Atlanta Hawks: 14 Players to Watch in 2019 NCAA Tournament
By Chris Guest
Zion Williamson, R.J. Barrett & Cam Reddish
Much has been written about the ballyhooed freshman trio of Zion Williamson, R.J. Barrett and Cam Reddish (even here on this very website), but the truth is, when the 2019 Duke Blue Devils are playing well, there is no better team in the country nor a more fun team to watch.
Zion’s electrifying exploits are truly stunning to see, and his incredible all-around gifts transform games when he’s out there. One of the greatest prospects in recent memory with otherworldly athleticism as well as sky-high basketball IQ, Zion is one of a kind.
However, he is surrounded by NBA talent as well in R.J. Barrett, Cam Reddish and Tre Jones – the first two of which will likely be on the Atlanta Hawks radar come NBA Draft time.
While Barrett has been stigmatized by his lack of efficiency as has Reddish by his unsightly shooting numbers, both players are deserving of lottery picks (perhaps top-5 picks) because of their raw skills, athletic gifts and pedigree.
If Duke is able to play to their strengths and defeat a tough field on the way to a national championship, all four players will likely be playing big roles on NBA teams immediately.
While Tre Jones is a gifted defender, it is unlikely that the Atlanta Hawks will be interested in a defense-first guard to pair alongside the best rookie in franchise history: the one and only Trae Young.