Looking at some of the top prospects from the 2020 NBA Draft

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Rick Rycroft | Associated Press

FILE – In this Nov. 17, 2019, file photo, LaMelo Ball of the Illawarra Hawks brings the ball up during a game against the Sydney Kings in the Australian Basketball League in Sydney. LaMelo Ball is expected to be one of the top picks in the NBA Draft, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020.

By Kyle Mathas
November 18, 2020

DeKALB — Tonight is the 2020 NBA Draft and some of the best players from the college and international level are waiting for their name to be called, including NIU’s Eugene German. Here is a look at some of the top players in the draft.

 

Anthony Edwards

Anthony Edwards is expected to be a top-three pick in the draft. He played at the University of Georgia and averaged about 19.1 points per game during the 2019-20 season. His field goal percentage is at 40.2% and his 3-point shooting is about 30%, but he is mostly known for his dunking ability he displays on the court. 

Edwards played one year in college and declared for the NBA draft after his season was unexpectedly interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic before the March Madness tournament. Edwards plays the guard position. 

 

James Wiseman

James Wiseman played for the University of Memphis for his first year of college. He only played three games due to being suspended by the NCAA for taking a payment to help his family move from Nashville to Memphis.

FILE – Memphis center James Wiseman (32) dunks against Oregon during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Portland, Ore., in this Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019, file photo. At long last, James Wiseman is about to be on a team again. More than a year removed from the end of his three-game college career that was doomed almost before it started because of NCAA rulings regarding his eligibility, the 7-foot-1 left-hander will be one of the first players selected in Wednesday’s, Nov. 18, 2020, NBA draft. It’s hard to envision a scenario where he doesn’t go in the first three picks, which are currently held by Minnesota, Golden State and Charlotte. (Craig Mitchelldyer | Associated Press)

In his three games, he averaged 19.7 points per game, 10.7 rebounds and shot 76.9% from the field. He slots in at the center position.

 

LaMelo Ball

LaMelo Ball used to play high school basketball in the United States but opted to play European basketball before joining the National Basketball League in Australia. He played for the Illawarra Hawks for one season and averaged 17 points per game. 

His 3-point percentage was 25% from the field, with his field goal percentage being 38%. He plays the guard position, and is the youngest brother of New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball. 

 

Obi Toppin

Obi Toppin played for the University of Dayton for two seasons after redshirting his first year. During the 2019-20 season he led his team from being unranked to one of the top teams in the country. 

He averaged 20 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He led his team to a 29-2 season playing at the forward position.

FILE – In this Feb 1, 2020, file photo, Dayton’s Obi Toppin (1) drives to the basket against St. Louis forward Jimmy Bell Jr. (32) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Dayton, Ohio. Toppin is a possible pick in the NBA Draft, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020. (Tony Tribble | Associated Press)

 

Deni Avdija

Deni Avdija played in the EuroLeague for two seasons for Maccabi Tel Aviv. He averaged 4 points per game but had a 43% field goal percentage and shot 28% from behind the arc. He is a forward/guard combo player. 

 

Tyrese Haliburton

Tyrese Haliburton played for Iowa State University for two seasons, but had his breakout year in 2019-20. He averaged 15.2 points and 6 rebounds per game and is an 82% free throw shooter. He plays the point guard position.

There are other big draft prospects like Issac Okoro from the University of Auburn and Onyeka Okongwu from the University of Southern California. In the draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves will get the number one pick, followed by the Golden State Warriors and the Charlotte Hornets at two and three. The Chicago Bulls get the number four pick with the Cleveland Cavaliers getting the fifth pick. The NBA draft is 6:30 p.m. Thursday on ESPN.