The NBA Draft is only one week away, and teams are beginning to finalize their Big Boards. While we know who the top players in this class are, there are always players who fall out of the lottery that end up becoming very solid NBA players.So let’s look at five players in this year’s draft class who I think are underrated and have the potential to become very solid NBA players. None of the players I’m about to mention are ranked in the top 20 of ESPN's Chad Ford’s big board.
Pierre Jackson, PG, Baylor
Jackson may be short at 5-foot-9, but he can flat-out play. Jackson averaged 19.8 points and 7.1 assists per game this season, and he carried the Baylor Bears for large parts of the season. He is an exceptional athlete who a high basketball IQ.We saw what Nate Robinson did for the Chicago Bulls this postseason, and Jackson could turn into that type of player.
Ryan Kelly, PF, Duke
Big men that can stretch the floor are a huge part of the NBA game today, and Kelly is a knockdown shooter. Kelly shot 42-percent from three-point range this season, and 81-percent from the free-throw line.Kelly is by no means a great athlete, but his basketball IQ is through the roof and he always seems to be in the right place at the right time. He is an underrated defender as well. He reminds me a lot of Shane Battier, another Duke grad.
Allen Crabbe, SG, California
Every team needs shooters, and Crabbe is definitely one of the best shooters in this class. I mean, this guy can really shoot the basketball, especially coming off screens. Crabbe is also versatile enough on offense to play either the shooting guard or the small forward position.Eric Green, PG, Virginia Tech
Green was Mr. Do-It-All for Virginia Tech this year. Oh yeah, he also led the nation in scoring with 25 points per game.Even though he is best at scoring, he is also a pretty good passer as well. He averaged 3.8 assists per game this year for the Hookies, but that number could have easily been higher if his teammates could make layups or open jump shots.
Green has good size at 6-foot-4 and he is a pretty good athlete. His shooting percentage from the floor and from the three-point line has improved each year. He could end up being a very solid backup guard for a good NBA team down the line.
Richard Howell, PF, North Carolina State
Howell was the unsung hero for North Carolina State this season, even though Lorenzo Brown and CJ Leslie got most of the credit for their success. Howell is another player who would be much higher on team’s draft boards if he were a few inches taller.Howell is only 6-foot-8, but is an animal on the boards. Rebounding is a stat that always seems to translate from college to the pros, so don’t expect his height disadvantage to keep him from grabbing boards in the NBA.
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