With so much hype and excitement surrounding the top 10 picks of this year's NBA draft, it's safe to say there won't be as much attention directed to the lower-numbered picks. These are the players who are either overlooked because of their style of play or because they excelled at a smaller school.
Regardless of how they've been viewed by NBA front offices, these players could be the steals of the draft. As we've learned in the past, the lowest drafted players can turn out be game changers and the highest seeds don't always wind up as super stars in this league. Having said all this, let's take a detailed look at the three best under-the-radar prospects in this year's NBA draft.
2021 NBA Draft Potential Surprises:
Charles Bassey
An absolute force of nature at the center spot and a standout at Western Kentucky, Charles Bassey averaged 16.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game during his time with the program. In a current NBA landscape that lacks the prototypical center, Bassey would be an absolute steal in the NBA draft for any team willing to give him a chance. Not to mention he is expanding his shooting range and developing a 3-point shot to add another element to his game.
With a lethal inside-out game in development, Bassey would be the ideal pick for a team that lacks size and length on the interior. His elite rebounding and rim protection to go along with a wide array of post moves and a sweet mid-range stroke is what will make Charles Bassey an absolute threat and a prime example of an under-the-radar NBA draft prospect. If put in the right situation, Bassey could take the NBA by complete surprise and become a breakout star in this league.
Kessler Edwards
As a do-it-all wing-forward with career averages of 17.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists per game and a 3-point field goal percentage of 41.5%, Kessler Edwards would thrive as a game-changing 3-and-D player in the NBA. With stellar perimeter defense and a smooth 3-point shooting touch, Edwards could be the missing link to a borderline playoff team looking to get over the hump through the NBA draft.
Edwards has become a highly efficient scorer during his time at Pepperdine and has shown some potential to being a strong low post presence, but there is still room for improvement there. Where he would thrive most is playing either small or power forward and using his strength, length, and great footwork to give his team defensive help on the wing in this NBA draft. For a team looking to add reliable scoring and a versatile defensive presence, Kessler Edwards could be the just the player they're looking for.
Nah'Shon Hyland
After blossoming in his expanded role at VCU and making huge strides since his first year with the program, Nah'Shon Hyland boasted averages of 18.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 1.5 assists per game while upping his 3-point shooting percentage to 43.4% during the 2020-21 season. Hyland has also impressed lots of scouts during his showing at the NBA draft combine scrimmages.
His multi-faceted scoring and playmaking abilities will make him the prototypical combo guard that can provide a spark to any backcourt that's in dire need of strong play at either guard position. With his rise to prominence at VCU and experience with running the point and being the go-to scorer for his team in crunch time, Nah'Shon Hyland could wind up being the most overlooked player in this NBA draft. Given his prior success, he definitely won't have any problem proving all the naysayers wrong.
With there being lots of great talent available in the upcoming NBA draft, it'll be hard to know for sure which players will shine and which ones will disappoint. The one thing that is certain is that these players may not be high up on the radar, but they'll definitely put everybody in the league on notice and showcase the kind of talent that'll do wonders for whichever team decides to draft them.
Given all that has happened in previous NBA drafts, there's definitely no way to predict what will happen. After all it has been evidently shown with prior draft picks that even the lowest pick in the draft, can become a super star, NBA champion, league MVP, or even the face of the entire league.
When you take a look at guys like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Stephen Curry, you see three future hall of famers, but they were also three players that were overlooked and were not liked by fans at first. In fact, their respective teams were heavily criticized for drafting them in the beginning, but now you see how much of an impact all of them have had on the game. So who's to say there won't be a few more players like that in the 2021 NBA draft?
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