NBA Draft: SEC Underdogs Ready to Address Critics

Every single player coming out of the SEC this year and entering into this year’s draft had a major flaw in their game that left doubt in teams’ minds about drafting them. Even Brandon Ingram began to see his draft stock rise to the point of overtaking Ben Simmons as the number 1 overall pick because of the perceived lack of fire from Simmons and his inability to score on a regular basis. Ultimately, Simmons’ team ball approach and physical gifts were too much for the Philadelphia 76ers to pass up and in the 2016 NBA Draft he was the number 1 overall pick.

After Ben Simmons, people thought there wasn’t as much talent coming from Kentucky in the 2016 NBA Draft, so people assumed the SEC just didn’t have much to offer. However, Kentucky still had 3 players drafted inside the top 34, and Vanderbilt even sent 2 players into the 2016 NBA Draft that were eventually drafted in the 1st round. Florida’s Dorian Finney-Smith and Danuel House were thought to have a good chance of getting drafted in the 2nd round, but neither were selected. However, Danuel House has already signed a contract with the Wizards, and there is little doubt Dorian Finney-Smith will be playing ball this Summer.

I’m going to use the word “underdog” to basically mean a player that will outperform those drafted ahead of him, which keeps everyone in play not named Ben Simmons. I’ve got 3 guys that I believe will outperform their draft position, and I think one of them will be an All-Star.

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