As the 2020 NBA draft draws closer, many young prospects are growing anxious to hear their name called come draft night. Very few prospects have a higher upside than Arizona standout Nico Mannion. The 6’3″ point guard is looking to prove that he has what it takes to make it in today’s NBA. His stellar play has garnered interest from just about every team in the NBA.
2020 NBA Draft Profile for Nico Mannion
College Career
Coming out of high school, Mannion was considered by many to be one of the top prospects in the nation. As a five-star recruit, he had his fair share of offers from division one programs. He received offers from some of the top schools in the nation including Duke, Villanova, and Marquette. He ultimately decided that Arizona was the best fit for them as he committed there on September 14th, 2018. Mannion immediately was named the starter and dazzled early, scoring 23 points and notching nine assists in just his second game.
Mannion led Arizona to a respectable 21-11 record before play was suspended and proved that he had what it took to lead a team. He finished the season averaging 14 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game on the season. Mannion was named to the Second-Team All-Pac-12 as well as the All-Freshman Team for his efforts on the season. After the season, Mannion officially declared for the 2020 NBA Draft.
Strengths
- Possesses great athleticism for a player of his size
- He uses his speed to drive past defenders in the paint
- A very crafty player, with an array of moves to finish his shots
- Has a textbook shooting motion with a smooth stroke
- Seemingly has limitless range and is a threat to score from just about anywhere
- Excels at creating shots and finishing off the dribble
- Uses his crafty ball-handling ability to create plays for himself and teammates
- A threat to score in the catch and shoot game as well
- Very reliable as a passer averaging over five assists per game
- Has shown flashes of potential on the defensive side of the ball
- He is respectable at the free-throw line averaging just under 80 percent
- Most of his flaws are easily correctable
- Has a very high ceiling compared to other prospects
Weaknesses
- Possesses a smaller frame for an NBA player at just 190 lbs
- Not an elite athlete which could hinder him
- Tends to take low percentage shots
- Occasionally forces shots instead of passing the ball away
- Defensively he has many inconsistencies with his footwork
- Not the best lateral athlete which can give opponents an edge
- He has a lower floor compared to many prospects
NBA Player Comparison
Mannion directly compares to two different NBA Players. Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro and San Antonio Spurs guard Derrick White. All three players are very good shooters who lack the desirable size of an NBA player. Herro is a slightly better athlete and a more efficient player, but with more consistency, Mannion can reach his level of success. If he fails to perfect his flaws, he may end up on the career path of White. A valuable role player who can provide scoring bursts, but struggles on the defensive end.
Nico Mannion NBA Draft Projection
With the draft still months away, Mannion’s draft stock could still change plenty. His shooting and scoring versatility will interest many teams in the top half of the draft. His forced shots and defensive inconsistencies could push his name down on some team’s boards. Despite this, Mannion will likely be a late lottery pick with the potential to slide into the top ten.
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