Following the Champions Classic in Chicago, I scouted 32 teams in the 10 days leading up to the coveted PK80 Invitational, which Jonathan Givony and I outlined in detail on Monday. While Phil Knight's 80th birthday bash left most other early season tournaments with a sub-par pool of prospects, I still evaluated a handful of future NBA players, most of whom have the tools, skills and makeup to develop into contributing NBA role players down the road.
With modern role player criteria in mind, here's a look at five prospects who are helping themselves with strong starts to the season, and could carve out a niche at the NBA level in the future.
3-and-D off guards
Khyri Thomas | Creighton | Age: 21.5
Physical profile: 6-3, 206 pounds, 6-10 wingspan (via Creighton coaching staff)
Standout stat: 65.8 2-point percentage and 39.3 percent from 3
Coming out of high school, the Omaha native had mostly Division II, Division III and junior college offers on his résumé. Creighton was one of the only Division I schools in the mix, and it wasn't until Thomas did a postgrad year at Fork Union Military Academy that he had the grades, and exposure, to land at a major D1 university. With no cellphones allowed, 6 a.m. wakeups and heavy structure, there was little time for distractions.
"I just really had to grow up and take stuff serious," said Thomas, who is now praised by the Creighton coaching staff for his tremendous intangibles and focus. "I didn't take the whole grades thing seriously. I didn't get recruited how everyone wants to. I thought I was going to go to juco."
Known by his family and teammates as Tazz (short for Tasmanian devil), the high-energy guard stayed loyal to his first major offer, Creighton, and has made incremental improvements every season under head coach Greg McDermott. Thomas spent the better part of his first two seasons as a complementary player next to Justin Patton, winning Big East Defensive Player of the Year last season as a 31-game starter. A 24-point, 11-rebound, 5-assist outburst against Northwestern earlier this season helped solidify his status as a legitimate NBA prospect. A Kawhi Leonard fan and history buff, Thomas is a self-made player who checks a lot of the boxes NBA teams are looking for in a perimeter role player.
Quick scout
High-level defender who can guard point guards, shooting guards and some small forwards at the NBA level thanks to his strong frame and 6-10 wingspan. Great feet. Plays with energy.
Capable shooter when set. Career 40.4 percent from 3 on 198 attempts. Can make a one-dribble pull-up if run off the line.
Solid straight-line driver and finisher. Strong frame. Shooting 65.8 percent from 2 this season.
High-IQ player who can make basic reads while on the move. Good cutter.
Not a shot creator in the half court. Rudimentary ball handler. Limited pull-up game.
Not the most dynamic shooter. Best with time and space. History of inconsistency despite strong overall percentages.
21-year-old Creighton guard Khyri Thomas is shooting a career-best 53.8% from 3 through 4 games this season. Bluejays set to take on Baylor. pic.twitter.com/5o5MRBXBZd
- Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) November 22, 2017
Outlook
Thomas' combination of length, defensive versatility, competitiveness, shooting potential and sound basketball IQ make him an extremely attractive prospect. He's the perfect complementary piece who defends, makes shots and doesn't need many dribbles to make his presence felt on the floor. Scouts will surely be tuned in for Creighton's matchup against Gonzaga on Friday, as the Bluejays guard is emerging as a legitimate first-round prospect.
In his own words
"Growing up I would always play against older kids and they would always score on me and everyone would tell me, 'You're too little, you keep getting scored on, you can't play with us.' I was just like, 'Yo I'm not going to let anybody score on me. I'm not going to let this weak dude score on me and get embarrassed.'"
Terence Davis | Ole Miss | Age: 20.5
Physical profile: 6-4, 208 pounds, 6-8 wingspan (via Ole Miss staff)
Standout stat: 28.6 points and 4.2 made 3s per 40 minutes at 38.1 percent; 67.6 percent from 2
Davis was a two-sport athlete in high school, starring both on the hardwood and the gridiron. He earned multiple high major offers for football as a wide receiver, and could have played both football and basketball at Cincinnati, but opted to stick to hoops and commit to Ole Miss. Not even a top-200 RSCI recruit, Davis is a self-made player who got by on energy and toughness early in his college career, slowly adding more skill each and every year.
"I was straight downhill," he said. "I used to get garbage buckets. My game done came a long way."
After playing only six minutes per game in 19 contests as a freshman, Davis has developed into one of the more productive and efficient guards in the NCAA on a per-40-minute basis while also playing both ends of the floor. The energetic Ole MIss guard is certainly emerging as a 3-and-D style guard that NBA teams will track moving forward.
Quick scout
Strong-framed 6-4 guard who is explosive in a straight line. Aggressive downhill driver. Quick and powerful first step. Good finisher.
Improved 3-point shooter with a quick trigger off the catch. Taking 11.1 3s per 40 minutes. Good rise on midrange pull-ups.
Hard-nosed defender. Has the body and the feet to check either guard spot, with a 6-8 wingspan. Gets 2.4 steals and 1.3 blocks per 40 minutes.
Plays the game a bit sped up on both ends. Commits 5.8 turnovers per 40 minutes. Too physical defensively. Foul prone: "I just got to stay out of foul trouble," he said. "I'm like a little kid man. I'm in foul trouble, reaching. It's the football in me."
Good not great shooter. Wide stance. His 3-point shooting came late. Better off the catch than dribble. How will it translate to the NBA 3-point line?
Outlook
The 20-year-old junior has helped himself with a strong start to the season and will have plenty of opportunities to prove himself in the SEC. Ole Miss will take on Virginia Tech on Saturday, a good chance for scouts to see Davis against highly touted, skilled combo guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Davis told us in Las Vegas that he plans to test the NBA draft waters this offseason, and he figures to get plenty of workouts given his potential.
In his own words
"I'm physical, I have a shot now. I've been working on that all offseason, and my ballhandling. I just think my motor, my energy. I have to bring it every single game. That's what I do. I bring energy every game. I can't play without it. If I'm playing without energy and toughness I feel like I'm average."
Change-of-pace guard
Aaron Holiday | UCLA | Age: 21.1
Physical profile: 6-1, 185 pounds, 6-6 wingspan
Standout stat: 2.06 assist-to-turnover ratio
The younger brother of Jrue and Justin Holiday, the UCLA junior returned to Westwood this season after testing the NBA draft waters last June. More of a scorer at the high school level, Holiday came off the bench last season behind Lonzo Ball, averaging 18.6 points and 6.7 assists per-40 minutes playing mostly off the ball on a 31-win Bruins team.
Holiday, who wasn't invited to the draft combine in May, spent the summer working out with his brothers and has taken on a bigger role on a UCLA team that has five freshmen in the rotation, not including those caught up in the China shoplifting scandal. This is Holiday's team now, and he has shown why with a handful of big games already this season.
Quick scout
Aggressive guard who plays bigger than his size suggests. Puts pressure on the rim in the half court and transition. Doesn't shy away from contact.
Physical defender who bothers ball handlers with his 6-6 wingspan. Averaging 2.5 steals per 40 minutes.
Capable spot-up shooter who is improving off the dribble. Made a lot of big shots at the CBE Hall of Fame Classic. Wants the ball late in games.
Improving pick-and-roll player who is starting to use both sides of the floor as a passer. Still more in the combo mold. Not the most natural facilitator.
Long but doesn't have elite size for a lead guard prospect.
Can become a more dynamic shooter. Best when he has time and space.
Aaron Holiday knocks down a 3-pointer with under a minute remaining to give UCLA a 70-67 lead.
Aaron Holiday evades Wisconsin defenders on the way to a basket as UCLA escapes with a 72-70 win over Wisconsin.
Outlook
Holiday has quickly emerged as the leader of a young but talented Bruins team. NBA scouts like his defensive toughness, ability to put pressure on the rim and shooting touch. He has been somewhat hiding in plain sight for the last year or so, with all eyes on Ball, T.J. Leaf and Ike Anigbogu, and he appears on his way to a breakout season in a draft void of top-shelf point guards. He might never project as an NBA starter but there's value in guards like Holiday who can put pressure on the rim, defend, make a shot and facilitate in space. Holiday has a chance to prove himself against Kentucky on Dec. 23 at the CBS Sports Classic in New Orleans.
In his own words
"I still see myself as a combo type of guy, but I obviously know how to play point guard pretty well. I just haven't been in that position yet so I guess we'll see during this year. Just really work on looking at guards that are my size, maybe a little taller. Obviously my brother Jrue, I watch him and how he gets off the pick-and-roll. Chris Paul is one of them. I also watch Patty Mills. He's an off guard but he can play point guard. I really think in the NBA I can play like him or any other guard position. Just watch little things like how they come off of pick-and-rolls, where they get their shots, how they get in the paint, just different things like that."
Playmaking guard
Quinton Rose | Temple | Age: 19.8
Physical profile: 6-7, 180 pounds, 6-8 wingspan
Standout stat: 20.1 points and 3.7 assists per 40 minutes
The thin-framed, soft-spoken Albany native is coming off a solid AAC all-freshman season on a 16-16 Temple team that underachieved throughout 2016-17. More of an athletic combo guard at a young age, Rose has continued to develop his skill set and was the final cut on the under-19 USA team that finished third in Cairo at the U19 World Championships. Spending time in Colorado Springs competing against wings like Hamidou Diallo and Cameron Reddish in training camp was an excellent litmus test for Rose, and it has paid off so far this season. The RSCI No. 229 recruit is Temple's most talented player and will have plenty of opportunities to prove himself this season.
Quick scout
Thin, explosive SG who is comfortable operating on the ball as a slasher or facilitator. Changes speeds and directions with ease. Has some physical similarities to Patrick McCaw, although not quite as long.
Developing shooter off the dribble and when set despite unorthodox release point. Gets great rotation. Making 1.7 3s per 40 minutes.
Has the feet to defend point guards and the positional size to defend shooting guards if he fills out.
Thin frame, not all that long relative to his height. Can be tougher and more physical. Explosive but struggles to finish in traffic.
History of inconsistency in terms of energy and production. Can be too careless with the ball. Can play with more grit defensively.
Shoots from his shoulder. Needs to become a more reliable shooter.
Struggles when contested off the dribble.
Outlook
Although he needs time to develop physically and skill wise, there's a lot to like about Rose's long-term potential. He projects as a playmaking, slashing guard who can operate either on or off the ball. Temple is improved from a season ago and Rose currently ranks second on the team in scoring and assists, and first in rebounding and steals. If he can continue to iron out his jumper and improve his body, scouts will be intrigued by his positional size, athleticism and ability to play with the ball. Rose's first big test figures to come against Villanova and lockdown defender Mikal Bridges on Dec. 13.
In his own words
"I want to be able to knock down open shots. I don't want to be labeled as a shooter. I just want to be able to knock down open shots because my game is getting to the basket. I just want to be well rounded as a player. I always been able to get into the lane and pass, find my teammates. I think I'm getting better [defensively] every game. I just need to keep working, stay focused. It's hard to stay focused for a whole 30 seconds, but I'm getting there. Taking care of the ball too. I had too many turnovers [recently]. I've got to do a much better job taking care of the ball. I think I can rebound better as well."
Facilitating, instinctual big man
Ethan Happ | Wisconsin | Age: 21.5
Physical profile: 6-9½, 235 pounds, 7-0 wingspan (via Ethan Happ)
Standout stat: Only 6-9 or taller player in the country with an assist percentage better than 25 (25 MPG minimum)
Happ is a small-town late-bloomer from Mylan, a village in Rock Island County, Illinois. He spent his formative years as a point guard before he sprouted to 6-6 as a sophomore and eventually 6-8 as a senior. The son of a former Division III basketball player, Happ grew up around all sports -- his cousin, JA Happ, is a pitcher for the Blue Jays. After redshirting his freshman season, Happ has started 78 of 79 games at Wisconsin, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2016 and third-team All-American honors last season. He's poised for a big junior season despite it being a bit of a down year for the Badgers.
Quick scout
Tremendous passer and ball handler who is comfortable pushing himself in the open floor. Quick decision-maker who leans on his sharp instincts.
Anticipatory defender. Always around the ball. Good timing for blocks and steals. Has the feet to defend the perimeter. Plays with toughness. Sharp instincts on the glass.
Great footwork in the post. Takes his time but also gets the ball on the glass quickly before shot-blockers can react. Uses both hands. Works well along the baseline. Can straight line drive.
Limited shooter. Mechanical free throw stroke. Best next to a big who can guard a 5 but also stretch the floor.
Good not great athleticism and length.
Skilled but struggles to finish against rim protectors.
Outlook
The ultra-productive Happ, a Big Ten Player of the Year candidate, has the playmaking ability and instincts to carve out a career as a bench big in the NBA. Although he doesn't space the floor as a shooter, his ability to play out of dribble-handoffs and facilitate from the perimeter does force teams to play him on the perimeter. He's probably the best passing big in the country and his instincts and toughness defensively will help him make up for any physical shortcomings he has on that end. Happ might be an acquired taste for some talent evaluators, but it's hard to ignore his production, and he'll have his chance to show how his game translates twice against a long, athletic Michigan State team in Big Ten play.
In his own words
"In the offseason I always try to make what I'm good at even better. That's the first main focus. My post stuff is where I'm going to be the most effective for my team, but then I also try to make a big jump with free throws and midrange shots as well as 3s. That's the next step for me, to try and be a reliable jump shooter."