2019 NBA Draft Watch: College Basketball Games of the Week/Prospects of Note

Monday, December 17th: #18 Arizona St. @ Vanderbilt (7 PM EST)

Tipping off the week of play will be a fascinating matchup pitting two quality NCAA Tournament-caliber teams, accentuated by each program's fab freshmen from Canada in Luguentz Dort and Simisola Shittu. 

Leading Arizona State (8-1) in scoring at 20.9 points per game, Dort has established himself as a go-to option immediately at the college level. The 6'4, 215 powerful combo guard — with a physical build akin to former Sun Devil and reigning NBA MVP James Harden — plays with a high intensity and subtle but fiery passion on both ends of the floor (2.0 steals per game). Possessing a consistent tendency to attack the defense, determined to do so with a downhill direction, he draws plenty of contact — as it reflects through his regular appearance at the free throw line (8.6 free throw attempts per game, 63.6 FT%). 

Though seemingly most comfortable when able to defeat the defense off the dribble, Dort has shown off-ball capabilities on occasion as a sneaky, often streaky spot up shooter from beyond the arc (34.7 3PT%). Having also occasionally displayed a keen sense of how to read and react off screens and natural offensive action, the native of Quebec is a quality slasher to the rim where he is able to draw fouls and create potential "and one" opportunities. 

Standing tall for the Southeastern Conference (SEC) school, Vandy, is their own freshman in Simisola (Simi) Shittu (15.9 PTS, 7.8 REB, 1.0 BLK). Sharing attributes similar to that of a young Amare Stoudemire, the 6'10, 240 pound big displays an appealing blend of size, skill, and athleticism for a young prospect. 

A force in the open court, Shittu is confident and capable of pushing the break himself off a a rebound and capitalizing at the other end, as he is dangerous in running the floor in transition to fill the lane with a strong finish at the rim. In the half-court his skill shows up as he can successfully operate near the paint, from the free throw line, and will utilize his ability to put the ball on the floor to occasionally put pressure on the defense. While he has yet to establish himself beyond the arc (0-8 on 3's), the baller who hails from the Burlington, Ontario territory is still versatile in his ability as an offensive player.  So far showing to be a strong and efficient scorer near the basket (41-55 on shots near the rim, 74.5 percent) showcasing his athleticism on highlight worthy dunks with plenty of authority.

Wednesday, December 19th: Western Kentucky @ Belmont (7:30 PM EST)

At first glance the matchup between Western Kentucky, a 5-5 team from Conference USA, going to face an opponent from the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in Belmont may not solicit an inspiring reaction. Yet, with each program having recent wins against strong opponents from high-major conferences and featuring a bonafide NBA prospect in their starting lineup, the promise of this mid-week contest offers compelling context. 

Off to a strong start on the 2018-2019 season (8-1), Belmont has been buoyed by their potent offensive attack in the early going— averaging 90.6 points per game, 7th in the country of 353 teams. In a battle of the Bruins, Belmont traveled to the famed Pauley Pavillion and knocked off UCLA on their own home court, 74-72. While Belmont star player didn't have his best scoring game 6'8 wing Dylan Windler still had a strong showing on the glass, where his wingspan and bounce make him a force on a nightly basis. 

Currently shooting at 36.2 percent from three, the lanky lefty with a sound release on his shot will look to regain the stroke he had last year when he drained attempts from beyond the arc at a clip of 42.6%. Winder will look to regain form after back-to-back 12 point performances in his most recent games, having had consecutive 31 point outings in the two games prior to that.

While Belmont boast a future NBA player in the form of a seasoned senior, Western Kentucky fronts its own byway of a formidable freshman, Charles Bassey. A powerful post presence, listed at 6'11, 245 pound the big from Lagos, Nigeria is a rarity as a modern day player who prefers to play to his strengths in the paint. Utilizing his sizable stature, Bassey often establishes position near the rim where opponents find it difficult to prevent him from throwing down a dunk or converting through contact —leading C-USA in field goal percentage at 61. 

While he's done most of his damage by the basket, Bassey has shown signs of a soft touch on his shot (shooting 71.4 from the free throw line and connecting on three of five 3 point attempts) that signify a potential to expand his range as he continues to develop his game.

Thursday, December 20th: #12 Texas Tech vs. #2 Duke (7 PM EST @ Madison Square Garden)

In a neutral-site contest set to be played at "The World's Most Famous Arena" the feel could yield that of a matchup made for March Madness, with the talent on the floor favoring that of an NBA game. Featuring two talented teams with a combined one loss on the season and a handful of projected first round picks, provides promising play to take place under the lights in New York City.

Entering the game undefeated at 10-0, Texas Tech is seen as the underdog going against a Duke squad ranked second in the country. Having began this season unranked, after ending the 2017-2018 schedule as the #14 team in the nation and losing their leading scorer in Keenan Evans, as well as first round pick Zhaire Smith, the Red Raiders have ascended to the #12 spot on the strength of a staunch defense. They currently rate tops in the country in points per game allowed, opponents field goal percentage, and defensive rating.

While there are a number of complimentary scorers on the team — as five players average between 7 and 11 points per game — their offense runs runs through and relies on 6'6 sophomore shooting guard Jarrett Culver. A slender wing scorer with an immense wingspan that nears seven feet, Culver has improved his productivity along with his efficiency as the go-to option in his second season at the college-level, after being the third leading scorer on the Texas Tech team as a freshman. Not just seeing a rise in scoring, he's also improved his impact as a facilitator going from averaging 1.8 assists against 1.1 turnovers and upping his average to 4.4 assists a contest (with an assist turnover ratio that's now 2 to 1). 

Another key player for the Red Raiders is redshirt senior transfer from St. John's Tariq Owens. Standing a slim 6'10, 205 pounds the big man for is one of the few complimentary offensive players on the team averaging 8.5 points per game, while shooting 57.4 percent from the field. It's on the other end of the floor with a bouncy vertical where Owens makes his biggest impact averaging an impressive 2.7 blocks in just over 20 minutes per game, thus far, after having led the Big East in blocks the past two seasons. He currently holds the lead for defensive rating in the country amongst all players and will likely be counted upon for his elite rim-protection against an athletic Duke team that thrives on opportunities near the basket, should Texas Tech pull off win.

Of all the players Owens will look to deter from the hoop, none will pose the potential for a poster-worthy meeting in the air than Duke forward Zion Williamson. The 6'7, 285 pound phenomenon came to college with an already-made reputation for his unique combination size, strength, and springy bounce, having maintained his signature status with continued ascendant dunks and bountiful blocks back in the face of opponents. While those type of plays typically grace the highlights, Williamson's all-around play is like none other that's been seen at the college level to date, currently registering a player efficiency rating that would go down as the highest in NCAA history. 

Combining with Williamson as one of the best players in college basketball this season, RJ Barrett is a freshman force as well who knows how to put the ball in the hoop (24.5 points per game). The 6'7, 202 pound prospect from Canada plays with pride and passion, showing a propensity to attack the basket with athleticism and attitude that is almost exclusively seen amongst the premier NBA wings. Not just a scorer, Barrett's elite-level athleticism bodes well for him as a quality rebounder and he is a capable playmaker as well that is able to find teammates in transition and when breaking down and collapsing the defense in the half-court with his dribble drive. 

Joining Barrett on the wing for the Blue Devils is Cam Reddish. At 6'8, 218 pounds Reddish is a smooth-moving offensive player, whose particularly profiled as a perimeter scoring threat. With skills and size that would likely make him the primary prospect on nearly any other college roster, Reddish has provided positive production averaging 14 points per game, though he has been uneven in finding his shot at times as a third scoring option on the the tremendously talented Duke team. 

While the focus of fans and opponents likely begins with Williamson, Barrett, and Reddish, it's another freshman in point guard Tre Jones who stabilizes the stacked squad. Similar to his brother Tyus — who helped lead Duke to a National Championship along with Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow, and Grayson Allen — Jones may take a backseat in the attention paid to him in deference to his fellow freshman teammates, but is a polished point that positively impacts each of the aforementioned players. A precocious playmaker, the 6'2, 183 pound prospect plays with an instinctive feel for the game and does an admirable job in directing the floor for the Blue Devils, averaging 5.6 assists to a paltry 1.1 turnovers a night.