With the NCAA Tournament now over, the attention for college stars has turned to the NBA draft. And one general manager says he would consider taking Gonzaga star Jalen Suggs with the first overall selection.
This news was relayed by Jordan Schultz of ESPN, who wrote, “One GM I spoke with said he would consider taking Jalen Suggs first overall. Why? It’s because Suggs possesses a rare combination of special tools: Elite playmaking, lockdown defending and an overall competitiveness that helps transform an entire team’s DNA.”
Suggs and the Zags went 31-0 before losing to Baylor in the title game. But there is no doubt the 6-foot-3 point guard has all the assets an NBA team is seeking in a winning backcourt player.
Most mock drafts have Oklahoma State guard/forward Cade Cunningham being selected first overall, with Suggs coming a pick or two after Cunningham. That includes the mock right here on FortyEightMinutes. But there is plenty of time between now and what is considered one of the deepest drafts in years, and a lot could change after the annual lottery.
More Draft Notes
- Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu has decided to enter the draft and hire an agent, forgoing his remaining NCAA eligibility, he said on ESPN’s The Jump. Dosunmu averaged 20.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists this past season.
- In case you missed it, Tennessee guard Jaden Springer was among the more notable players to declare for the draft recently. (Cunningham has too, of course). “Playing in the NBA has always been my dream,” Springer said when announcing the decision.
- Springer is among the projected first-rounders and a potential lottery pick. Again, our post-tourney mock draft was posted on Wednesday. Be sure to check it out here.
