Atlanta Hawks: 6 Underrated Prospects to Consider in 2019 NBA Draft

Zach Norvell Jr.

Zach Norvell Jr. of the Gonzaga Bulldogs was an incredibly important starter for one of the best teams in the country all season. The Zags were a complete juggernaut, and they blew out their competition in the West Coast Conference – despite some late-season bid collusion in their conference tournament.

Norvell was fairly consistent from his freshman to sophomore season, though it must be noted that he is a fairly old sophomore at 21 years old on draft night.

Norvell produced an excellent season of 14.9 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game and 3.1 assists per game as the team’s starting two guard. In college, Norvell was a noted three-point shooter, and his career average of 37.1 percent should make it clear that Norvell’s jumper is NBA-ready:

Though his assist percentage in college is fairly low (15.3% in his career), Norvell was employed more as a play finisher and catch-and-shoot specialist than a playmaker, which is something the Atlanta Hawks might need when Kent Bazemore is likely left unsigned after the 2019-20 season.

Not a brilliant defensive player, Norvell played his role on a Gonzaga team that was Top 15 in both offense and defense according to KenPom.

With a 6-foot-5, 205-pound frame, Norvell would do well to add a little muscle, but one thing is for sure: Jump-shooting is always an important skill in the NBA, and Norvell can certainly knock ‘em down if given the chance.