Soaring Down South
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3 Atlanta Hawks Draft Prospects We Wished We Saw in March Madness

By Dallin Duffy

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 30: Onyeka Okongwu #21 of the USC Trojans plays against the Utah Utes at Galen Center on January 30, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 30: Onyeka Okongwu #21 of the USC Trojans plays against the Utah Utes at Galen Center on January 30, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Hawks
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 02: Wendell Moore Jr. #0 and Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils react during the second half of their game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 02, 2020 in Durham, North Carolina. Duke won 88-69. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Tre Jones

If you couldn’t tell between my first two mock drafts and my pitch for the Hawks to move down in the draft, I’m very high on Tre Jones. The ACC Defensive Player of the Year and ACC Player of the Year is a proven winner in his two years in Durham, and we missed a great opportunity to see him go out with a bang in March.

After being cast into Zion Williamson’s, RJ Barrett’s, and Cam Reddish‘s shadow as a freshman, Jones excelled in a bigger role for the Blue Devils, averaging 16.2 points, 6.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game as a sophomore.

He shot 42 percent from the field on over 13 attempts per game, and while he wasn’t lights out from deep (36 percent) could still get it done. Jones always showed up in big games, and his clutch factor could have been a difference-maker in many tournament games.

Jones should carve out a nice NBA career on his defense and play-making alone. Even with his small 6’2 frame, Jones is a great perimeter defender and gets under the opposing players’ skin with his tight D and shifty hands.

Tre could be an instant back up to Trae Young, and Jones’ elite defense should be enough to offset Young’s downfalls on that side of the court.

Next. In Deep NBA Draft, Atlanta should consider moving down. dark

Which potential future Atlanta Hawks player were you most disappointed we didn’t get to see play in march?