Coach Spins' Under-the-Radar High-Major Prospects
While it sounds oxymoronic, there are some guys playing in high-major leagues who give me intrigue as an NBA prospect
Development is not linear. High school rankings do not provide perfect looks at who will wind up as the best pro players. Improvement happens all the time in college basketball, where three-star recruits or under-the-radar players find their way to become the best of the best, helping their college teams in the process.
While the hunt for mid-major prospects is always enticing, there are certainly plenty of high-major players flying under the radar. They possess just as much pro potential but either aren’t one-and-done type of players or simply haven’t emerged into their breakout yet.
We’ve got a list of several players who don’t get talked about as pro prospects but could make a major impact for their college teams this year in the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big Twelve, SEC and Pac-12.
Avery Anderson - CG, Oklahoma State
A strong-bodied combo guard that can really defend, Anderson has a great deal of experience At 6’3”, he likely needs to guard the 1 and maybe some 2s at the next level, and his offensive creation isn’t at an elite enough level to play with the ball in his hands. Efficiency as a shooter or creator has to improve, but his athletic traits put him on a short list of specialty backcourt defenders.
Manny Bates - P, Butler
Speaking of specialty defenders, Manny Bates is a big-time rim protector. He’s forgotten in the national landscape because he missed all of last season at NC State due to injury. Now at Butler under Thad Matta and working with Greg Oden, Bates can become one of the most impactful defenders in college basketball. His pro career will take off when/ if paired with a strong pick-and-roll guard.
Jamison Battle - ATH, Minnesota
Offensive versatility without one signature strength gets somewhat underrated. Jamison Battle is always under control, which ends up being a signature strength for him. He’s not a great passer, but he’s 6’7” and can really shoot it, meaning he can be scalable to the next level as more of a role player. He’ll be a star with the Gophers and is one of the most underrated players nationally, and is deserving of fringe second-round attention with another efficient year.
Leaky Black - W, North Carolina
Two words: defensive specialist. Leaky Black’s pathway to the league as a 6’8” wing is to keep improving as a shooter (28% for his career) and prove to teams that he can be a reliable off-ball option. If that happens, NBA teams will salivate to get him on a cheap second-round or two-way deal. Black is a fifth-year guy at UNC; his clock is ticking, but we’ve seen Herb Jones take a huge offensive leap in his final collegiate year. Perhaps the same is possible for Black, who won’t need to do much with the ball in his hands for the Heels.
Branden Carlson - P, Utah
A true seven-footer who can rebound, stretch the floor to 3-point range and is efficient inside the arc? Carlson checks a lot of boxes, and with the Utes he’ll have the opportunity to play in a system that gets him a ton of touches. It’s the same offensive playbook that once got Neemias Queta to become a top-50 draft selection. Carlson isn’t the sexiest pick in the book and doesn’t overshadow the half-dozen All-American prospects at the big man spots right now. His game does translate better to the NBA thanks to the jump shot.
Andrew Carr - F, Wake Forest
Sleeper alert! Carr transferred up to the ACC from Delaware this year and is a sleeper to step into the Jake LaRavia role. A 6’10” stretch shooter, Carr isn’t anywhere close to being a big, but more of a 3 or 4 off-ball threat. He shot 40% from 3 as a sophomore and looked like he belonged every game against high-major competition for the Hens. He struggles as an athlete, but if he can rebound in a physical league like the ACC, he’ll have some real NBA appeal.
Jesse Edwards - P, Syracuse
Edwards stands out to us as a guy who fits in well in the NBA but is masked by the system he plays in. Edwards is a rim-protecting big playing in the middle of Syracuse’s 2-3 zone. He’s good there, protecting the paint and swatting shots at a high rate (4.0 BLK per 40 minutes last year). What makes Edwards stand out to us as a pro prospect is his mobility on defense, allowing him to show on the perimeter and contest pull-up jumpers from guards in a flash. He doesn’t have a ton of offensive skill, though a breakout campaign on the defensive end could earn him the right pro opportunity.
Dajuan Harris - PG, Kansas
Winners that just make winning plays are always valuable and find their way to the next level. The cream rises to the top, and Harris is a winner with a National Championship under his belt and an insane pedigree. He may have only averaged 5.4 points and 4.2 assists, but he should take a slightly larger role in the Kansas offense this year after they lost so much in Christian Braun and Ochai Agbaji. The biggest issue is that Harris doesn’t have a consistent shot, and at his size, that’s a really tough pill to swallow. We love the on-ball defense, but his offense has to catch up. With added opportunity in the Jayhawks offense, Harris could dispel many of those worries.
Jaren Holmes - CG, Iowa State
Transferring up from St. Bonaventure, Holmes is a tough-as-nails competitor who is the perfect glue guy for the next level. He averaged 13-5-3 last year on a loaded Bonnies team. The injury to Jeremiah Williams to start the year for the Cyclones could show many of his lead guard traits, and that display of skill might be enough to get him firmly on mainstream radars. Improved catch-and-shoot impact will certainly help as well. A good 6’3” defender, Holmes has a very quiet yet positive game. He reminds me of one of those Miami Heat undrafted sleeper guys because of how he’s wired.
Oso Ighodaro - P, Marquette
All reports out of Milwaukee indicate that Ighodaro is primed for a big year. He’s a skilled passer in the Delay action and atop the key while also being a bouncy roll man. That’s the ideal combination for the modern NBA game on offense. He’s athletic enough to be good on defense, though he is a tad undersized for the league. Showing he can guard bigger guys and anchor a solid defense will be important parts of his potential breakout. If you haven’t heard of this guy, get to know him now.
KC Ndefo - ATH, Seton Hall
Transferring up to Seton Hall with his head coach Shaheen Holloway, KC Ndefo is one of the most impactful defenders in all of college basketball. He’s a load physically and intense on-ball while being a good shot blocker for his size at 6’6”. While his offensive role is limited, he does have some natural passing feel and is bursty enough to finish. The development of a jumper is vital to his game (and he seems to be putting in the work over the summer), but modern forwards built like him are worth the flier in some regard. Don’t bet against guys with his intangibles, either. Real winner, real competitor, insane defender.
Michael Rataj - F, Oregon State
A new German in for the Beavers, Rataj could get opportunity to play earlier than most due to the shape Oregon State’s program is in right now. Athletically, Rataj belongs in a major conference and plays like a big 6’9” wing. He’s skilled and smooth on offense with a very real jumper, too. He’s a hard worker and a great kid, too — it may take a month or so for him to get ready for consistent impact, but we’re counting on a great finish to the year for Rataj.
Malik Reneau - ATH, Indiana
A frontcourt athlete, Reneau’s role on the Indiana Hoosiers team out of the gate may be fairly small. The Hoosiers feature reliable upperclassmen in Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson, two sturdy and battle-tested options. Reneau brings something different to the table. He’s athletic and energetic, can handle in transition and has an incredibly unorthodox game. His defensive activity will allow him to play in the open floor where he thrives most. If he can defend at a high level, he’ll see the floor as a freshman. The blockade on minutes may mean he isn’t a 2023 prospect, but the talent is certainly there to be squarely on NBA radars.
Adou Thiero - ATH, Kentucky
Thiero was a skilled player from Quaker Valley, a small high school just outside of Pittsburgh. Thiero has undergone a massive growth spurt since leaving high school; he’s up to 6’6” now and plays a physical brand of basketball to begin with. Guys who have late growth spurts and used to play as guards always have the key to my heart, and Thiero is a guy we’ve gotten to see up close several times before. He’s a natural passer with an awesome feel with the ball in his hands. The jumper looks more smooth, though still has a way to go. Keep an eye on Thiero this year… he’s a sneaky 2023 name.
Nae’Qwan Tomlin - ATH, Kansas State
If you haven’t heard this kid’s story, make sure you go out of your way to do so. Tomlin transferred up to Kansas State from the JUCO level. That’s not the good part… he didn’t play basketball in high school. 6’8” and supremely bounce, Tomlin looks the part of a jumbo creator/ scorer in flashes. Those flashes are hard to quantify based on his lower level of competition and the rarity of his play. New Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang is a fantastic long-term developer of talent, and he’s already been gushing about the upside Tomlin brings to the table. The kid will have to prove he’s really a pro prospect and not just a novelty item with a good backstory. Still, the intrigue is warranted.
LOVE the Avery Anderson callout at the top, and I’m watching a number of Oregon State frosh including Jordan Pope who had a good debut last night!