re: Tide Hoops | Recruiting

Here's from a mock draft from the Athletic. Hopefully Philon is serious about wanting to be top 20

quote:

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28. Boston Celtics
• Labaron Philon | 6-4 guard | 19 years old | Alabama

NBA teams are excited to see Philon up close during the pre-draft process after a breakout freshman season at Alabama that didn’t necessarily answer all the questions about his potential as a one-and-done. On the plus side, he’s a terrific athlete who played whatever role Alabama asked of him this year. Sometimes he was on the ball, taking ball screens and running the offense. Other times, he was asked to be a secondary ballhandler and attack creases when they presented themselves, then make reads off that to either finish or kick the ball out. On defense, I liked his energy and activity. Philon’s draft range is pretty wide right now. He could immensely help himself during the pre-draft process and see himself spike far up the board, or he ends up more in the late-first, early-second range.

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Same team as JD.

But what actually got me to look at this particular mock draft...

quote:

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29. Phoenix Suns (via CLE)
• Cedric Coward | 6-6 wing | 21 years old | Washington State

Coward is my bet for this year’s riser into the first round. This might not be high enough. Coward only played six games this year, but he was lights out in those appearances, averaging 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists and shooting 56 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3 and 84 percent from the line before a shoulder injury knocked him out. I saw Coward work out in Los Angeles in April, and it’s hard to overemphasize just how impressive he was. His balance and fluidity athletically are special for a player who is 6-6 with a 7-1 or so wingspan. Everything in the kinetic chain with Coward is perfect. Everything is in one motion and clean with the jumper, with easy, repeatable mechanics to pair with touch. He seems to have added some explosiveness, too. He’s a real upside swing for a team in the back half of the first round that wants to bet on his current trajectory.

Coward committed to Duke earlier this week and is a perfect fit there if he chooses to attend. But my opinion is that he will prove himself worthy of staying in the draft

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It would've really sucked to land someone, thinking they're going to be the difference between a top 25 vs top 10 team, then they blow up and end up drafted in the 1st round. Duke getting him might've been a blessing in disguise.