Draft Express Mock Draft: #8 Maxey, #24 Whitney, #55 Hagans

[WitnessGreatness]

Draft Express updated their 2020 Mock Draft which has Tyrese Maxey going #8 to Washington, Kahlil Whitney going #24 to OKC and Ashton Hagans going #55 to Charlotte

Others of note: #1 LaMelo Ball, #2 Anthony Edwards, #3 James Wiseman, #5 RJ Hampton, #9 Jaden McDaniels, #17 Isaiah Stewart, #18 Vernon Carey

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/st...mock-draft-new-lottery-picks-scouting-reports

 

[cawoodsct]

Did you mean 240 for Whitney?

 

[KentuckyCat420]

Hagans is easily playing himself into the 1st round and Whitney looks undraftable.

 

[Rembrandt90]

Did you mean 240 for Whitney?

How much crow do some of our fans need to eat before they will learn that leaping to quick negative judgments about our young basketball players doesn’t work. Players learn and get better. That’s why they come to UK. Less than two weeks ago, almost everyone on this board was writing Richards and Montgomery off. Last year, a lot of people here were dumping on Hagans.

 

[loublue22_rivals308424]

Whoever passes on Wiseman will lose their job

 

[Mike-D]

Hagans is easily playing himself into the 1st round and Whitney looks undraftable.

Agree on Whitney. Vastly overrated.

 

[cawoodsct]

How much crow do some of our fans need to eat before they will learn that leaping to quick negative judgments about our young basketball players doesn’t work. Players learn and get better. That’s why they come to UK. Less than two weeks ago, almost everyone on this board was writing Richards and Montgomery off. Last year, a lot of people here were dumping on Hagans.

Feed me, baby!

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Hagans is too low, but these draft boards are very hit or miss.. i would bet that they make minor changes here and there, and not even look at other players.

Regardless, Kentucky is going to return quite a few players. I dont see a scenario where both IQ and Hagans get drafted. And Brooks and Whitney are still far off. EJ and Richards are in the right track but they need to keep their play up.

My biggest prediction in all of this.. is that we have 1, maybe even 2 transfers (or decommits). Kentucky is looking like they might have a bit of a log jam.. but still a lot of games left.

 

[zannmann]

I don’t get Whitney at 24, but Cal is doing his hardest to make it happen.

 

[AlbanyWildCat]

Whoever passes on Wiseman will lose their job

Doubt the Warriors will...

 

[TortElvisII]

Whoever passes on Wiseman will lose their job

Agreed.

 

[Kennycat11]

Whitney will get drafted on the fact that he’s fits the prototypical SF mode. He’s 6’7”. 220lbs. & NBA level athlete. They will hope to add skill to his game and have a solid contributor in a few years. Agree that his play doesn’t warrant his lofty draft status and I expect it to go down before the end of the year but that’s why he will remain on draft boards.

 

[westerncat]

Way to early to be talking who is going where (UK players) in the draft. We have seen it over the years how some get much better by March.

 

[LadyCaytIL]

Whitney is going to fall down that list hard if he doesn’t figure out how to dribble in the next month

 

[catfando]

How much crow do some of our fans need to eat before they will learn that leaping to quick negative judgments about our young basketball players doesn’t work. Players learn and get better. That’s why they come to UK. Less than two weeks ago, almost everyone on this board was writing Richards and Montgomery off. Last year, a lot of people here were dumping on Hagans.

This ^ I remember last year people saying Herro was a 3-4 year player, he didn’t have the ability to play in the NBA, yada yada. These freshmen won’t be the same come March. Going from HS (where your level of competition is inferior) to major CBB is a huge step. It takes them time to adjust. Cal recruited these guys for a reason. And I’ll trust his judgement when it comes to their skill set and talent over anyone else. We will not have a logjam next year. We will be fine.

 

[G-PIP]

To me, it's easy to watch Whitney and see 1st round NBA draft pick. If teams drafted based on college production, Cassius Winston would have been a lottery pick multiple years. But they don't.

 

[qwesley]

Whitney is going to fall down that list hard if he doesn’t figure out how to dribble in the next month

Probably. Or could be like Nassir Little last year who rode the bench at UNC all year and went 25th based just on his athleticism.

 

[Mike-D]

Whitney will get drafted on the fact that he’s fits the prototypical SF mode. He’s 6’7”. 220lbs. & NBA level athlete. They will hope to add skill to his game and have a solid contributor in a few years. Agree that his play doesn’t warrant his lofty draft status and I expect it to go down before the end of the year but that’s why he will remain on draft boards.

He's gonna be a 2nd rounder unless this draft is just absolutely terrible which is probably the case.

 

[Kennycat11]

He's gonna be a 2nd rounder unless this draft is just absolutely terrible which is probably the case.

I agree. I don’t think he’s first round worthy at all. I just think his measurables will Keep him in the draft and some playoff team can stash him and hopefully refine his game. Like the always say about big men, “ you can’t teach height” well, his physical makeup is ideal for the NBA.

 

[BBallin23]

Whoever passes on Wiseman will lose their job

What’s the hype with Wiseman? All I’ve seen is a back to the basket big which is extinct in the NBA. I haven’t watched enough of him to know but does he shoot the three at a decent clip?

 

[Fgpoe03]

Hagan's will be first round and I could see Nick and EJ surprising people by the end of the year. Even Brooks is starting to show spurts. So I think we have a lot more in the mock draft at the end of the year. If Nick can play the way he has, against solid competition. He could easily be in the first round.

 

[Justwar]

Whitney will get drafted on the fact that he’s fits the prototypical SF mode. He’s 6’7”. 220lbs. & NBA level athlete. They will hope to add skill to his game and have a solid contributor in a few years. Agree that his play doesn’t warrant his lofty draft status and I expect it to go down before the end of the year but that’s why he will remain on draft boards.

He's a power forward in the nba till he can be at least a average shooter

 

[Nubb16]

Whitney [laughing]

 

[marshalfan]

I am not saying Whitney will not improve but so far he hasn't looked very good.

 

[westerncat]

Can't wait to see some of you eating crow later.

 

[Sparkaces]

Probably. Or could be like Nassir Little last year who rode the bench at UNC all year and went 25th based just on his athleticism.

That's actually a really good comparison. The only difference is Cal is force feeding Whitney minutes.

 

[STL_Cat]

Still not sure I’m buying Hagans as an NBA player. Good college player though.

 

[Kennycat11]

He's a power forward in the nba till he can be at least a average shooter

I dont think hes much of anything at an NBA level right now..... but his size and athleticism make-up are perfect for a SF..... and that is what teams would draft him for and hope they could develop better handles and a better jumper....

 

[Untouchables22]

Whitney is going to fall down that list hard if he doesn’t figure out how to dribble in the next month

He is definitely in the James Young & Alex Poythress group where they travel after more then two steps with the ball....every...freaking....time.

 

[Justwar]

I dont think hes much of anything at an NBA level right now..... but his size and athleticism make-up are perfect for a SF..... and that is what teams would draft him for and hope they could develop better handles and a better jumper....

Shooting matters so much and height matters so little in the nba. Kidd gilchrist for example played some small ball center last year.

 

[Kennycat11]

Shooting matters so much and height matters so little in the nba. Kidd gilchrist for example played some small ball center last year.

I’m not trying to argue with ya man. I’m just saying that at 6’7” and 220lbs with elite athleticism that he will remain on teams draft boards. Obviously his skills aren’t NBA level but a good team can draft and stash that kid In the hopes that his talent catches up to his measurables.

 

[JesusCal91]

Who's this hack first three picks will be wiseman Edwards and Cole Anthony

 

[marshalfan]

Can't wait to see some of you eating crow later.

Whtiney may very well explode and I hope he does but he has showed very little so far. It is okay that he not shooting well, he really wasn't supposed to but he isn't rebounding or playing good defense. It is still very early but for me I had rather see Brooks or Juzang on the floor/.

 

[GonzoCat90]

Y'all wouldn't have wanted Kawhi at age 18 either.

I don't know how long we have to discuss this before people still equating college production with NBA ability.

 

[westerncat]

Whtiney may very well explode and I hope he does but he has showed very little so far. It is okay that he not shooting well, he really wasn't supposed to but he isn't rebounding or playing good defense. It is still very early but for me I had rather see Brooks or Juzang on the floor/.

Wait and see. Camp Cal will work wonders.

 

[kyrx]

Way too early, but for me, Maxey is a stud, Hagans is still a suspect shooter/finisher (but good passer), and Whitney is young--give him time.

 

[Sparkaces]

Y'all wouldn't have wanted Kawhi at age 18 either.

I don't know how long we have to discuss this before people still equating college production with NBA ability.

I am sure Kawhi wasn’t ready at 18, but that’s why he wasn’t even thinking about the NBA after one year. Cal is almost force feeding Whitney minutes when he is clearly behind Brooks for sure and Juzang (at least on offense). I didn’t watch many San Diego St. games but I bet Kawhi was a bad *** defender and rebounder as a freshman even if he couldn’t shoot or dribble a lick.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

People are so down on Whitney
We've played 7 games.

Not all the kids immediately come in and get it right away.

Give it some time.

 

[GonzoCat90]

I am sure Kawhi wasn’t ready at 18, but that’s why he wasn’t even thinking about the NBA after one year. Cal is almost force feeding Whitney minutes when he is clearly behind Brooks for sure and Juzang (at least on offense).

I'm not sure what you've seen out of Juzang to say Whitney is clearly behind him in any facet of the game.

Cal said last week that he's playing Whitney enough minutes that he can figure things out. That's what he's trying to do with most of the team right now. That's what the early part of the season is for.

Whitney isn't sure when to attack or when to move the ball. Brooks has no idea what a good shot situation looks like. Juzang is pressing too hard and gets lost on both ends occasionally. They've barely played with any semblance of a cohesive lineup and roster yet.

None of them look good. Someone has to play, and we'll likely need them all. They'll learn and grow.

 

[CatsPaws270]

Are they watching the games?

Richards looks to at least be a 2nd rounder guaranteed if he goes with his size, talent, potential.