Philadelphia 76ers rookie guard Tyrese Maxey may be one of the most important players to fantasy basketball rosters by the time Week 4 concludes...
LeBron James Congratulates Tyrese Maxey on 76ers Pick: 'Philly Got a Good One'
Nov 18, 2020
Kentucky's Tyrese Maxey (3) plays during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Vanderbilt in Lexington, Ky., Wednesday, Jan 29, 2020. Kentucky won 71-62. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
The Philadelphia 76ers selected Kentucky combo guard Tyrese Maxey with the No. 21 overall pick in Wednesday night's NBA draft, and Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James was a big fan of the pick.
@TyreseMaxey CONGRATS Lil bro!! Proud of you kid. The work continues! Philly got a good one for sure! 🙏🏾✊🏾👑
Maxey, who signed with the Klutch Sports Group, which represents James and Ben Simmons, spoke before the draft about how players like James, Simmons and Rajon Rondo have guided him through the process and offered him advice.
"A lot of different people have given me advice," he told Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News. "The most advice, I would say, has come from [Rajon] Rondo, LeBron, Ben. They gave me similar advice: 'Stay the way you are. Don't let anybody change your grind. You grind.' They say I'm probably one of the hardest workers they've ever seen, so, 'Don't let the success slow down your grind. Make it motivate you.'"
It's good advice. And the Sixers, desperate for more talent in the backcourt, are banking on that grind turning Maxey into an excellent NBA player.
Tyrese Maxey's Draft Scouting Report: Pro Comparison, Updated 76ers Roster
Nov 18, 2020
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - FEBRUARY 22: Tyrese Maxey #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats plays defense against the Florida Gators during the first half of the game at Rupp Arena on February 22, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
Kentucky guard Tyrese Maxey is the newest member of the Philadelphia 76ers after going 21th overall in the 2020 NBA draft on Wednesday.
Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report
Player: Tyrese Maxey
Position: SG
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 198
Pro Comparison: Lou Williams
Scouting Report: Kentucky continues to produce starting NBA shooting guards, and Tyrese Maxey figures to be next in line. What he lacks in explosiveness, he makes up for with footwork, skill and strength. Look for Maxey's shooting percentages to improve and lift his scoring output.
Maxey averaged 14.0 points on 42.7 percent shooting (29.2 percent from three-point range), 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the 25-6 Kentucky Wildcats.
The 6'3" guard was part of another highly touted freshman class for the Wildcats, which 247Sports ranked second in the nation behind only Memphis.
Maxey, a 5-star recruit, ranked 10th overall on the 247Sports composite list of the top-100 players in the 2019 class.
Now Maxey makes the leap from college to the pros after one year in Lexington. Here's a look at how the Garland, Texas native may fit into his new team as well as a look as his pro potential.
Wasserman ranked Maxey 10th on his Oct. 27 big board. He wrote the following in part:
"Disappointing percentages haven't scared me from keeping Tyrese Maxey in the top 10. I'm buying his shot-making, floater touch, coordinated finishing, pick-and-roll play and tough defense.
"His range from deep and 83.3 free-throw percentage seem like promising indicators—even if he did hit only 29.2 percent of his threes.
"While I am skeptical about his potential to morph into a lead point guard and primary playmaker, translatable scoring skills and defense are his selling points."
Spencer Pearlman of the Stepien offered a detailed scouting report on Maxey and pegged him as a point-of-attack defender and off-ball guard at the next level. He listed Maxey's ceiling as a starter at the next level, one who would provide high-level defense.
And ESPN's Jonathan Givony, who ranked him 15th on his big board, has Maxey as a "versatile two-way combo guard" in the pros.
Givony offered this bullet point as Maxey's top strength:
"Versatile guard who has the size, strength and length to play either backcourt position. Only 6'3" but has a strong frame and a near 6'8" wingspan. Has a feel for the game that allows him to contribute in a variety of ways. Played mostly off the ball for Kentucky but showed flashes of basic playmaking operating out of pick-and-roll, including the ability to manipulate a ball screen and get to his spots on the floor."
Maxey gets high marks on the defensive end, but the question is whether he can develop a better three-point shot or can improve his playmaking skills enough to be an option at point guard. If he can do both, Maxey may end up being a steal for the 76ers.
Ben Simmons has been the team's point guard in recent years, but the new addition could take some pressure off the All-Star on both ends.
Expect Maxey to come off the bench to start his pro career, but he should be able to carve out decent playing time as part of the rotation right away.
The New York Knicks have a lot at stake in the 2020 NBA draft as they try to turn things around after seven straight losing seasons...
Report: 'Some' NBA Agents Were Unhappy with Klutch Sports' Televised Pro Day
Oct 30, 2020
Sports agent Rich Paul, who represents several NBA players including LeBron James, talks on the phone after an NBA basketball game between the Miami Heat and the Charlotte Hornets, Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Miami. The NBA has suspended its season
In the wake of Klutch Sports' televised pro day for top NBA prospects Tyrese Maxey and Anthony Edwards, anonymous rival agents are upset the league allowed the event to take place.
LeBron James and his agent Rich Paul, who runs Klutch, don't seem to care.
Marc Berman of the New York Post reported "some agents were unhappy with the setup, feeling it was unwarranted exposure for Paul's clients, but the NBA let it go on."
Televised on ESPN2—and featuring cameos by Klutch players Anthony Davis, Draymond Green, Tristian Thompson, Trae Young, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and James—the event Thursday gave Maxey and Edwards a chance to show off their progress since they last played a high-level game in March.
LeBron doesn’t care what anonymous agents have to say about Klutch
Restrictions due to COVID-19 have limited the ability of NBA teams to work out prospects on their own ahead of the November 18 draft. The Klutch pro day was meant to help fill that void.
In response to critics, Paul and James posted messages on social media brushing aside the anonymous comments.
Rich Paul responds to critics of the Klutch Sports ProDay
"Anonymously United with Love," Paul wrote on Instagram. "I want to thank everyone for their support last night. It's not often you see support like this for these young men coming into the league. This is much bigger than makes and misses!"
B/R's Jonathan Wasserman ranked Edwards as the fourth-best player available in this year's draft on his latest big board. Maxey comes in just a few spots behind him at No. 8.
Anthony Edwards Highlights Klutch Pro Day with LeBron, Anthony Davis Watching
Oct 29, 2020
Georgia guard Anthony Edwards plays against Vanderbilt in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
NBA draft prospects and Klutch Sports Group clients Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Maxey took part in a pro day on Thursday at the Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California.
Fellow Klutch Sports Group clients and defending NBA champions LeBron James and Anthony Davis were in attendance:
Bron, AD and KCP pulled up to Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Maxey's Pro Day 👀
Other members of the Klutch Sports Group were there, including Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green.
Quavo, who makes up one-third of the rap group Migos, also watched the event.
LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Draymond Green, Trae Young, Quavo are among those in attendance for Klutch Sports‘ Pro Day for Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Maxey in LA.
Maxey received praise from his former head coach in UK's John Calipari as well as ex-Wildcat teammate Immanuel Quickley:
John Calipari on ESPN2 says Tyrese Maxey will be the next Jamal Murray or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, i.e. a Kentucky guard overlooked in the draft who later proves better suited for the NBA level.
The 6'5" Edwards averaged 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists for the Georgia Bulldogs during his lone year at school. The 6'3" Maxey posted 14.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in his one season with UK.
Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman ranked Edwards and Maxey fourth and eighth, respectively, on his latest 2020 NBA draft big board.
NBA Mock Draft 2020: 1st-Round Order and Predictions for Top Point Guards
Oct 22, 2020
LaMelo Ball of the Illawarra Hawks shoots during their game against the Sydney Kings in the Australian Basketball League in Sydney, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
There are a lot of NBA teams who need point guard help, and there are plenty of options available in the 2020 draft class.
Close to a dozen point guards could be selected in the first round of Nov. 18's draft. Some are better scorers, while others are known for their facilitating. Some are elite athletes, while others excel with their shooting.
The landing spots will come down to teams' scouting and preferences, but this position could become the biggest story on draft night.
Here is a full first-round mock draft with a deeper look at the fits at point guard.
1st-Round Mock Draft
1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, SG, Georgia
2.Golden State Warriors: LaMelo Ball, PG, Illawarra Hawks
3. Charlotte Hornets: James Wiseman, C, Memphis
4. Chicago Bulls: Isaac Okoro, SF, Auburn
5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Deni Avdija, SF, Maccabi Tel Aviv
6. Atlanta Hawks: Obi Toppin, PF, Dayton
7. Detroit Pistons: Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Iowa State
8. New York Knicks: Killian Hayes, PG, Ulm
9. Washington Wizards: Devin Vassell, SF, Florida State
10. Phoenix Suns: Patrick Williams, SF, Florida State
11. San Antonio Spurs: Precious Achiuwa, PF, Memphis
12. Sacramento Kings: Onyeka Okongwu, C, USC
13. New Orleans Pelicans: Aaron Nesmith, SF, Vanderbilt
14. Boston Celtics (from Grizzlies): Jalen Smith, PF, Maryland
15. Orlando Magic: RJ Hampton, PG, New Zealand Breakers
16. Portland Trail Blazers: Saddiq Bey, PF, Villanova
21. Philadelphia 76ers (from Thunder): Tyrell Terry, PG, Stanford
22. Denver Nuggets (from Rockets): Aleksej Pokusevski, PF, Olympiacos B
23. Utah Jazz: Tyrese Maxey, PG, Kentucky
24. Milwaukee Bucks (from Pacers): Tre Jones, PG, Duke
25. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Nuggets): Jaden McDaniels, PF, Washington
26. Boston Celtics:Nico Mannion, PG, Arizona
27. New York Knicks (from Clippers): Leandro Bolmaro, SG, Barcelona 2
28. Los Angeles Lakers: Tyler Bey, SF, Colorado
29. Toronto Raptors: Theo Maledon, PG, Villeurbanne
30. Boston Celtics (from Bucks): Vernon Carey Jr., C, Duke
Notable Picks
LaMelo Ball to the Warriors
Certainly the most exciting player in the class, LaMelo Ball can fill up the stat sheet. He averaged 17.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game for the Illawarra Hawks last season in Oceania's NBL. There are questions about his decision-making and shot selection, but he can score and ignite an offense.
The Warriors already have elite guards in Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, but their depth isn't as good as it was during their run of three titles in four years.
Ball could provide a boost to the second unit as Golden State tries to return to contention in 2020-21. If he lives up to expectations, he could take over for Curry as the go-to option for the franchise.
Tyrese Haliburton to the Pistons
Like Ball, Tyrese Haliburton is a triple-double threat waiting to happen, with averages of 15.2 points, 6.5 assists and 5.9 rebounds last season at Iowa State. He also adds impressive defensive ability (2.5 steals per game), outside shooting (41.9 percent from three-point range) and a high basketball IQ.
With the Pistons, the 6'5" guard could play alongside Derrick Rose right out of the gate while developing into the point guard of the future the team desperately needs.
Killian Hayes to the Knicks
This class is full of uncertainty and disagreements, with Killian Hayes being a prime example. Though some have him as a late lottery pick, Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer lists the French guard as the No. 1 player in the class.
Hayes is an excellent playmaker, although his limited athleticism and inconsistent shooting could prevent him from becoming a star. The New York Knicks still need to start fresh at point guard, and Hayes would give the team a new option to build around alongside RJ Barrett.
RJ Hampton to the Magic
Markelle Fultz is starting to live up to expectations, but the Orlando Magic still need more backcourt help to pair with its talented players down low.
RJ Hampton can play either guard position at 6'5" and has the ability to play on or off the ball. He is good enough to attack the basket while his all-around game is still developing. Considered the No. 5 player in his recruiting class a year ago by 247Sports, scouts shouldn't hold playing against older competition against him.
Kira Lewis Jr. to the Mavericks
Thanks to elite quickness and the ability to create his own shot, Kira Lewis Jr. is one of the more exciting players in this class. Lewis can penetrate nearly any lane and make things happen, either for himself or for others.
Luka Doncic runs the offense for the Dallas Mavericks, but they need more players who can make things happen. Lewis could be another option to provide depth in the backcourt as Dallas tries to take the next step toward contention.
Cole Anthony to the Heat
Few players made more headlines early in the college basketball season than Cole Anthony, but a knee injury and a miserable North Carolina roster took some of the shine off the point guard prospect.
The good news is Anthony remained a high-level scorer throughout the season (18.5 points per game), and he would likely be a better playmaker with more talent around him. It provides any team drafting him with a lot of upside for what could be a late pick.
The Miami Heat could lose Goran Dragic to free agency, so Anthony could help provide immediate depth in the offense as the squad tries to return to the NBA Finals next season.
Tyrell Terry to the 76ers
The 6'1" guard is undersized for the NBA but could have a successful career thanks to his shooting ability. Tyrell Terry made 40.8 percent of his shots from three-point range during his lone season at Stanford, including 42.4 percent in conference play.
With his ability to come off screens and catch-and-shoot, Terry could be an immediate contributor for a contender. The Philadelphia 76ers need shooting help to help spread the floor and take pressure off Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, and Terry could be the best option in the entire class.
Tyrese Maxey to the Jazz
The skill set was more than the production for Tyrese Maxey, who shot just 42.7 percent from the field and 29.2 percent from three-point range during his only season at Kentucky. He was known for his athleticism and shooting coming into college, but inconsistency was an issue.
An NBA team could draft him while expecting further development. The Utah Jazz don't need someone who can take over right away, but Maxey could fit well as a secondary option who provides some much-needed scoring depth as he aims to realize his lofty potential.
Tre Jones to the Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks had the best record in the NBA in each of the past two years but suffered early playoff losses in both seasons. The talent is there, but they need more players capable of filling roles and doing the little things on both ends of the court.
Tre Jones becomes the perfect fit as one of the top on-ball defenders at the position, winning the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award to go with his ACC Player of the Year award. He has played the glue guy along more talented players in the past (Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett) and would be perfect as a reserve guard for a contender.
Jones won't win Milwaukee a championship by himself, but his presence could help the Bucks take a step in the right direction.
NBA Draft 2020: Full 1st-Round Mock Draft, Most Surprising Potential Picks
Oct 4, 2020
Villanova forward Saddiq Bey (41) dribbles the ball against Georgetown guard Jagan Mosely (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 7, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Kentucky and Villanova have been two of the most reliable talent pipelines for NBA teams recently.
The two college basketball programs do not have a top-five prospect in the 2020 NBA draft pool, but they have players coming to the NBA who could be chosen higher than expected.
A few teams could enter the race to land Kentucky's Tyrese Maxey because of the recent success of Tyler Herro and Jamal Murray, who played similar positions in the Wildcats backcourt.
Villanova's Saddiq Bey may not have the flashy highlight reel of others, but his solid all-around game might lead to a surprise selection at the back end of the lottery.
2020 1st-Round NBA Mock Draft
1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, SG, Georgia
2. Golden State Warriors: James Wiseman, C, Memphis
3. Charlotte Hornets: LaMelo Ball, PG, Illawarra Hawks
4. Chicago Bulls: Obi Toppin, PF, Dayton
5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Deni Avdija, SF, Maccabi Tel Aviv
6. Atlanta Hawks: Onyeka Okongwu, PF/C, USC
7. Detroit Pistons: Isaac Okoro, SF, Auburn
8. New York Knicks: Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Iowa State
27. New York Knicks (from Los Angeles Clippers): Tyler Bey, SF, Colorado
28. Los Angeles Lakers: Tre Jones, PG, Duke
29. Toronto Raptors: Devon Dotson, PG, Kansas
30. Boston Celtics (from Milwaukee): Isaiah Stewart, PF, Washington
Most Surprising Potential Picks
Saddiq Bey to Washington at No. 9
A handful of point and shooting guards should be available for the Washington Wizards at No. 9 if they choose to find the future replacements for John Wall and Bradley Beal.
But the better approach could be finding a small forward who could eventually complement the two stars when they are back to 100 percent.
That strategy may be most beneficial to Washington's plans in case it is unable to re-sign Davis Bertans to a long-term deal.
Bey may not be as prolific as Bertans is from three-point range, but he brings a solid shooting touch to the floor.
He hit 45.1 percent of his three-point shots and had a 47.7 field-goal percentage during his sophomore season at Villanova.
In the last two years, Washington targeted players from some of the best college programs, as it selected Troy Brown from Oregon in 2018 and Rui Hachimura out of Gonzaga in 2019. Both players averaged over 10 points per game, and Hachimura started 45 games this season.
Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman rated Bey as his No. 27 prospect, but he noted "at the least, he's a shot-making, interchangeable forward who makes good decisions."
The Wizards could plug Bey into the lineup behind Brown and hope he eventually challenges for a starting role.
Tyrese Maxey to Sacramento at No. 12
Sacramento's last two first-round picks out of Kentucky served it well.
Willie Cauley-Stein produced back-to-back seasons with over 11 points per game before he departed, and De'Aaron Fox has become the face of the franchise.
The Kings could be inclined to dip into the Lexington pipeline again to provide a complementary piece to Fox.
Sacramento knows firsthand how well Kentucky products can do in their first few seasons in the league, and that point was driven home leaguewide by the play of Herro and Murray.
Maxey was Kentucky's offensive catalyst for most of his freshman season, as he averaged 14 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 42.7 percent from the field.
The shooting guard needs to work on his three-point shot, as he had a 29.2 percentage from deep, but the Kings can work on that as part of his development.
Maxey's dip from field-goal to three-point percentage is not as drastic as Herro's 46.2 field-goal and 35.2 three-point percentages from his time at Kentucky.
Herro improved on his three-point shot by making 38.9 percent of those shots in his rookie season with the Miami Heat.
If Maxey improves by a few percentage points, he could be on the way to a decent professional career.
NBA Draft 2020: 1st-Round Mock Draft and Predictions for Top Underrated Players
Sep 25, 2020
Arizona guard Josh Green (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Washington Saturday, March 7, 2020, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
The 2020 NBA conference finals are a living testament to all the different ways a contender can be constructed.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics are both built around top draft picks: LeBron James (first in 2003) and Anthony Davis (first in 2012); Jaylen Brown (third in 2016) and Jayson Tatum (third in 2017).
But the Miami Heat follow the lead of four non-top-10 picks: Jimmy Butler (30th in 2011), Bam Adebayo (14th in 2017), Tyler Herro (13th in 2019) and Goran Dragic (45th in 2008). The Denver Nuggets built their foundation on the 41st pick in 2014 (Nikola Jokic) and the seventh pick in 2016 (Jamal Murray).
While top prospects hold that distinction for a reason, sleepers emerge from further down the draft board every year. The 2020 class is no exception, so let's spotlight three of the best underrated prospects after running through a mock first round.
2020 NBA Mock Draft
1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, SG, Georgia
2. Golden State Warriors: James Wiseman, C, Memphis
3. Charlotte Hornets: LaMelo Ball, PG/SG, Illawarra Hawks
4. Chicago Bulls: Deni Avdija, SF/PF, Maccabi Tel Aviv
5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Obi Toppin, PF/C, Dayton
6. Atlanta Hawks: Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Iowa State
7. Detroit Pistons: Onyeka Okongwu, PF/C, USC
8. New York Knicks: Devin Vassell, SF, Florida State
18. Dallas Mavericks: RJ Hampton, SG, New Zealand Breakers
19. Brooklyn Nets (via Philadelphia 76ers): Tyrese Maxey, SG, Kentucky
20. Miami Heat: Precious Achiuwa, PF/C, Memphis
21. Philadelphia 76ers (via Oklahoma City Thunder): Tyrell Terry, PG, Stanford
22. Denver Nuggets (via Houston Rockets): Grant Riller, PG/SG, Charleston
23. Utah Jazz: Aleksej Pokusevski, PF, Olympiacos B
24. Milwaukee Bucks (via Indiana Pacers): Leandro Bolmaro, SG/SF, Barcelona
25. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Denver Nuggets): Daniel Oturu, C, Minnesota
26. Boston Celtics: Jaden McDaniels, SF/PF, Washington
27. New York Knicks (via Los Angeles Clippers): Jahmi'us Ramsey, SG, Texas Tech
28. Los Angeles Lakers: Cassius Winston, PG, Michigan State
29. Toronto Raptors: Theo Maledon, PG, ASVEL
30. Boston Celtics (via Milwaukee Bucks): Zeke Nnaji, C, Arizona
Top Underrated Prospects
Kira Lewis Jr., PG, Alabama
Lewis should be more hyped than he has been. He might be the fastest player in this draft, and he routinely stuffed the stat sheet over two seasons with the Crimson Tide.
Maybe the length of the tenure is to blame? It shouldn't be. Lewis reclassified to kick-start his college career early, so even after his freshman season was finished, he still wasn't old enough to enter the draft. He won't turn 20 until April. UNC freshman Cole Anthony will turn 21 the following month.
"Lewis was the youngest sophomore in the nation in 2019-20, and was actually younger than several prominent freshmen," The Athletic's John Hollinger wrote. "Relative to the freshman class, he outperformed everybody."
Lewis needs to bulk up his 165-pound frame, especially since he isn't the most explosive leaper. But that didn't stop him averaging 18.5 points, 5.2 assists and 4.8 rebounds last season, and it shouldn't preclude him from having a really productive NBA career.
Josh Green, SG, Arizona
Sometimes the best sleepers are hiding in plain sight.
Green was a McDonald's All-American and top-20 recruit. That's not the profile of an off-the-radar hidden gem.
And yet, he can still fit the basic sleeper description of someone providing significantly more value than their cost suggests.
Some see plug-and-play potential for the three-and-D swingman, but a more imaginative front office might wonder whether there's more horsepower under the hood. After all, it wasn't easy for him to shine at Arizona when fellow potential first-round prospects Nico Mannion and Zeke Nnaji both averaged more points and took more shots.
Green could have the best NBA career of that trio, though, and he could be one of the top players to come out of this draft. He'll need to increase the consistency of his outside shot and expand his off-the-bounce arsenal, but he already has shown flashes of spacing, finishing and secondary playmaking.
Tyrese Maxey, SG, Kentucky
Maxey's numbers never really erupted with the Wildcats, but that's becoming par for the course with John Calipari's program. There are so many mouths to feed—Maxey, for instance, shared the floor with the SEC's assist leader (Ashton Hagans) and Player of the Year (Immanuel Quickley)—that players can only show so much of their respective games.
Maxey's final line landed at 14.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. That netted him more points and dimes than Devin Booker (10.0 and 1.1, respectively) and slightly better numbers than Herro (14.0 and 2.5) during their one-and-done runs through Lexington.
"He has a potential that he has only begun to realize," Calipari tweeted about Maxey when he declared for the draft in April.
Maxey needs to beef up his shooting rates (42.7 from the field, 29.2 from three), but if he does, he could become a three-level scorer with a live dribble and some secondary playmaking.
Anonymous Coach Says Tyrese Maxey Is 'Overrated' and 'Wasn't the Guy I Feared'
Jul 15, 2020
Kentucky's Tyrese Maxey (3) plays during an NCAA college basketball game against Georgia in Lexington, Ky., Tuesday, Jan 21, 2020. Kentucky won 89-79. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Tyrese Maxey is a potential lottery pick in the 2020 NBA draft, but one head coach doesn't get the hype around the University of Kentucky star.
Speaking to The Athletic's Sam Vecenie, an anonymous Division I coach said he thinks Maxey is "overrated":
"One of the more overrated guys in the draft. Personally, I don't think he can shoot. I'd also question his basketball IQ. I think he's more of a one dimensional player. It's probably just a product of being brought up through AAU. He's always been a prolific scorer with the ball in his hands, I just think the NBA is way more than that. And I don't think think it's a consistent jump shot. He's a great athlete. Right-hand dominant more than anything in my opinion. But I didn't fear him. He wasn't the guy I feared."
Maxey committed to Kentucky in June 2019 and was regarded as one of the nation's top players coming out of high school. He was rated as a 5-star prospect and the No. 3 combo guard in the 2019 recruiting class by247Sports composite rankings.
The Wildcats landed three5-star recruitsfor the 2019-20 season, with Maxey being the highest-rated (No. 10 overall) in a group that also included Kahlil Whitney (No. 11) and Keion Brooks Jr. (No. 24).
After Maxey declared for the NBA draft in April, Wildcats head coach John Calipari tweeted about the 19-year-old's ability and potential:
I was harder on @TyreseMaxey than any player this season, and there’s a reason. One, he’s a great kid with a confidence in his ability that does not waver. Two, he has a potential that he has only begun to realize. And three, Tyrese needed to be challenged to take that next step. https://t.co/4sM2JMGL0N
B/R'sJonathan Wassermanwrote in early July that he was "overlooking the inefficient percentages and buying the eye-test results" by ranking Maxey as the No. 7 overall prospect in this year's draft class.
Maxey had an inconsistent freshman campaign, averaging 14.0 points, 3.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds across 31 games. He shot 42.7 percent overall and 29.2 percent from three-point range.
The 2020 NBA draft willbe held Oct. 16, with early entrants having until Aug. 17 to withdraw if they wish to return to school.
