2020 NBA Draft: Five sleepers who can crash the first round with a late rise

The NBA Draft is covered voraciously year-round, and yet every year on draft night, we’re hit with a surprise. A wait, he went how high?! moment. Sometimes two or three of them happen within the first round in the same year.

Cameron Johnson going 11th overall last year, for instance, was a genuine stunner. Just ask his former UNC teammate Coby White. Jordan Poole surfacing as a first-rounder and going 27th overall to the Warriors last year was unexpected as well. The year prior gave us another example as Jerome Robinson surprisingly went 13th overall — and ahead of Michael Porter Jr., no less!

Each example brings its own varying level of shock, some more than others. And yet without fail, there seems to be prospects every year considered to be second-rounders who manage to sneak into the first round higher than we expect.

The term “sleeper” may aptly describe these players who fly under the radar and emerge late to go higher than expected. Players who may be higher on team boards than initially suspected or projected. They’re out there every year, lurking. And considering recent history, there’s bound to be a few that surprise us this year, too.

So I will do my best to try and predict those that may come next in that category below. These are players who are generally viewed as second-rounders who may fit the profile of a prospect who goes higher than expected. Therefore, you can’t act surprised on draft night when I’m inevitably correct on all five. You have been warned. 

1. Malachi Flynn, San Diego State

Junior | PG | 6-1 | 185 pounds

San Diego State went 30-2 last season with Malachi Flynn guiding its ship. A 6-foot-1 lead guard, he gets overlooked in part because of his size and lack of athletic pop, but the crafty upperclassman has a knack for compensating those deficiencies in his game.

Flynn can peel off screens and knock down shots, create offense for himself off the dribble, and is comfortable facilitating in the pick-and-roll, showing good touch both as a passer and as a scorer around the rim on floaters.

What I like about Flynn’s game is how he gets downhill in a hurry. His smaller frame coupled with his lack of strength could be a problem at the next level if he doesn’t bulk up, but the way he can herky-jerky his way into quality production should be of interest for teams looking to solidify point guard depth or add another scoring option in the backcourt.

Flynn’s ideal role in the NBA may be as a second-unit initiator — someone who plays with confidence on both ends of the court — but his scoring versatility is a facet of his game that could really thrive in a more open offensive ecosystem the NBA can offer.

2. Killian Tillie, Gonzaga

Senior | PF | 6-10 | 220 pounds

If teams were to take a fresh look at this class and make assessments strictly on talent, production and projectability, Killian…