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NBA Draft 2018 Prospect Watch: De’Anthony Melton

By Jordan Treske

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: NBA Draft Prospect, De'Anthony Melton poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Combine circuit on May 15, 2018 at the Intercontinental Hotel Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: NBA Draft Prospect, De'Anthony Melton poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Combine circuit on May 15, 2018 at the Intercontinental Hotel Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 04: (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 04: (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images) /

What the experts say

(as of 5/21/18)

ESPN (Jonathan Givony): 27th

The Ringer (Kevin O’Connor, Jonathan Tjarks, Danny Chau): 22nd

Sports Illustrated (Jeremy Woo): 27th

Sporting News (Chris Stone): 27th

The Athletic (Sam Vecenie): 25th

The Stepien (Cole Zwicker): 17th, Tier 5

The Step Back (Brandon Kleen): 20th

Quotes:

Cole Zwicker of The Stepien writes that provided he hones his three-point shot, Melton would be an ideal fit next to a point forward-type, considering his two-way potential at the 1-spot:

"“Melton, similar to (Mikal) Bridges, projects as a high level role-player in the NBA as a two-way combo guard with high-level functional athleticism, elite defensive instincts and who can also play make for others offensively. As with most players, shooting development is crucial for Melton. If he develops a workable spot up 3 he profiles as a potentially excellent two-way secondary creator at the next level as someone who contributes to winning basketball and who is ideally paired with a wing primary creator.”"

Along those same lines, The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie pens that Melton stands as a safe bet to get taken in the first round as a result of the intangibles he brings to the table while mentioning that forward-thinking organizations were intrigued by the California native heading into the season:

"“The most important suspension of the college basketball season in connection with the FBI investigation, Melton entered the season as a player NBA scouts wanted to get a significantly closer look at. Analytically inclined organizations were all over Melton last season, as his overall mix of contributions on both end of the floor saw him perform extremely well in most of their models. The best place Melton helps is on defense, where he’s a capable game-breaker who can get into passing lanes, cut off penetration from players at 1 through 3 with his length, and even block shots at a high rate for a guard. On offense, he’s a really smart ball-mover both in transition and in half-court settings, playing an unselfish brand of basketball that gets everyone involved as a combo guard. He plays under control with smart pace and can operate in the pick-and-roll. The key to him becoming a real difference maker in the NBA is the jump shot. He hit just 28 percent from 3 as a freshman, with mixed mechanics. He needs to work on getting his elbow in instead of flaring out, which can lead to an inconsistent release on the move. On the whole though, Melton is a tremendous prospect who should hear his name called in the first round as NBA teams look for skilled ball-handlers who can also defend wings.”"

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