SBNation has released their 2020 NBA Mock Draft and it is drastically different from the Sports Illustrated edition I reported earlier.
It also has Kentucky’s Tyrese Maxey in the top 10 and and Kahlil Whitney in the Lottery.
7. Tyrese Maxey, G, Kentucky
Maxey will likely play shooting guard next season at Kentucky as a freshman as the team returns Ashton Hagans at point guard. We’re ranking him this high because we think his future is playing on the ball. An athletic 6’3 guard, Maxey showed two-way potential on Nike’s EYBL circuit by being named Defensive Player of the Year and also putting up an impressive blend of offensive statistics. He hit 41 percent of his threes on seven attempts per game, posted a great assist-to-turnover ratio, and hit 80 percent of his free throws.Kentucky is going to have a ton of different options on the perimeter next season and it’s possible Maxey’s statistics will be weakened by John Calipari’s system. For now, he’s done enough in high school to warrant this ranking.
14. Kahlil Whitney, F, Kentucky
Whitney’s chiseled 6’6 frame with a 7-foot wingspan makes it look like he was created in a lab by NBA scouts. He’ll play next season as part of Kentucky’s latest freshman superteam, where he’ll have an early opportunity to prove he has the foundational skills to be a 3-and-D player in the NBA. Whitney hit 48.6 percent of his threes on the EYBL, but somehow only made 44 percent of his free throws. His physicality gives him great defensive potential, where he would be wise to focus his energy as a freshman for John Calipari. Teams will be intrigued if he can put up good offensive numbers.
Read “NBA mock draft 2020: Next year’s draft class is begging for a Zion Williamson-like breakout” by clicking here.
