2018 NBA Draft: Atlanta Hawks Guard Options at 30th Overall
By Dallin Duffy
Donte DiVincenzo
What a difference a single game can make. That breakout game for DiVincenzo just happened to be on one of the biggest stages in all of sports.
In the 2018 NCAA National Championship game, Donte came off the bench to hit on 10 of 15 shots en route to 31 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks, leading the Wildcats of Villanova to the championship win.
He flew up draft boards after his heroic performance and receiving the Final Four’s MVP.
The shooting guard is a tireless, relentless scorer that is a threat for buckets practically anywhere. A career 57% shooting percentage from the field is solid, and he can create his own shots as well as catch and shoot.
He’s willing and able to pass out of a bad situation, and his 3.5 assists per game last season is even more impressive knowing he came off the bench every year because he played alongside Jalen Brunson, one of the best true point guards in the NCAA.
He’s also talented at rebounding. He has good size for a guard and pulled in nearly 5 rebounds a game last season.
He’s also coming out of one of the best college programs in recent history. His Nova team won more than 32 games in each of the three years he was there, including two championships. He’s a winner, but has never been the lone wolf on a team, which could be worrying.
If placed on a team like the Hawks, where he’ll be counted on to immediately make an impact, it’s unclear how he’ll handle that.
Still, the upside far outweighs his flaws, and even though he’s 21 already, he has the ability to be one of the most NBA-ready players in the draft.