The Collective Charlotte Hornets Bloggers 2018 Mock Draft
By Noah Purser
With the tenth pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Philidelphia 76ers select Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from the University of Kentucky.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has all the makings to be the wildcard of this year’s draft. A 6’6″ combo guard, SGA burst onto the scene in a big way in the SEC and NCAA tournaments. With a solid jump shot, long arms, and above-average playmaking ability, SGA could very well be a franchise-leading player.
A seven-foot wingspan simply doesn’t go unnoticed in the college basketball world; SGA was no exception. Though the sample size is small (just 57 attempts), SGA shot 40% from three-point range in his one season at Kentucky. However, the shot mechanics are smooth and uniform, an encouraging sign for the future and how he translates to the modern NBA.
Though his arms are indubitably long, SGA does struggle at times on the defensive end; his defensive rating a 101 on the season. SGA also struggled early in the season, and the ramifications were evident in per 100 possession stats, where he averaged 4.5 turnovers.
SGA has his flaws, but if he is able to capitalize on his strengths, he will be another strong addition to an already surging 76er squad.
Other Player(s) Receiving Votes: Miles Bridges (3 Votes)