Very early look at 2019 NBA draft - Beach Ball Classic - Day 1
R. J. Barrett - Montverde Academy, Florida |
The Celtics currently have four possible first-round draft picks in 2019, assuming the 2018 Lakers pick falls out of the 2-5 range. I am lucky to be in Myrtle Beach, SC and out of the snow and cold, and I get to watch some of the current high school seniors who will be taken in the 2019 draft.
The Beach Ball Classic held annually at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina features many of the top high school teams throughout the country. Many top NBA players have performed here, including Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Jason Kidd, Rasheed Wallace, Grant Hill, Baron Davis, Mike Bibby and Kenny Anderson. The tournament opened yesterday with four games being played.
One of the high schoolers that stood out was Rechon "Leaky" Black of Cox Mill (NC). He scored 19 points, took down six rebounds and added four assists and five steals as he led his team to victory. Black has good size at 6'7" and 180 pounds. He has committed to play at the University of North Carolina next year.
The top-ranked high school senior in the country, R. J. Barrett of Montverde (FL), is scheduled to play this evening. Most mock drafts have Barrett going first overall in the 2019 NBA draft. Zion Williamson of Spartanburg Day (SC), a projected 2019 lottery pick, was scheduled to play at the BBC but is out with an injury.
Barrett is 6'7" and 185 pounds of athletic excellence. He has committed to playing at Duke University next year. This kid is quite a talent. I will be posting on a daily basis on the teams and key players in the Classic.
Follow Tom at @TomLaneHC
Photo via Guillermo Martinez/News-Leader
Top video via MakePlayz
Bottom video via CourtsideFilms