Atlanta Hawks Mock Draft After the Trade Deadline
By Chris Guest
#35 Admiral Schofield
While Grant Williams out of Tennessee would also be a great pick here, it seems that teams are starting to realize how special he is after he’s been ascending up draft boards following some spectacular performances in conference play with the Volunteers.
Though Williams is getting much of the shine for good reason, his teammate, the incredibly named Admiral Schofield, also deserves respect and draft shine from an NBA team in the second round, and my dream is that the Atlanta Hawks reach for him at the top of the second round.
A 6-foot-6, 240-pound tank with shoulders the size of cantaloupes, Schofield is definitely a sight to behold. A versatile defender who has been comfortable switching all season for the #1-ranked Volunteers, Schofield is a career 37.6 percent shooter from distance, and he’s currently sitting at a career-high 40 percent notch from deep on nearly 5 attempts per game.
Overall his 49/40/75 slash line belies an efficient scorer, and his 26 percent usage rate shows that he is comfortable serving as the number one option – but he also lets the team’s slightly better player (Williams) work his magic as well.
Schofield’s most impressive performance of the season came against the then-ranked #1 Gonzaga Bulldogs. After Williams fouled out, Schofield put the Vols on his back and drilled improbable three after improbable three on the way to an upset victory.
Since that game, Tennessee is undefeated.
A natural leader who would be an older rookie, Schofield would be an excellent culture-setter for the Atlanta Hawks.