2019 NBA Draft: Stock watch from prospects in Champions Classic

[caption id="attachment_329822" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images[/caption]rn With the Champions Classic being moved to the first day of the season, fans were given an immediate look into multiple top prospects for the 2019 NBA Draft. rnFor both college basketball and NBA fans, the first day of the collegiate season was a treat. Having Kansas-Michigan State and Kentucky-Duke not only provides a matchup of powerhouse collegiate programs, but offers a look into multiple prospects with NBA Draft aspirations.rnrnZion Williamson and R.J. Barrett stole the show, but there is much more to take away from the games than Duke's insane wealth of talents. It's always important to avoid overreaction and one game is no answer to how a player will perform all season, but this gave us insight on how the freshmen perform against their first game with legit competition.rnrnOnly freshmen players will be looked at here, and their stock will be judged based off of how they performed in comparison to what was expected. Again, this is a very small sample size, but it's never too early to dive into the players who will be highlighting the 2019 NBA Draft in June.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Stock%20up" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_328282" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Photo by Lance King/Getty Images[/caption]rn Stock up: R.J. Barrett, Duke rnWidely regarded as the top prospect in the draft, all Barrett did in his first collegiate game was set the Duke freshman scoring record in a debut. With 33 points on 50 percent shooting, he looked unstoppable at times attacking the Kentucky defense, adding six assists and four rebounds to his stat line.rnrnShooting 3-for-7 from 3 dispelled some concerns regarding his shooting ability and opened up the paint, allowing him to drive seemingly whenever he pleased. His length and quickness allowed him to score at the basket multiple times, but looked uncomfortable at times fighting through contact to get a look. Barrett managed to make many of these tough layups due to how talented he is, but look for him to work on creating more space near the basket instead of forcing his way through and bending his body through contract.rn Zion Williamson, Duke rnIn one night, Williamson almost forced draft experts to cement him as the second-best prospect in the draft. He put on an incredibly efficient night on 11-of-13 shooting, while looking like he was a different species physically.rnrnEvery defender tasked with guarding Williamson was in a mismatch. Anyone big enough to attempt to contain him is not quick enough, and if they had the speed then they were not strong enough to keep Williamson in check.rnrnHe made his only 3-point attempt of the night, and his pairing with Barrett left John Calipari hopeless on the sideline. If he can continue to shoot the ball efficiently, and if Duke gives him more opportunities as lead ball-handler like in the second half, it becomes almost impossible to pass on one of the most unique prospects of all time.rnrnhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_uqYRwjEc8rn Keldon Johnson, Kentucky rnOne of the lone standouts for UK during the game, Johnson looked like he belonged from tipoff. Physically, he already has what it takes to compete in the NBA. He's not the most athletic guy, but with a solid frame and impressive scoring instincts, Johnson will make his name known quickly.rnrnA huge question mark for Johnson was the 3-point shot. He was 1-for-3 during the game, but his confidence and fluidity is what stood out. He may never develop into a great shooter, but a threatening outside shot will open up the paint for him to bully defenders around.rnrnWhile he may not fly up draft boards with a performance like this, it seemed like the sort of overall impressive performance that solidifies a prospect's position near the top of draft boards. While the top of the draft is loaded, the second-to-third tier of players must be sorted out, and performances like this gives Johnson a steady hold towards the top of those tiers.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Stock%20down%2F%20unchanged" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_329823" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images[/caption]rn Stock down: Tyler Herro, Kentucky rnLooked at as a pure go-to scorer, Tyler Herro struggled mightily in every aspect of the game during the first half. He finished with a stat line of 14-9-5, but shot 4-for-11 and improved his stat line during garbage time when the game was far out of reach.rnrnEvery scorer can go cold, and if Herro had an explosive shooting performance, the game could have gone a little differently. The concerning part, however, was not the shooting, but his role on offense and defensive play. Herro seemed to seek a shot every possession -- a bad sign for a team fighting for a comeback. His trigger-happy tendencies not only added to a stagnant Kentucky offense, but allowed Duke to get out on the run and pile up the score.rnrnDefensively, he looked fidgety and unsure of himself. Herro tended to overreact to movements by Duke players and was often attacked when guarding an opponent. He still needs time to adjust to increased physicality and playing on the big stage, but Herro must find more ways to score efficiently if he remains a liability on defense.rnrnhttps://twitter.com/IllegalScreens/status/1060010679715946497rn Stock unchanged: Quentin Grimes, Kansas rnA quick look at the box score shows an impressive outing for Grimes consisting of 21 points and six 3s. There were some questions on his jumper, but nailing 60 percent of your 3s against a historically great defensive team does a lot to quell those fears.rnrnOutside of shooting, he did not find too many ways to impact the game. Like most freshmen guards, his defense was shaky, and he only made one basket outside of the 3-ball.rnrn[story_link_next description="The%2050%20greatest%20NBA%20players%20of%20all%20time%20(updated%20for%202017-18)" url="https://hoopshabit.com/2018/09/21/nba-50-greatest-players-time/" /]rnrnThis game will draw attention to Grimes for his explosive shooting, but lack of overall impact hurt his overall performance. Again, just like every prospect, he has a long way to go and a long season ahead, but until Grimes can establish his role, his draft range will continue to be one of the widest of all top prospects.

Hoops Habit

2019 NBA Draft: Stock watch from prospects in Champions Classic

With the Champions Classic being moved to the first day of the season, fans were given an immediate look into multiple top prospects for the 2019 NBA Draft.

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