spiker puts Amari in Princeton-based actions where he’s used as a playmaker for others. He’s an accurate and smart playmaker with a funky feel that is a step ahead of the defense. He really feels backdoor cutters and defensive breakdowns around him.
Amari will likely open the year as a top-60 prospect for me. He’s that damn good of a defender and checks the boxes for what I believe modern NBA teams really look for. However, the offense does need to come along just a little bit to become passable at the next level. His game isn’t currently scalable to offensive impact; he’s not a great finisher off the pick-and-roll and doesn’t have enough height to become a lob threat or dumpdown guy. The short roll passing and high-feel translation is likely going to be there, but that alone isn’t enough to keep Amari on the floor so that his defense can take shape.