NBA Draft analysis: 10 non-BCS prospects to watch

Charles Bassey | 6-11 center, Western Kentucky

Projected drafted position: Late first round.

Bassey, who played for a nondescript Hilltoppers team, is rising mostly because of a combination of impressive physical tools, emerging skills and a good motor. Among the freshman's impressive performances last season was a 19-point, six-rebound, four-block effort against a Wisconsin team that featured Ethan Happ, one of college basketball's best big men.

At just 19, the Nigerian is still an unmolded piece of clay, but a lot of his production in college was a result of a high number of post touches (205). In the NBA, Bassey will likely not be featured in the post for years, if ever, meaning his go-to skill must be his pick-and-roll finishing. During his lone season at Western Kentucky, however, he ranked in the middle of the NCAA pack in scoring in those situations.

To have a long, lucrative career, Bassey must shore up the essential skills -- including pick-and-roll finishing and defensive positioning -- required of NBA big men.

Fletcher Magee | 6-4 guard, Wofford

Projected Draft Position: Undrafted 

Magee was the catalyst for one of the more impressive mid-major teams. An outstanding catch-and-shoot player, the senior converted 41.9 percent of his three-pointers (10.8 attempts game). Thanks in part to his non-traditional shooting form, Magee also excelled at knocking down shots his senior season with opponents putting a hand in his face. That will be a useful skill given how quickly NBA players get back out to shooters on the perimeter. 

Defensively, Magee isn’t a total turnstile, but he will have issues guarding NBA players. He lacks length and often plays a “contain” style defense. To avoid giving up blow-by drives, he concedes late contests to jumpers. In a league filled with extremely skilled players, those semi-contested 3’s will be like layups for opponents. 

If he can improve his movement, handle and continue rounding out his game, Magee may sneak onto the back end of an NBA roster. If not, a lucrative career overseas awaits.

Dylan Windler | 6-8 forward, Belmont

Projected draft position: Second round 

Windler worked his way up draft boards with impressive displays throughout his senior season (He’s ranked 33rd in ESPN’s Top 100.) The Belmont senior has earned comparisons to the Jazz's Joe Ingles because of his sweet-shooting and slow-moving ways.

Like Ingles, Windler has an above-average wingspan for his 6-8 height and can shoot lights-out. (He made 42.9 percent of his threes last season.) Because NBA teams won't let him bomb away from three-point range, Windler must improve his ability to create shots. Defensively, he must get stronger so he can battle more physical players and improve his movement to stay in front of quicker ones.  

If Windler can improve his physical attributes and round out his offensive game, he might be employed by NBA teams for quite awhile. 

Martaveous McKnight | 6-3 guard, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Projected draft position: Undrafted.

Don’t be distracted by the name that sounds like he should be working alongside Nick Fury in a Marvel movie. McKnight can play. The senior guard averaged 20.8 points on 44.2 percent shooting from the field and 38.7 shooting from beyond the arc last season.

Despite an underwhelming supporting cast, a poorly constructed offense and limited opportunities to play against top competition, McKnight flashed NBA potential. Last season he dropped 27 against NCAA runner-up Texas Tech, shooting 60 percent from the field, and hung 29 against a solid San Diego State team. 

McKnight has attributes that should grab the attention of NBA teams, but he must overcome playing in one of the NCAA's least scouted conferences.  

Mike Daum | 6-9 forward-center, South Dakota State

Projected draft position: Undrafted.

Daum, the seventh-leading scorer in NCAA history, was one of the best shooting big men in college basketball. The Summit League player was a monster in post-up situations last season (1.157 points per possession) and has slowly improved his ability to attack the basket. 

The former JackRabbit must improve his ability to guard perimeter players or find ways to anchor a defense as an undersized center.  But regardless, Daum’s ability to knock down shots at his size will give him a chance.

DeMajeo Wiggins | 6-10 forward, Bowling Green

Projected draft position: Undrafted.

Wiggins may catch the attention of an NBA team with his rebounding skills. He was sixth in Division I with a defensive rebounding percentage of 29.8 percent. He isn’t a great shot-blocker (0.7 blocks per 40 minutes), so he must be a high-effort player with a masters degree in defensive positioning. 

Wiggins, who's not a threat from behind the arc, posted a disturbingly low shooting percentage (51.9 percent in the 2018-19). That number was likely dragged down by the Bowling Green staff’s insistence on featuring Wiggins as a post player despite production on the block (0.739 PPP) that ranked in the bottom third of the country this season. 

Wiggins will not be asked to create much of his own offense at the next level.  If he can become a mistake-free defender and polish his pick-and-roll finishing, he should have enough skills to crack an NBA roster. 

Jarrell Brantley | 6-7 forward, Charleston

Projected draft position: Undrafted

At 6-7 and 255 pounds with some passing chops, Brantley is well suited for the combo forward role at the next level. He could follow former Charleston guard Joe Cheeley, who landed a two-way contract with the Charlotte Hornets, onto an NBA roster. 

Brantley’s games mirrors that of the Celtics' Marcus Morris. Like Morris, Brantley brings toughness, competitiveness and potential for defensive versatility -- if he can continue to improve his movement. Brantley does share a penchant, as does Morris, for settling for some tough, off-the-dribble 2s. Shots like that are widely frowned upon in today’s NBA. Brantley should cut those looks from his offensive repertoire.  

If Brantley can improve his three-point shooting (35.3 percent over his career in college), the rest of the skills are there for him to become an NBA player.

Justin Wright-Foreman | 6-2 guard, Hofstra

Projected draft position: Late second round

Wright-Foreman, who averaged 27.1 points last season, was one of the more efficient and prolific scorers in the NCAA. Despite averaging 18.5 shots per game his senior season, he shot 51.1 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Although he has point guard size, Wright-Foreman has a score-first mentality. He may have to rein in those instincts as he finds himself surrounded by more talented players in the NBA. It’s also important to note that Wright-Foreman’s penchant for points didn’t detract from his defensive effort -- he more than held his own on that end of the floor.

 If Wright-Foreman can mix in some play-making with his elite scoring ability, he will be a lock for a job in the NBA. He may have the highest ceiling of anyone on this list. 

Kyle Allman Jr. | 6-4 guard, Cal State Fullerton

Projected Draft Position: Undrafted 

Despite overall production that lagged behind a breakout junior season, Allman still has a resume NBA teams should consider. The senior posted four 30-point games during the 2018-19 season, including 35 against an Arizona State team featuring potential first-round pick Lu Dort. 

After shooting 42.9 percent from beyond the arc as a junior, Allman dipped to 34.9 percent in 2018-19. Allman must improve not only his long-distance shooting but his overall shot selection. He has flashed potential as a playmaker, dishing out eight assists last season against Wake Forest.