Boston Celtics backcourt target #1: Sharife Cooper, Auburn
There are very few (if any) more capable ball-handlers in the transition game than Auburn’s Sharife Cooper in this year’s NBA Draft. After terrorizing opposing defenses with spectacular lobs and a killer crossover, Cooper put himself on the map despite the Tigers’ lack of team success in a season they were ineligible for the postseason.
His one downfall is in his jumper, but Cooper is so proficient in the passing game that any second unit would be lucky to have a playmaker of his stature.
Verdict: Draft.
Boston Celtics backcourt target #2: Miles McBride, West Virginia
Miles McBride was one of the leaders of one of the March Madness #3 seeds, and despite their Round of 32 loss to Syracuse, West Virginia had a banner season in the Big 12.
With a 3-point conversion rate north of 40% and averaging 15.8 points, five assists, and four rebounds per game, McBride is a big-game performer (41 points in two March Madness games) that would immediately translate to the NBA level.
Verdict: Draft
Boston Celtics backcourt target #3: Nah’Shon Hyland, VCU
There are several examples over the years of players from mid-major programs that transcend their school and conference and ascend to All-Star heights in the NBA. Damian Lillard (Weber State) is perhaps the game’s best floor general and Ja Morant (Murray State) is on his way to reaching that level.
VCU’s Nah’Shon Hyland doesn’t have quite the ceiling those two have being relatively undersized, and as more of a combo guard, his transition to the NBA will likely be nowhere as smooth…assuming he makes a final roster somewhere.