2019 NBA Draft Watch: College Basketball Games of the Week

Nick Mayo, Eastern Kentucky (Photo Credit: Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

With the opening week of the newest edition of college basketball complete, the second week opens up with some teams set to play just their second game of the season. Last week's schedule provided a small glimpse of the vast array of talent the country has to offer currently, with this week of contests allowing for fans to further familiarize themselves and bring into focus a few teams and players who are to be featured in the near future.

Set to be played over the next few days are some intriguing contests that will provide an early season platform for an incoming class of freshman who has already had flashes of brilliance across the country and reveal the rise of those returning players on the scene this season.

With college basketball in it's infancy stages of their new calendar, chiefly, non-conference competition will dominate the schedule, with some programs customarily getting their feet wet in the shallow end with foes whose level of talent is often noticeably separable across the roster. Still, there are a select series of games scheduled for the seven day period, presenting high-potential NBA prospects in the way of a number cross-conference contests that have the possibility to be promising.


Following is one game for each day of the week that deserves your attention should you want to familiarize yourself with the future landscape of the NBA.

Monday, November 12: Stanford @ #7 North Carolina (7:00 PM EST)

Entering the season with as much expectations placed on him as a prospect outside of the trio of freshman who play for Tar Heels rival, North Carolina's Nasir Little helped the blue blood of college basketball to a 2-0 record, though doing so while coming off the bench. Following a modest seven point debut, where he went 3-5 from the field, the 6'6 freshman forward flashed with a 21 point, seven rebound, three steal performance in the team's second game, in a 116-67 win against Elon. In both contest he each played 20 minutes.

 Steadying the starting lineup for UNC are a couple of seniors who have improved throughout their college career, beginning as modest contributors and improving their skill and production to be considered by NBA scouts in 6'9 wing Cameron Johnson and 6'8 stretch forward Luke Maye. 

Traveling to Chapel Hill hoping to knockoff the Tar Heels will be Stanford, who despite being unranked do comprise a couple compelling prospects. Encompassed on the Cardinal roster are a contingent of talented sophomores of which forward Kezie Okapala has shined the brightest in the first two games to an average of 26 points. The slender 6'8 second-year player showed his ability to attack the basket from the perimeter and finish from both above and around the rim when positioned nearh the paint. Okpala is joined by a couple of other classmates one being Daejon Davis, a 6’3 combo guard who proved to be a capable playmaker during his freshman season who is best with the ball in his hands. Oscar Da Silva, another forward, who at 6'9 has proven to be an impact on the glass (8.5 RPG) and showed a snapshot of his shooting stroke when he knocked down 56% of his 3-point attempts last season.

Tuesday, November 13: Memphis @ #22 LSU (7:00 PM EST)

In what profiles to be a compelling contest, first year head coach and former NBA All-Star Penny Hardaway will take his Tigers' squad to the field of another set of Tigers in their opponent, LSU. Two players that standout for Memphis are represented in senior tandem Jeremiah Martin and Kyvon Davenport. 

The left-handed Martin is crafty with the ball in his hands, a threat to knock down tough shots from beyond the three point line, and is able to finish through contact when attacking the basket. A 6'3 combo guard, he opened with an 18 point performance in Memphis victory against Tennessee Tech, having averaged 18.9 last season — (44.4/32.7/78.4) FG%, 3P%, FT%. 

Not to be outdone, Davenport dropped 30 points to go along, 10 rebounds. The 6'8 forward shot the ball well from the field (, while using his long wingspan to be a factor on the glass and showcasing his athleticism with a couple strong slam dunks. 

Leading LSU are a group of young talented prospects who is paced by returning sophomore point guard Tremont Waters and a multi-faceted freshman in Naz Reid, flanked by a couple of other talented first-year players in Emmitt Williams and Ja'vonte Smart. 

Waters lead the team in points and assists last season as a freshman, utilizing his quickness and speed to get in the paint, sometimes surprising opponents with his ability to rise above the rim and finish at a listed 5'11, 167 pounds. The dynamic guard also is a threat to pull-up from three, averaging six attempts from beyond the arc per game (35.5%) during 2017-18. In LSU's win over UNC-Greensboro, the second year-player put up 21 points, 10 assists, and 6 steals. 

Considered one of the top freshman talents in the country versatile big Naz Reid showcased his offensive skill-set in the Tigers in the most recent contest, tallying 29 points. Spotting up from three, one-foot, fadeaway jump shots, completing cuts to the basket with strong one-hand flushes at the rim, the 6'10 first-year player featured why NBA front offices will covet the potential "1 and done", once he declares for the draft. 

The two additional freshman who join Reid in the starting lineup are the 6'6 forward Williams and Smart, a solidly built 6'4, 200 pound combo guard. Williams — who set the record for most points in the Jordan Brand Classic with 44 previously held by Lebron James — has the physical attributes and athleticism that are NBA-ready, while Smart is a sound option to share stead as a capable, playmaker alongside Waters and other backcourt member, junior Skylar Mays. 

Wednesday, November 14: #18 Michigan @ #8 Villanova (6:30 PM EST)

In a rematch of last season's NCAA National Championship, Michigan will travel to "The City of Brotherly Love" hoping for a different result against defending champion Villanova. Luckily for the visiting Wolverines', gone from the Wildcats roster are 2018 NBA Draft picks and current rookies Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, and Omari Spellman. Meanwhile, the team from the Big Ten lost a few key contributors, including big Mo Wagner who was taken in the first round following the conclusion of the season.

Amongst the prospects returning who played a pivotal role during the championship contest last season are senior forward Eric Paschall for Villanova and Michigan junior wing Charles Matthews. Both individuals were counted on for contributions by the championship-level college programs during each team's run last season and now find themselves looked upon as leaders who hope to guide their respective rosters back to the Final Four.

Matthews, a 6'6 transfer from Kentucky, emerged last season as reliable scorer and a quality defender whose wingspan and defensive discipline make it tough to for opponents to score against. Listed at 6'8, 255 pounds, Paschall is a powerfully built forward whose presence is made felt on the offensive glass, allowing him to convert high percentage attempts around the basket, but is also capable of stepping outside and knocking down the occasional 3. 

Thursday, November 15: #13 Oregon vs. Iowa (9:15 PM EST)

Taking centerstage in a primetime matchup at Madison Square Garden as the second game of the 2K Empire Classic, one of the most unique players in the country will be on display for fans to be filled in on.

Bol Bol, a 7'2 freshman big, will enter into "The World's Most Famous Arena" having had a positive early start to what will likely be a brief college career. Collecting a double-double in each of the first two games of the season, Bol has proven not only to be effective in his production (17.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.5 blocks), but has also shown the array of skills that make him an likely lottery pick.

While his freakish height is a boon on the defensive side allowing him to hover over opponents for easy rebounds and blocked shots, the son of former NBA center Manute Bol has the agility and skill that of a wing player — capable of running the floor in transition, putting the ball on the deck to make skilled moves towards the basket, and drilling shots from beyond the arc with ease, featuring a fluid form.

Bol and the Oregon Ducks encounter a quality opponent in Iowa that features Tyler Cook, a legit NBA prospect. A junior, Cook returned to Iowa after briefly testing the NBA Draft process, during which time he worked out for multiple teams including the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, and the Brooklyn Nets, among others.

Standing 6'9, 250 pounds, Cook has a solid build that is suited well for his physical style of play. Explosive when jumping off two-feet, he has shown a fondness for finishing over defenders with authority at the rim. Furthermore, being a quality rebounder (10.1 per 40 minutes in 17-18) he'll have his work cut out for him in attempting to keep Bol and Oregon off the glass, who have three other players 6'9 or taller in their rotation —including two in the starting lineup.

Though he won't see the floor in tonight's game, Oregon features another freshman with a likely NBA future in wing/forward Louis King. King, who was selected to the McDonald's All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic, is currently injured with a torn meniscus he suffered in January during his senior season of high school.

With a potential return eyed for early December, the 6'9 lefty from New Jersey will likely be counted on to provide similar skills and production to that of former Oregon wing Troy Brown who was selected by the Washington Wizards in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft following one season for the Ducks, after having been a McDonald's All-American.

Friday, November 16: Eastern Kentucky vs. #12 Kansas St. (7:30 PM EST)

Returning a number of key players who help lead Kansas State to an appearance in the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament last season, the Wildcats entered this season with high expectations. Among the reasons for the optimism surrounding the fortunes of their 2018-2019 campaign are a trio of experienced players in seniors Barry Brown and Dean Wade, along with junior Xavier Sneed. 

Sneed surfaced on the national scene as a sophomore playing with strength typically unseen in a wing player. The 6'5, 220 pound prospect is an in your face, physical player who plays with tenacity as a defender (2.0 steals per game) and is equally tenacious on the offensive end where he loves to live above the rim. Whether it be by way of a lob, throwing down a put-back jam, or attacking the rim off the dribble, he typically meets the rim with a distinct amount of force.

Often times allowing for his teammates opportunities in transition is combo guard Barry Brown who plays with instinctive anticipation on defense and regularly gets his hands in the passing lane (3.0 steals per game) to quickly turn possessions the other way. If he isn't finding Sneed or another Wildcat teammate on the break, Brown is capable of converting turnovers into points himself. In the half court the 6'3 senior relentlessly puts pressure on the defense with his penetration and ability to find multiple ways to put the ball in the basket while in the paint (15.9 points in 17-18, 20.0 points in 18-19). 

Standing 6'10, 228 Dean Wade is a sound big man that is capable of doing whatever is needed. Capable of stepping out in knocking down the three point shot, Wade's offensive skill-set also encompasses a quality mid-range jump shot, while also being competent playing in the post where he is an able passer and can knock down shots with either hand. 

Though Eastern Kentucky typically isn't known for possessing future pros, they certainly have one on their hands in senior Nick Mayo. Maybe the best player in college basketball that few are aware of, the main man from Maine has had an illustrious career to date (3 time first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference) and is on a path to become the first native from the state to ascend to the NBA. The 6'9 star for the Colonels squad is a big man whose supply of offensive skill seems to always have something in store.

 Mayo is comfortable playing with his back to the basket, where he likes to spin off defenders to successfully sink a shot, yet is still skilled enough to step out beyond the arc. When out on the perimeter, he can pick and pop for a three, spot up as a knockdown shooter, and occasionally pull up off the dribble. 

Not only a scorer (28.0 ppg this season) Mayo is a practical playmaker who can initiate the offense from the top of the key as a point-forward and attract the defense from the post to find open teammates. Already a decent rebounder throughout his career (6.2 rebounds per game for career), he added 30 pounds of muscle during the off-season which has helped him see an increase on the glass in the first few games of the his senior campaign (12.0 rebounds). 

A likely matchup of Mayo and Wade should be of interest as the two players look to propel their respective rosters to a win in the Paradise Jam, being played in the Virgin Islands.