Warriors select James Wiseman with No. 2 pick
With the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors have selected Memphis center James Wiseman.
The 7-foot-1 big man finished as the top-ranked recruit in the class of 2019 after a standout high school career. He was a McDonald's All-American and last year's recipient of the Gatorade National Player of the Year. Wiseman was also the co-MVP of the prestigious Jordan Brand Classic in 2019.
He arrived at Memphis with a ton of expectations, but eligibility issues limited him to only three appearances during his lone collegiate season. It's hard to draw many conclusions from Wiseman's brief spell with the Tigers, though he did average 19.7 points, 10.7 boards, and three blocks.
Bio
Position: C
School: Memphis
Height: 7-foot-1
Weight: 247 lbs
Wingspan: 7-foot-6
Max vertical: N/A
Strengths
- One of the most physically gifted prospects in recent memory
- Excels as a rim-runner
- His 9-foot-6 standing reach provides a huge catch radius on lob attempts
- A terror on the offensive glass with high-end motor
- Flashed an ability to handle the ball and face-up from the perimeter
- Could develop into an elite rim-protector with his length
Weaknesses
- Doesn't always maximize physical advantages; has shown a tendency to shy away from contact
- Needs to show more discipline when contesting shots; sometimes bites on pump fakes in pursuit of blocks
- Needs to make better reads when defending the pick-and-roll