Oklahoma's Buddy Hield drives to the basket against Oregon's Elgin Cook. (Photo : Getty Images/Harry How)
In June, a new batch of NBA hopefuls will be hoping to get their names called once the NBA draft 2016 arrives. Only 60 prospects will be lucky to have their names called while the others will have to prove their worth in the summer league.
This year, big names that are expected to go in the top three are LSU's Ben Simmons, Duke's Brandon Ingram, and Naismith Men's College Player of the Year, Buddy Hield. Many mock draft boards are putting Simmons and Ingram ahead of Hield, but some basketball figures believe Hield has the highest chance of becoming an NBA superstar.
According to Creighton head coach Greg McDermott, Hield's work ethic will bring him to the top of the basketball world. He arrived at Oklahoma as a raw prospect with limited offensive skills but now, he is more than just a lethal shooter that is expected to translate in the big leagues.
"Last year, he was a shooter. This year, he's a basketball player," McDermott told SB Nation after the Sooners defeated his Bluejays. "He's going to be wearing an NBA uniform next year."
Hield's improved shooting enables him to get his defender off their feet, which makes it easier for him to take the ball to the hoop. Plus, his handles are said to have improved a lot according to the website.
Also, NBA GMs are starting to see the player Hield is as one commended his phenomenal showing in the NCAA Tournament.
"It's nothing we didn't know or haven't seen already, but it's good to see him doing this on the biggest stage he's played on in his college career so far," an NBA general manager told Yahoo Sports.
Perhaps, the only thing that other NBA teams are looking at is his age. Simmons and Ingram are just 19 and 18, respectively and will have plenty of time to develop. Hield, meanwhile, is already 22 years old and will be on his prime when he is up for his second contract.
Looking at NBA mock draft boards, Hield is expected to go third and land with the Phoenix Suns. Other potential teams he might land on are the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Watch Hield's performance against Oregon which propelled them to this year's Final Four.
