With the No. 48 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors have selected Arizona point guard Nico Mannion.
Mannion was a five-star prospect and headlined another strong recruiting class for head coach Sean Miller. He demonstrated great playmaking creativity during his lone season at Arizona, finishing second in the Pac-12 with 5.3 assists per game.
The Wildcats' undisputed floor general, Mannion had no problems taking charge of his squad. The 19-year-old was named MVP of the Wooden Legacy after averaging 16.3 points, 7.3 assists, and 1.3 steals during Arizona's run to the tournament title.
Mannion capped his freshman year with All-Pac-12 second-team honors. Though he's a natural point guard, the McDonald's All-American believes he can coexist alongside another at the next level.
"I think a lot of teams are in that two-(point) guard system now. ... I think I do move well off the ball," Mannion told reporters, including theScore, during his recent NBA draft media availability. "I've tweaked a couple of things on my shot and I'm shooting it really well. So I think with my IQ and being able to shoot the ball, I'll be able to stretch the floor. Regardless of what position I'm playing - whether that's the one or two - I think I'm a really good playmaker."
Bio
Position: PG
School: Arizona
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 190 lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-2.5
Max vertical: N/A
Strengths
- Shows excellent touch on floaters
- Can dish out a variety of passes with either hand
- Excels as a pick-and-roll playmaker
- Often makes smart decisions with the ball; he had more than twice as many assists (169) as turnovers (82) last season
- Has shooting range to play alongside ball-dominant guards
Weaknesses
- Isn't a great finisher at the rim
- Size and length may limit his upside despite a strong work ethic on the defensive end
- Needs to improve his offensive efficiency; he shot 39.2% from the field and 32.7% from distance
- Lack of blow-by speed makes it more difficult for him to get to the rim and free-throw line
