OKC Thunder: NBA Draft stock up, stock down report 2.0
By Rylan Stiles
The Florida Gators, all of them.
The Florida Gators, who I picked to not only win the Southeastern Conference but make a final four run, are off to a disappointing 2-2 start including dropping both of their games against power-five opponents so far.
Scottie Lewis, Andrew Nembhard, and Kerry Blackshear Jr. all entered the college basketball season on my first NBA Draft big board of the year. Lewis came in at 12th, Nembard at 49th, and Blackshear Jr entered the year at 60th.
All of them, have been incredibly disappointing to start the college basketball season. Scottie Lewis, who has the biggest spotlight, has faded the fastest. The more hype they get entering the season the bigger the fall, and right now Lewis is barely hanging on to a late first-round grade for me.
Against Florida State, Lewis could only produce four points and a rebound. He failed to make a shot from the field or from deep offensively. On the defensive side of the ball though, Lewis capitalized with three blocks and a steal.
Of course, Lewis Dominated Towson (though the team barely escaped with a six-point win), against Uconn Lewis hopped back on the struggle bus.
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Uconn, a power five team with little to no expectations this year and no top 60 prospects, held Lewis to eight points and forced him into three fouls. The freshman went 2-for-7 from the field. He hauled in two rebounds and swatted a shot with a swiped steal in the Gators’ second loss.
Kerry Blackshear Jr. is having a solid season if you just look at the box score. But actually watching him, given his dip in 3 point production early on, I struggle to see an NBA player as of now. Blackshear Jr. is shooting just 14 percent from deep.
Andrew Nembhard has been solid this season both in the box score and on the floor. His playmaking ability mixed with his rare bucket getting has his stock trending more up than down. I would venture to say Nembhard is the best playmaker in college basketball. He is the lone Gator that has impressed me this season.
The final verdict:
Lewis: Stock down
Blackshear: Stock down
Nembhard: Stock up