Alen Smailagic is a long way from developing into an impact player in the NBA. The Golden State Warriors are so confident in the 18-year-old's long-term potential, though, they're already going to extra lengths to keep his name from getting out.

A 6-foot-10 forward, Smailagic is averaging 9.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 17.4 minutes per game for the Santa Cruz Warriors this season, shooting 49.5 percent overall and 24.4 percent from beyond the arc – hardly numbers befitting a legitimate NBA prospect. The Warriors have intentionally slow-played Smailagic's development since he came stateside from Serbia last fall, though, in part to ease his acclimation to playing professional basketball in a new country, but also due to the fact it's in their best interest to limit his exposure.

Due to his age, Smailagic isn't eligible to be called up by any NBA this season, instead biding his team in Santa Cruz until June's NBA draft, when every team in the league will have the opportunity to select him. Golden State, sure to pick late in the first round, is reportedly hoping Smailagic will still be available by the time general manager Bob Myers and company are on the clock. To that end, Santa Cruz, claiming his need for rest, decided against playing Smailagic in December's G-League Showcase, limiting the number of scouts and executives able to watch him in person.

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“Looking back on it, the timing to rest him may not have been the best,” Santa Cruz general manger Kent Lacob, son of Warriors owner Joe Lacob, told the San Francisco Chronicle's Connor Letourneau. “To be honest, we didn’t anticipate the backlash that we got. We probably would’ve done it a little differently and not have sat him out of those games if we had known that. We didn’t intend to offend anyone.”

Unfortunately for the Warriors, the secret in Santa Cruz seems to be out regardless. Said Warriors G-League coach Aaron Miles, “It’s been amazing just being able to help a kid who I believe is destined for some greatness.” Whether Smailagic lives up to that potential in Golden State or elsewhere, though, seems largely out of the Warriors' control.