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OKC Thunder draft prospect profile: Killian Hayes

By Tamberlyn Richardson

Killian Hayes of Ratiopharm Ulm (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
Killian Hayes of Ratiopharm Ulm (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /
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OKC Thunder draft prospect profiles: Killian Hayes of Ratiopharm Ulm controls the Ball during the EasyCredit Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) match. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images) /

Killian Hayes may have the highest upside of the guards in this draft and reminds of a certain lengthy OKC Thunder cornerstone.

This 2020 draft is top-heavy with point guards including some big names. However, the prospect who has an argument as the best of the group with the most potential is Killian Hayes. For Sam Presti and the OKC Thunder, the question is whether there is a move that can be made to land Hayes without sacrificing any draft picks in the next two years.

In his zoom media session, Killian Hayes offered insight into why he’s so highly regarded in this 2020 draft. He is a bit of an unusual case as he was born in America but spent the majority of youthful basketball phase in France.

Killian Hayes draft prospect preview:

Specifics:

  • Height: 6’5″
  • Weight: 215 pounds (has added 20 pounds since his season ended)
  • Wingspan: 6’8”
  • Position: Point guard
  • Birthdate/Age: July 27, 2001, 19.4 years
  • International: Ratiopharm, Ulm
  • Stat line: 12.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.5 steals
  • Home Town: Lakeland, Florida (but is dual citizen having grown up in France)
Per Game Table
Season Team G MP FGA FG% 3PA 3P% 2PA 2P% FTA FT% TRB AST STL PTS
2017-18 Cholet 9 9.1 1.6 .571 0.3 .667 1.2 .545 0.3 .667 0.6 1.2 0.0 2.2
2018-19 Cholet 33 19.8 6.5 .432 2.2 .192 4.2 .557 1.5 .820 2.3 3.1 1.0 7.2
2019-20 ratiopharm Ulm 10 26.8 10.1 .455 4.1 .390 6.0 .500 2.2 .909 2.3 6.2 1.5 12.8
3 Seasons 19.3 6.3 .445 2.3 .274 4.1 .540 1.4 .840 2.0 3.4 0.9 7.4

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/11/2020.

His rise this season came with him taking on more responsibility as a playmaker and scoring option. Like Deni Avdija and Luka Doncic before him the games he played this season were on a professional team with men not college players or peers of his own age.

Current Ranking:

Hayes is a consensus lottery pick and everyone seeds him 10th or higher. Although Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball are drawing the most attention it’s Hayes and Tyrese Haliburton who might end up with the more impressive career tallies!

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