On the Fringes: Nov. 18 Prospect Update
A look at some players and prospects who are outside the top tiers of draft circles but still worth keeping an eye on
While about 90% of attention will be paid to the top 20-30 prospects in this year’s draft, there’s a lot more to scouting than nailing the top of your board. Unearthing gems is what we love about the pre-draft process and spend a lot of time sorting through which prospects on the fringe could have a future in the NBA or G-League.
Such discoveries are not inconsequential. The Houston Rockets snagged Jae’Sean Tate and Armoni Brooks just last year, plucking them both from obscurity into big parts of their rotation. Guys like Javonte Green, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Torrey Craig and Monte Morris all have played important roles on contending teams despite flying under the radar in draft circles. Others such as Naji Marshall, Austin Reaves, Jordan McLaughlin and Dalano Banton were late pick-ups or signings who have been role players early in their careers.
As we look for the next sleepers to keep our eyes on, we’re diving into current college players who are on the peripheries of draft Twitter at the moment. We checked in briefly on a few players who had positive performances all on Thursday, November 18th and showed what they did well:
EJ Liddell - F, Ohio State
Liddell is a freak of nature physically. Strong-bodied and athletic, Liddell has a decent amount of perimeter skill for someone built like an NFL pass rusher. The Buckeyes, a team with hopes of contending in the Big Ten this year, dropped a tough one to in-state opponent Xavier on Thursday, but Liddell was fantastic, particularly on defense.
Credited with eight rejections, Liddell is proving his defensive IQ and awareness are the separators for him on that end. He can play the 4 or the undersized 5 and fly around. His timing is exquisite, leaping ability underrated and feel for the defensive end of the floor is rare.
Through four games, Liddell is averaging 21 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 3.8 blocks and 0.5 steals on 57.1% shooting from the field and 6-16 shooting from deep. He’s firmly entrenched in our second-round watchlist as a guy who can come in and be a solid low-volume player in the NBA.
Grant Sherfield - PG, Nevada
A high-volume scorer with range off the bounce and three-level scoring upside, Grant Sherfield gets plenty of reps in Nevada’s offense. While known for his solid shot-making acumen, Sherfield is also a pretty good passer in all facets. He posted eight dimes against San Francisco on Thursday night, showcasing all the ways he can create for others.
Sherfield’s advances in transition show a trust in others and making the right play, as well as accuracy in the full-court. His PNR timing is strong as a passer, and we love how controlled he plays despite being one of the smaller guys on the floor. A major factor for us in PNR passing: do guys hit rollers frequently? Sherfield continues to keep his eyes on the rim and generate the most efficient looks possible for the Wolfpack. We’re watching him for a second-round or undrafted free agent spot.
Justin Lewis - F, Marquette
The Baltimore native had a solid freshman campaign under Wojo with the Golden Eagles: 7.8 points, 5.4 rebounds in 21 minutes a night. He didn’t shoot it well (41.7% from the field, 21.9% from 3) but played really physical basketball, showcased some defensive gifts and brought energy on the glass.
This year, under new head coach Shaka Smart, Lewis is playing much better on the offensive end while propelling the Golden Eagles to a great start. Through four games, Lewis has been their best player, averaging 18 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.
On Thursday, Lewis went 5-8 from deep, by far the best shooting night of his career.
If this type of effort becomes the norm, or Lewis can reliably stretch out defenses, he’ll force his way into the second round of most boards. He’s a bit too undersized to ever play the 5 in the NBA for long stretches. Generating perimeter offense at the 4 is a must, at least until he proves he can be a high-feel type of player.