The college basketball season is about to start. Which small forwards are going to stand above the rest during the season and be recalled as the elites at their position when the season ends? These are the five best bets, even though some freshmen or transfers could perhaps come from the fringes and create some surprises.
Dillon Brooks – Oregon
The jump-out-of-the-building talent plays bigger than his size. That’s partly because of his length and partly because of his leaping ability. Nevertheless, Brooks is a highly energetic all-court player, able to score from various spots on the floor. He can shoot. He can take defenders off the dribble. He will contest rebounds and get putbacks. He can finish near the basket. He has so many of the tools to be a top-level scorer and rebounder. Yet, playing on a balanced Oregon roster, he should have a reasonable amount of room in which to operate. He should be able to get the kinds of shots he wants on a regular basis. As of now, most NBA Draft prognostications have Brooks going somewhere in the second round. He could improve his stock if he managed to lead the Ducks deep in the NCAA Tournament.
Jaron Blossomgame – Clemson
The agile Blossomgame has a nose for the ball and the basket. The problem for him is that there aren’t any other significant weapons on the Clemson roster, which makes it easier for opposing teams to bring double-teams and force the ball out of his hands. Blossomgame is asked to carry a very high workload for the Clemson offense, but the thing which keeps him near the top of this list is that he has been able to maintain and develop his game from season to season. He will make the adjustments he needs to make in response to other teams’ defensive maneuvers and counter-maneuvers. He should be able to meet the expectations placed upon him this season. Clemson’s success, though, probably won’t match Blossomame’s this season.
Taking a look at NBADraft.net, Blossomgame is currently one of the more highly rated college basketball small forwards in terms of NBA Draft prospects. He is expected to go somewhere in the range of 10-20 in the first round.
Tyler Lydon – Syracuse
It’s a huge boost in confidence to be a valuable part of a Final Four team and then be able to come back the next season, trying to do something good again. Syracuse made the daring run to the Final Four earlier this year, and Lydon’s agility as a defender, rebounder and role player created a significant contribution on his part. Lydon needs to develop his offensive game to a certain degree. If he succeeds in the attempt, there won’t be that many weaknesses in his game at the end of the season.
We’re still quite early in the season but many scouts expect Lydon to be one of the first college basketball small forwards off the board in the 2017 NBA Draft. He’s currently projected to go in the middle of the first round by ESPN’s NBA Draft prognosticators.
V.J. Beachem – Notre Dame
This is a crafty and slick scorer who knows how to dribble in traffic, use a first step to his great advantage against a defender, and hit jump shots of various length. Beachem is not a one-note scorer. He can and does find other ways to score. That simple reality elevates Beachem above a noticeable number of other small forwards in college basketball.
Jayson Tatum – Duke
The one player here who is not a returning player, Tatum has to prove himself on the No. 1 team in the nation. However, since Duke is so loaded at so many positions and should enjoy a great deal of depth on its roster, teams are going to find it hard to double any of Duke’s players. Lots of man defense in a well-spaced halfcourt set should mean great, high quality shot opportunities, which should magnify Tatum’s talents more than his weaknesses. He will go through rough periods, but Tatum should emerge from those difficult stretches with his game and his confidence intact.
In terms of the pros, Tatum looks to be one of the best NBA prospects at the small forward position. He’s currently projected to go in the lottery of the 2017 NBA Draft.
