https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/saddiq-bey-1.html

Strengths: Scrappy, confident, high energy forward who broke out this season into one of the most productive players in the Big East … Outstanding three-point shooter who finished at 45% for the season on a high volume of shots (2.5 made threes per game) … Elite catch and shoot perimeter player … High motor, versatile player with the size to play the SF position at the next level (6’8, 216 pounds) and with a near 7-foot wingspan … An overachiever. Bey is a two-way player who stood out on both sides of the ball for #10 Villanova Wildcats this season … Knock down shooter from both mid-range and beyond the arc … Held his own in limited post opportunities this season … Strong and determined defender who can successfully defend 2s, 3s, and (college) 4s … Physical on both offense and defense … Does a good job of playing deliberate and when he sees an open look, there’s no hesitation, the shot is going up … Quick release allows him to get up uncontested threes before help defenders can arrive … Strength, size, and length allow him to take advantage of mismatches against smaller guards … Showcases above average handles for someone with his size … Gives relentless effort whenever he is in the game… While it is not his specialty, he is able to create for others around him … Respectable free throw shooter who will only improve … Takes care of the ball and passes well for a forward … 1.61 AST/TO was one of the best in the nation among forwards …

Weaknesses: Limited athletically. While Bey gets the most out of his abilities, some feel that he has peaked to some degree developmentally … Lacks great fluidity and is not the greatest run/jump athlete … Has he peaked to some degree? Can create shots for others, but struggles at times to create his own shot … While his shot was very consistent and effective, it is a bit flat and he may struggle to extend it out to NBA three and get it off against higher level athletes consistently … Plays good defense, but doesn’t force as many turnovers as he should (0.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG) … Lacks an explosive first step to get by defenders … A common criticism of Bey is that he is too willing to give the ball up instead of taking defenders on … As a 6’8 small forward at the college level, he should have been a much better rebounder than he was … One of the older small forwards in this year’s class having turned 21 in April … Not a pure shooter? While he hit three point shots at an elite rate as a sophomore (45%), his 76% free throw shooting (64% as a freshman) is far from elite …

*****

The 8th overall will likely start Tier 3 in the first round. (This is a draft where Tier 3 could last 8-10 players) I don't see Haliburton and Vassel falling to 8th ( even with Charlotte probably continuing to do something stupid and shifting everyone's draft board). I don't see Bey lasting past the top 10 of this draft. I recognize against most projections, this is a reach. I just don't think the Knicks can trade back from 8 and still be assured of getting him. Also, I just don't like most of the prospects in this draft.

In contrast, I like everything about Bey. I like how he projects for the long term. I think his game translates immediately to the NBA level. If the NCAA had a normal season, I think he would have shot much farther up in most pundits projections.

I want to be fair, I'm a football guy by trade and I tend to lean towards the same type of players given market forces/basic resource management, but I fully believe, given time to reveal it and barring major injury, that Saddiq Bey will be the best player in this entire draft class.

Thoughts?

TripleThreat wrote:-snip-

Strengths: Scrappy, confident, high energy forward who broke out this season into one of the most productive players in the Big East … Outstanding three-point shooter who finished at 45% for the season on a high volume of shots (2.5 made threes per game) … Elite catch and shoot perimeter player … High motor, versatile player with the size to play the SF position at the next level (6’8, 216 pounds) and with a near 7-foot wingspan … An overachiever. Bey is a two-way player who stood out on both sides of the ball for #10 Villanova Wildcats this season … Knock down shooter from both mid-range and beyond the arc … Held his own in limited post opportunities this season … Strong and determined defender who can successfully defend 2s, 3s, and (college) 4s … Physical on both offense and defense … Does a good job of playing deliberate and when he sees an open look, there’s no hesitation, the shot is going up … Quick release allows him to get up uncontested threes before help defenders can arrive … Strength, size, and length allow him to take advantage of mismatches against smaller guards … Showcases above average handles for someone with his size … Gives relentless effort whenever he is in the game… While it is not his specialty, he is able to create for others around him … Respectable free throw shooter who will only improve … Takes care of the ball and passes well for a forward … 1.61 AST/TO was one of the best in the nation among forwards …

Weaknesses: Limited athletically. While Bey gets the most out of his abilities, some feel that he has peaked to some degree developmentally … Lacks great fluidity and is not the greatest run/jump athlete … Has he peaked to some degree? Can create shots for others, but struggles at times to create his own shot … While his shot was very consistent and effective, it is a bit flat and he may struggle to extend it out to NBA three and get it off against higher level athletes consistently … Plays good defense, but doesn’t force as many turnovers as he should (0.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG) … Lacks an explosive first step to get by defenders … A common criticism of Bey is that he is too willing to give the ball up instead of taking defenders on … As a 6’8 small forward at the college level, he should have been a much better rebounder than he was … One of the older small forwards in this year’s class having turned 21 in April … Not a pure shooter? While he hit three point shots at an elite rate as a sophomore (45%), his 76% free throw shooting (64% as a freshman) is far from elite …

*****

The 8th overall will likely start Tier 3 in the first round. (This is a draft where Tier 3 could last 8-10 players) I don't see Haliburton and Vassel falling to 8th ( even with Charlotte probably continuing to do something stupid and shifting everyone's draft board). I don't see Bey lasting past the top 10 of this draft. I recognize against most projections, this is a reach. I just don't think the Knicks can trade back from 8 and still be assured of getting him. Also, I just don't like most of the prospects in this draft.

In contrast, I like everything about Bey. I like how he projects for the long term. I think his game translates immediately to the NBA level. If the NCAA had a normal season, I think he would have shot much farther up in most pundits projections.

I want to be fair, I'm a football guy by trade and I tend to lean towards the same type of players given market forces/basic resource management, but I fully believe, given time to reveal it and barring major injury, that Saddiq Bey will be the best player in this entire draft class.

Thoughts?

At eight, its a legitimate stretch pick along the lines of Kevin Knox. I suspect less risky talent will drop our way.