While there’s no dominant force coming out of college basketball similar to Duke’s Zion Williamson last season, there are five young athletes selected in the first round of the NBA Draft that could challenge one another for Rookie of the Year status.
While the current betting odds favor Charlotte Hornets first round draft pick LaMelo Ball, he’ll have to perform at a high level to beat out the other NBA rookies vying for ROY honors.
#1: LaMelo Ball, Guard, Charlotte Hornets
Prior to being selected with the third overall draft pick, LaMelo Ball had two years of professional basketball under his belt. Before his junior year at Chinco Hills High School in California, Ball signed with Lithuanian professional team Prienai.
After graduating from high school, he decided to forgo his commitment to UCLA and play in Australia for the Illawarra Hawks of the National Basketball League (NBL).. While neither league possesses the sort of talent and skill seen in the NBA, Ball’s experience at the professional level will help him adapt much quicker during his rookie year.. He should receive free rein from Hornet’s owner Michael Jordan to show off his skills and hopefully lead the team to its first playoff appearance since 2016.
#2: Killian Hayes, Guard, Detroit Pistons
With the seventh overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft, the Detroit Pistons selected French-American guard Killian Hayes. Similar to Ball, Hayes didn’t play basketball in college but opted to compete in Europe in both the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL), the top league in Germany, and the EuroCup.
NBA writer and The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor said he sees flashes of James Harden in how Hayes handles the ball and is able to create his own shot off the dribble.. Since stats and highlight reels often dictate the ROY award, Hayes is sitting pretty. He’ll be given plenty of opportunities to shine in Detroit. Last season, the Pistons offense ranked 20th in efficiency. Management will let Hayes do whatever he wishes with the basketball.
#3: Cole Anthony, Guard, Orlando Magic
Point guard Cole Anthony out of the University of North Carolina was selected 16th overall by the Orlando Magic. While the former top-five prospect didn’t have the most successful freshman year as a Tar Heel, he still showed flashes of offensive prowess over the course of the 2019-20 season.
Anthony, the son of 11-year veteran Greg Anthony, played for the U.S. at the 2018 FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship in St. Catharines, Ontario. Over the course of the tournament, Anthony averaged 14.3 points and 4.2 assists per game.
#4: Chuma Okeke, Forward, Orlando Magic
While not favored among early betting odds, Orlando Magic forward Chuma Okeke has had an extra year to learn the ends and outs of being a professional basketball player. Although he was taken 16th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, he sat out the entire year due to a torn ACL.
If healthy, Okeke can dominate the stat sheet on a poor team like the Orlando Magic. Despite the prospect of missing a full year, Okeke shot up the draft board following a strong performance in the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
#5: Anthony Edwards, Guard, Minnesota Timberwolves
Listed at 6 feet 5 inches and 225 pounds, Georgia Bulldog guard Anthony Edwards dominated the SEC, capturing the conference’s Freshman of the Year award. The former McDonald’s All-American was selected with the first overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2020 NBA Draft.
According to ESPN, Edwards was rated a five-star recruit, top-five player, and the top shooting guard in the 2019 draft class. He also collected four SEC Freshman of the Week awards, the most in Georgia basketball history.. If anyone is going to challenge LaMelo Ball for ROY, it’s Anthony Edwards.