This week I preview the next three highly regarded players to come out of the class of 2016 and what could make them stand out in the 2016-17 season, along with providing mixtapes of each. Lonzo Ball, Jayson Tatum, and Markelle Fultz have the potential to be high-end lottery picks in the 2017 NBA Draft if they're able to develop and mature quickly. Each is a bit different in style and upside, but all three have the potential to be a stand out player for their respective teams this season.
Lonzo Ball -- PG, 6'4", 162 lbs -- UCLA
Ball is regarded as the top point guard to come out of the Class of 2016, and is ranked No. 3 and No. 4 overall on 247Sports and Rivals, respectively. His biggest strength is distributing the ball, using misdirection to fake out defenders with excellent timing. Ball's vision and passing are already at a very high level. Ball's shooting stroke is a bit unique, but he's got the range and confidence to be a deep threat. At UCLA, head coach and former sharpshooter Steve Alford will likely most want to develop his stroke and jumpshot much more. Despite having good size for a point guard, Ball has a thin frame that will need to fill out eventually in order to excel. Defensively, he shows good anticipation on steals and has high basketball IQ. Mike Schmitz, a scout at adidas Nations said that Ball could be a legitimate triple-double threat in the Pac-12 once he develops. One of the biggest issues for the native Californian will be immediate placement on the team. Ball will mostly compete with starting guards Aaron Holiday and the son of their coach, Bryce Alford for playing time. Not only would this affect his fantasy production, but also the speed of his development. This could leave him with less minutes than desirable for a top recruit like Ball, but if he proves himself, he might be able to secure solid playing time, and maybe even a starting spot.
Watch his fancy passing and court vision at work in his BallisLife.com mixtape.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duxRUu2ykj4
Jayson Tatum -- SF, 6'8", 204 lbs -- Duke
Coach K's newest offensive weapon is already expected to be a very high draft pick in the 2017 Draft (current No.3 in the DraftExpress 2017 Mock Draft). He's rated No. 3 on Rivals and No. 4 on 247Sports overall, and was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in 2015-16. Although young, he shows a very polished mid-range game and the ability to create space, as well as the athleticism and size to be an immediate impact player at Duke. From his mixtapes, his mid-range game looks a lot like that of former-MVP and perennial NBA All-Star Kevin Durant. He also shows his bounce in the form of high-flying dunks. Tatum will almost certainly start over last year's starting three-guard, Matt Jones. He utilizes very skilled footwork within the arc, and has good handles for his size. Tatum shows the ability to exert his will on the court when he gets on a roll, but sometimes struggles with spot shooting and shot selection. He can rely too much on isolation plays as well, and is a good, not great passer. He'll need to work on fitting in with his new teammates very quickly in order to fully utilize the many talents the new recruiting class is bringing into the Duke program, including Frank Jackson and Harry Giles. Defensively, he has the potential to be a great stopper, but hasn't developed that part of his game as much compared to his skills on the offensive end of the floor however, the potential No. 1 draft pick's upside could develop him into the most dangerous player Duke has on the court this season.
Check out his BallisLife.com mixtape below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDF1-vM6sY0
Markelle Fultz -- PG 6'4", 185 lbs -- Washington
From being a junior varsity point guard as a sophomore in highschool, Fultz is already projected to be the No. 2 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by DraftExpress. He presents more NBA-upside in size and frame as a guard than Lonzo Ball despite being ranked lower (No. 5) in both Rivals and 247Sports as a prep recruit. This upside is capped by his athleticism in shot creating and ball handling--Fultz's specialty is making the tough shot. He'll also immediately be given the starting point guard role at Washington, no questions asked. This will give him the opportunity to showcase his full skillset over the course of the 2016-17 without being hampered by the struggles of being in a full depth chart. Fultz is quick to change direction and has elite court vision, and while his shooting stroke are mechanics are already good, his jump shot will need some development in order to excel at higher levels. His size is good for his position and he's still growing; Fultz has grew a full inch in the last five months alone. One more area for improvement is on the other end of the court. He'll need to show scouts that he's capable of focused and accurate defense at the next level in order to live up to his hype and potential.
Here is Fultz's BallisLife.com mixtape.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duxRUu2ykj4