NBA Draft Big Board: Washington Wizards should be thrilled to land one of these 5 prospects
By Cem Yolbulan
5. Anthony Black
The 6’7 point guard from Arkansas has one of the highest basketball IQs in this year’s draft class. On top of his excellent size for his position, he is a very mature floor general who plays at his own pace.
Black is only 19 years old and is at the beginning of his basketball journey, he has plenty of room to grow. He projects to be a two-way guard with the ability to defend multiple positions. He averaged an impressive 2.1 steals per game, a stat that bodes very well for his NBA future. He is a very good help defender with active hands.
His weaknesses come on the offensive end. He lacks an explosive off-the-dribble game. He has good athleticism but doesn’t have the speed and the burst to blow by his defender or create separation. He will likely not be a big-time scorer.
His shooting form and accuracy leaves a lot to be desired. His 30% from three and 70% from the free-throw line is concerning for a perimeter player.
However, he was still a very high-level contributor in college. He averaged 12.8 points and 3.9 assists as a secondary playmaker. He is an excellent and unselfish passer who keeps the offense flowing with his wonderful decision-making.
If the Wizards can fix his shot, Black has the potential to be a key two-way guard for a long time.