Will Markelle Fultz Land Top Spot In 2017 NBA Draft?

PROS

This is still Markelle Fultz we are talking about, right? He was a sensation this season in NCAA competition. Fultz scored 23.2 points per game, pulled down 5.7 rebounds, dished out 5.9 assists (on a team without a true scoring threat), blocked 1.2 shots, picked 1.6 steals and played 35.7 minutes per game.

And Markelle Fultz did all of this on a team that clearly under-performed.  As a result, opposing teams knew they simply had to shut down Markelle Fultz, and they win. But that is far easier said than done. Even when blown out by the matchup of the season, Lonzo Ball vs. Markelle Fultz, Fultz was clearly the better player.  UCLA was the better team, however, as the final score was a blow out: 107-66.

On His Own

Fultz didn’t have the same team support that other top prospects enjoy. But he grew as a result. He learned to make his own shots. He shoots 47.6 percent from the floor, and 41.3 percent from downtown.

Markelle Fultz was never a glory seeker. He did not yell at coaches nor players to get the ball into his hands.  He accepted the plays from his head coach and executed them to the best of his ability. More often than not, that execution was nearly flawless.

He is the most versatile guard to enter the draft since James Harden. He is pro ready and he is the best at his craft, hands down.  His team may not have found much success, but that is through no fault of his own.