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Most players that decide to play in the NBA at some point in their lives decide to take the tried and tested career path. Become a 5-star recruit in high school, play for a prestigious college and then declare for the NBA Draft when you think the time is right.
Most college students decide to become 'one and done' players, declaring for the NBA Draft right after their first year at college. Some decide to hone their skills or get a degree and then pursue basketball. Since a lot of freshmen were 'one and done' players, let us take a look at the 5 best teenagers in the NBA right now.
#5 Bol Bol (Denver Nuggets), 19 years old
Bol Bol is one of the biggest head turners in the NBA right now, literally. Standing in at 7 feet and 2 inches, Bol Bol is one of the largest and most skilled centres in the NBA, with some huge upsides for a player who went at #44 but has the skills of a top 5 draft pick.
At 19, Bol Bol showed an offensive arsenal that should make him unguardable in the NBA. While he only played 9 games for Oregon, he displayed some remarkable performances, averaging 21 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game in just under 30 minutes.
He shot a gargantuan 52% from the 3 point line, none of them were lucky. A 3 point shot is a weapon waiting to be unleashed by Bol in the NBA. He also is a superb shot blocker and can dribble the ball as good as any guard at 7 feet 2.
A left foot injury, along with a lot of health concerns with a frail build dropped Bol Bol's stock value. But there is no doubt that he has got to be one of the best teenagers in the NBA right now if healthy.
#4 Jaxson Hayes (New Orleans Pelicans), 19 years old
The New Orleans Pelicans are building a really solid, young core around Zion Williamson that can easily propel them into a Championship conversation. Jaxson Hayes is one such player that the Pelicans drafted at #8 in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Hayes is a physically gifted big man with excellent tools for a modern centre. He had a superb college season with Texas, playing 32 games and averaging 10 points, 5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in his freshman season, impressing the Pelicans enough to pick him up at #8.
His best trait is probably his athleticism. He possesses incredible run-and-jump ability, great hands (as a high school receiver) and superb coordination. His shot-blocking presence is nothing short of intimidating either. He can finish almost any lob and will definitely be able to get a lot of fouls with his style in the NBA.
His shooting still needs work to be done and while he is a good passer, his vision might not be the best. He is also a very lanky player and needs to put on some lower body strength in order to play with the more physical centres in the NBA. Irrespective of all these, Hayes is one of the most exciting teenagers in the NBA and he will become a key player in the future of the Pelicans' franchise.
#3 RJ Barrett (New York Knicks), 19 years old
The New York Knicks were playing for Zion Williamson last season and while they could not get him, they probably have the next best prospect from this draft in RJ Barrett, who is considered to be one of the best players from the 2019 NBA Draft.
Barrett had a roller coaster ride in the NBA Summer League, from starting really poorly to ending very strongly, he showed just how good (and bad) he can be. Barrett is a really good scorer, but was shooting poorly in the first few games and was inefficient throughout the summer league, a big concern during the draft.
He is a really good rebounder and is a ball dominant player but has shown elite vision both during his college days and during the NBA summer league as well, where he averaged 16.7 points, 5 assists and 9.5 rebounds a game.
The upside of Barrett is apparent, a hyper-athletic player built for the modern NBA that can take this Knicks team towards a brighter future on his back if he can develop into the player he is touted to become.
#2 Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies), 19 years old
Jaren Jackson Jr. or JJJ, was drafted in the 2018 NBA Draft but is still only 19 years old and is one of the most talented 2-way teenagers in the NBA right now and has showcased his ability last season.
He was superb for the Memphis Grizzlies last season, averaging 13.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 1.4 blocks in only 26 minutes a game. He was in foul trouble all season long which limited his upside but it was there to see.
His amazing potential as a stretch big man that can also defend the rim and has shown upside on the offensive end as well. His health is the only issue and if he can stay fit, Jackson and Morant will be one of the most talented young duos in the NBA.
Jackson Jr. is the only rookie with 1,500 or more minutes played in NBA history to average at least 19 points, 1.9 blocks, 1 3 pointer and 1 steal in 36 minutes stats. The Grizzlies will be hoping that he improves and hopefully eclipses his ceiling, becoming even better.
#1 Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans), 19 years old
Zion Williamson is the most talked about player coming away from the 2019 NBA Draft and while he could only play 9 minutes in the Summer League before being shut down, the excitement that he brought to the court was awesome.
At just 19 years old and entering his rookie season, Williamson is one of the most athletic players in the NBA. Standing in at 6 foot 7 inches and weighing in at 285 pounds, he should be lumbering around the court and yet is a force to reckon with.
He is built like a tank and can fly around the court like he is a small guard. He possesses amazing explosiveness and a great first step. He can create offensive plays and has a good passing vision.
Zion is also a solid defender, where he has shown immense potential. He can defend multiple positions, showing just how versatile he is. He is an amazing rim protector and has an active hands-on defence. His immense strength also works to his advantage.
While he has all this upside, his offensive game is still raw. His 3 point shot is poor and he can essentially be left open at the 3 point line in the NBA and he also needs to get better off the ball.
Apart from all this, his upsides easily outweigh his downsides. If he can stay healthy, he can become one of the best players in the history of the NBA.
Guess the Lakers players!
