NBA teams win on the margins. Big moves will take you far, but small moves around the edges will take you farther. Last month, we looked at five deep sleepers from the 2024 draft class who could be diamonds in the rough. Let’s take a look at five more.
Zyon Pullin
Guard – 23 y/o – Florida
All the best backup point guards in the NBA have a few major things in common. Guys like Tyus Jones and Monte Morris have made their careers by being super smart floor generals who limit turnovers and hit shots off the dribble. Few guys in this class, especially in the second round/undrafted range, fit that mold better than Zyon Pullin. Pullin averaged 4.9 assists per game and posted an excellent 3.77 assist-to-turnover ratio during his senior season at Florida. His intelligence as a playmaker and decision maker will serve him well in adjusting to the higher-paced NBA. Pullin is also a quality scorer off the bounce who is comfortable pullin’ up (get it) from two and from three.
Jones and Morris provide most of their value on offense, as they are smaller and slimmer guards that get hunted on defense. Pullin, though, is 6’4” with solid length and strength and will be very capable of staying afloat on defense. In a league where defensive liabilities are finding less and less success, Pullin’s defensive capabilities make him even more likely to stick in the league. Any team looking for a reliable backup point guard should be rushing to draft or sign Pullin.
Jamarion Sharp
Center – 22 y/o – Ole Miss
Everyone knows about Zach Edey, the behemoth from Purdue who dominated college basketball. But what if I told you there’s a second giant in this class? His name is Jamarion Sharp, he’s 7’5”, and he’s one of the best shot blockers in the world. The paint is an absolute no-trespass zone when Sharp is on the court. He once averaged 4.6 blocks per game in a season. Yes, you read that right. In his senior year at Ole Miss, he played just 15.8 minutes per game, but still swatted 2.4 shots a night.
Sharp uses more than just his size to block shots though. He’s surprisingly mobile for a guy of his stature. He has no trouble rotating all around the court in a timely manner and his instincts are terrific. His block numbers are no fluke, he’s a legitimate defensive monster.
The thing holding Sharp back is his overall poor offensive game. He’s a great rim runner and lob threat, but his touch is awful and he has a tough time finishing anything besides dunks. He also has zero passing skill. If Sharp can prove to be passable in a simple offensive role on an NBA court, he can prevent himself from being another Tacko Fall. If he can’t make it in the league, he will undoubtedly excel overseas.
Martez Brown
Big – 23 y/o – Lincoln Memorial
Martez Brown represents a path seldom traveled by prospects: NCAA Division II basketball. Because so few players are drafted from DII schools, it’s easy to be hesitant when one does come around. However, if you forget about his college, Brown has a convincing case as an NBA player. He’s a great athlete with a formidable combination of size, bounce, and mobility. He runs the floor well, throws down devastating dunks, and hounds the glass. At Lincoln Memorial, Brown looked like a man amongst boys. In the NBA he’ll be a man amongst men, but he could be a real player if a team is willing to give him a chance.
Moses Wood
Forward – 25 y/o – Washington
Moses Wood is more than just a goofy looking guy with an awesome name. He’s one of the best shooters you’ll find in the deep depths of this draft class. In his super-duper senior year at Washington, Wood connected on 39.6% of his 6.3 three-point attempts per game. His jumper is silky smooth and he can hit a variety of triples. He’s also a decent athlete with an NBA frame.
The blaring holdup with Wood is his age. At 25 years old, he’s one of the oldest guys in the class. That really hurts him because he’s not a sure-fire instant contributor and teams likely won’t view him as a worthwhile developmental project. However, he has a pro level skill, and could be a utility end-of-bench piece for a team in need of shooting.
Drew Pember
Big – 24 y/o – UNC Asheville
Reigning Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid is of the league’s premier role players. He’s an invaluable contributor for the Timberwolves because of his combination of shooting, ball skills, and mobility. All 29 other teams would undoubtedly love to have a big man like Reid on their team, and so all 29 other teams should be taking a look at Drew Pember.
Pember stuffed the stat sheet while at UNC Asheville. In his senior year he averaged 20.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.9 blocks while shooting 36.6% from three on over five attempts per game. Those numbers showcase the Naz Reid-esque versatility that he brings to the court. Pember is a legit floor spacing big. He’s comfortable playing on the perimeter and can drive to hoop and finish when defenders close out too hard. He can also switch across the lineup and protect the rim defensively.
Don’t be surprised if in five years Drew Pember is the next Naz Reid, both as a player and a fan favorite.
The Bench Mob Blog 