The North Alabama Lions play the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the first half of a basketball game on December 28, 2021. Robert Johnson poses for a picture.
The images are from the same company.
With the end of 2021, we have already seen a lot of players make strong cases for why they should be selected in the NBA draft. We are starting to get a good feel for what most prospects have to offer at this point in time.
There will be some players that will make more noise in the second half of the season, and it can be fun to try to find some that might have slipped through the cracks. Heading into the New Year, you will want to remember three players.
The forward is a sophomore by the way.
There is a good chance that Strawther will go to the NBA draft in the future, but he would be wise to take a break after this season. The 19-year-old is a junior for the team and he is averaging more than 10 points and 6 Rebounds per game. The forward looked like he was the best player on the floor in the loss to Duke. Mark Few's team is loaded this year, but Strawther had 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the floor in that game. He was 3 for 7 from three and had 10 rebound in that game.
Strawther had a question mark about his jumper coming into the season, but he reworked his mechanics and the results have been there thus far. The sophomore is shooting 37.9% from the outside and has been very good in spot-up situations. He is scoring 1.102 points per possession on those plays, which puts him in the 76th percentile. Strawther has scored 1.5 points per possession in catch-and-shoot situations in the half court. Strawther has great touch from all over the floor, so this isn't all that surprising. His push floater is one of his best shots.
Recommended for you.
1
2
3
It is hard to imagine Strawther not becoming an NBA player one day. The former four-star recruit has what it takes to be a very good scorer at the next level. I think Strawther is one of the top-40 prospects in this class, but he has some work to do to become a more complete player. If he comes out earlier than expected, teams would love his smooth offensive game.
NBA scouts look at a long list of underutilized FSU players. The freshman is playing just 5.9 points and 3.0 rebound per game in 15.3 minutes per game, but he is a seven-footer with legitimate wing skills. Even if you produce a small amount of things, they are enough to get you some looks.
He has a nice jumper when his feet are set, but he has only taken 25 shots from deep, and he moves well for a player at his height. The 19-year-old has a decent handle for a player of that size, and he looks comfortable shooting pull ups. On the other side of the floor, the player with the best timing as a shot blocker is Butler.
The problem with the player is that he hasn't played much this season, and he needs to play more to get used to it. It would be a huge understatement to say that he is a raw prospect. Leonard Hamilton will look to get him on the floor a bit more in the second half of the year as Florida State struggles a bit. People will notice if the numbers start to improve. There is enough for a team with good player development to take a chance on him. A player needs to have his tools on the board.
Allen Flanigan is a guard for the auburn team.
Last season, Flanigan averaged over 14 points, 6 points, 5 points, 3 points, and 2 assists per game, shooting 45.5% from the field and 33.8% from three-point land. The junior has only played in two games this year, as he just came back from an injury. Flanigan has put in the work to make him a legit NBA prospect. The southpaw should be drafted in the first round.
Flanigan is tall and has a body that can absorb contact, making him a great shooting guard. Flanigan averaged 1.517 points per possession at the basket last season, putting him in the 96th percentile. The guard knows how to get himself to the cup off the dribble, and he is a very good scorer at the rim. It doesn't hurt that he's an athlete.
As a sophomore, Flanigan was in the 94th percentile in catch-and-shoot situations in the half court, and it will be interesting to see how he ends up shooting as a junior. One would think that Flanigan's percentage from three will go up as he gets more comfortable this year. Flanigan's jumper has never been a red flag, and it should only get better considering the amount of time he spent shooting stand-still shots as he recovered from his injury.
At the next level, Flanigan has the potential to be a microwave scorer. His shot selection could be improved, but players with his ability don't grow on trees. Flanigan should have a lot of chances to show his skills in front of NBA decision makers if Jabari Smith is the top pick. I think he will improve his draft stock by the time the draft rolls around.
