13) Jaden McDaniels, PF, Washington
The 13th best player in the upcoming NBA Draft according to my first big board also has the fasting rising potential in my opinion. When we do this big board in a month, and the first stock up stock down report next week, you could see Jaden McDaniels shooting his way into the top 5 of the NBA Draft prospect pool.
Jaden McDaniels was ESPN’s 7th best player in the 2019 recruiting class and committed to his hometown Washington Huskies over the Kentucky Wildcats, Texas Longhorns, and UCLA Bruins. I think right now in NBA Draft circles, McDaniels is the most divisive topic. While everyone agrees he is a good player, you can find him on people’s big board ranked anywhere from the top five to the end of the first round.
Jaden McDaniels is an extremely raw talent which right there creates bias. Either you are a person that values upside and potential and thinks your team, organization, staff, etc can get the best out of the player, or you believe it is too much of a risk. McDaniels is not even close to his finished product as a player which is incredibly exciting for basketball fans.
The biggest knock on the big man is his lack of physicality. He will often be bullied down low and knocked off his spots in the painted area. That also hinders his ability to finish strong through contact, and most 6’10 players do not get the benefit of a whistle that often especially in college where the average player is a lot smaller. So he can not rebound, shot block, or finish through contact at the rim. What can Jaden McDaniels do?
At 6’10 and just 185 pounds, McDaniels is a bit of a tweener and can even play the small forward spot especially when you factor in his ability to run the floor. He boasts an 8-foot-11 standing reach with humongous hands. He has impeccable vision for his size which plays into his elite playmaking ability for his position. I also see the potential for him to develop a nice shot down the line.
So you can see how everyone is so spread out on the Federal Way, Washington native.
It also does not help that the Huskies have a weak schedule. The Baylor matchup right out of the gate will be huge for McDaniel until he sees Arizona twice in PAC-12 play. Watch out for Jan. 25th when McDaniels and the Huskies meet Colorado. While the Buffs do not have top-end talent, they are always a gritty team wit ha great zone defense that can smother offenses and make elite players look incredibly uncomfortable.