Charlotte Hornets 2020 NBA Draft Monthly Big Board: A shakeup at the top

#21-30

*Stats provided as of 1/14/20

C.J. Elleby has been a more efficient two-point scorer as a sophomore, but his three-point efficiency has fallen drastically from 41 percent as a freshman to 30 percent as a sophomore. I expect him to turn that around, and it will only help his case to secure a spot in the first round. Teams liked how he performed in pre-draft workouts over the summer.

After making significant improvements as a sophomore, Jordan Nwora returned to Louisville of a third season, and his play continues to get better and better. Nwora is a terrific shooter at 44 percent from deep on 5.9 attempts. He’s averaging 20.4 points and should find a role in the NBA as a scorer/shooter.

Kira Lewis has looked like a legit first rounder during his sophomore season at Alabama. The 18 year old point guard has a good combination of quickness, height and skill. He can get to the basket in a hurry, rebound well for a guard and find the open man. He’s averaging 16.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists.

I’m not sure if he comes out after his freshman campaign, but Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is a really intriguing prospect for Villanova. The freshman forward boosts averages of 10.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 31.9 minutes. He needs to continue to work on his shooting, but his agility for his size is impressive, as well as his versatility.

Zeke Nnaji was an under-the-radar recruit coming into the season. He’s made an impact for Arizona right away, playing himself into draft conversation. The freshman big is averaging 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting over 60 percent from the floor. The 19 year old will give you a heavy dose of paint play, as well as a legit rebound presence.

Washington freshman Isaiah Stewart is another guy with more of an old-school game. He simply lives in the paint, finishing through contact around the rim and hitting the glass with his insanely long arms. He averages 18.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks, hitting 61 percent of his two-point shots.

One of my favorite risers so far in the draft process would be Mississippi State’s Robert Woodard. The sophomore has great size at 6’7″ and can really rebound for a guard. His shot has improved dramatically and he is now shooting 50 percent from three-point land on the season. If he goes to the right player development staff, he could be a real nice player.

I’m nowhere near as high on R.J. Hampton compared to some of the other guards in this class, but he’s a solid prospect. He’s playing in Australia, like LaMelo Ball is, but not having the same type of success that Ball is. Hampton is averaging 8.8 points but shooting 41 percent overall and 30 percent from deep. He’s going to be a project, but the upside is there.

After dealing with some injuries early on, Jahmi’us Ramsey is back on the court and is looking good. I love how poised he is for a freshman. He’s averaging 16.8 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 47 percent from deep. He’s got a lot of talent on the offensive side of the ball with plenty more room to grow.

Tyler Bey continues to help himself with his strong play as a junior at Colorado. He is averaging 13.0 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals while shooting 52 percent from the floor. He’s a very good defensive player and is active offensively, especially around the rim. If he can keep improving as a shooter, he’s got a chance to be really good.