Charles Bassey
A relatively unheralded prospect in this draft class, Charles Bassey out of Western Kentucky absolutely dominated Conference USA in his freshman season – being named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year as well as Freshman of the Year, while also nabbing All-Defensive team, All-Conference team and All-Freshman team honors. Not bad for a player that won’t turn 19 until October.
Bassey is still raw, but he showcase excellent finishing chops and even a burgeoning three-point stroke in his lone season at Western Kentucky. According to KenPom, Bassey ranked 17th in the country in true shooting percentage (67.3%), 42nd in the country in block rate (8.7%), 58th in the country in two-point field goal percentage (63.9%) and 65th in defensive rebound rate (24.6%).
That’s an impressive profile for a big man, and if his 45 percent clip from long range is real (on only 9 of 20 shooting), Bassey might turn some heads at the combine.
Could Bassey be a high-upside play for the Atlanta Hawks in the 2019 NBA Draft? At most outlets, Bassey is ranked in the mid-to-late 30s or 40s on draft boards (including Tankathon‘s, where he is 44th) as more traditional big men are just not in vogue these days in the NBA.