Darius Bazley: USA, Forward
While Darius Bazley had received more attention for his decision to forgo college and spend his “freshman” year interning at New Balance, the focus should actually be on his sky high NBA potential. At 6’8″ and the ability to play either forward position, he can already impact the game in a variety of ways. He plays the game with a great energy, and puts it to good use on the glass and as a versatile defender.
Bazley has also shown flashes offensively, especially with his handle, playmaking, and jump shot. While he still needs to improve in the aforementioned areas, his age, already defined skills, and work ethic make him a good bet to develop into an all around wing.
Much like Simons last year, if Portland does not truly believe in other prospects available at the time of their pick, they may choose to take another swing on a player whose potential is just as high as some of the other prospects in his class.