Scouting the top 2020 NBA draft prospects at the FIBA U19s

CRETE, Greece -- Now that we've covered the top draft prospects for 2021 and 2022 from the FIBA Under-19 World Cup, let's break down the event's best prospects eligible for the upcoming draft in 2020.

Tyrese Haliburton | 6-foot-5 | PG | USA | Age: 19.3

An analytics darling after an ultra-efficient freshman season, the Iowa State guard turned skeptics into believers with his play in Crete, running the show beautifully at the lead guard spot to the tune of 48 assists to just eight turnovers in 175 minutes, all while posting an absurd 82.5 true shooting percentage and making plays all over the floor defensively.

Haliburton's unorthodox style can be hard to ignore, as he is not the most gifted ball handler, he shoots a funky set shot that doesn't translate well to closely contested pull-ups and he remains rail thin. But he simply impacts winning all over the floor. His basketball instincts are elite, the ball never sticks and, despite the mechanics, he is nearly automatic from 3 with his feet set (10 of 18 treys in Crete).

After he functioned mostly as a ball-moving wing last season with a 9.2 usage rate on a team full of thirsty scorers, it was useful to see Haliburton playing strictly point guard at this level. He handled the role with grace, rarely getting sped up and showing some comfort changing speeds to hit the roller with lobs in pick-and-roll. While his handle can improve, he has the feet to eventually develop into a gear-shifter, necessary for most lead guards.

Haliburton told ESPN he compares himself to Lonzo Ball, which holds some weight given his positional size, elite basketball instincts, breakdown game and lack of physicality as a finisher. Haliburton has the instincts and positional length to become a Lonzo-like defender, as well. Haliburton's shooting, scoring attack and physicality will be tested next season with a bigger role, but if he plays like he did in Crete, he could very well emerge as a legitimate lottery candidate come June. -- Schmitz

Karim Mane | 6-6 | SG | Canada | Age: 19.1

Although he was wildly inconsistent over the course of the tournament, Mane had a breakout performance in Crete that solidified him as one of the top non-American prospects. Part of that is due to his elite physical profile: He stands about 6-foot-6 in shoes and has a near 7-foot wingspan, a chiseled frame and impressive athleticism -- all of which allowed him to live in the open court, beat opponents off the dribble, change speeds powerfully and play above the rim.

Mane also showed impressive potential getting on the glass (7.1 rebounds per 40 minutes), jumping in passing lanes (1.8 steals per 40) and finding the open man (5.1 assists per 40). He demonstrated the type of versatility NBA teams actively covet from the backcourt position, potentially allowing him to slide anywhere from the 1 to 3 spots. Mane made 12 3s in seven games in Crete, including five in the opening game against Australia (several of which were deep and contested shots off the dribble), leaving plenty of room for optimism regarding how this part of his game will evolve over time.

His shot selection and overall decision-making were questionable at times, as he has a propensity for lowering his shoulder and running into brick walls, not always doing a great job of surveying the defense and hoisting up plenty of difficult attempts. Mane's feel is a work in progress, as it appears he hasn't accumulated the same type of high-level experience going up against elite competition that others in this tournament had.

Nevertheless, his elite physical profile, tenacious mentality on both ends of the floor and budding talent with the ball in his hands is tantalizing. It will be interesting to see what path Mane decides to take from here, as going the college route would make him 21 years old on draft night if he elected to be one-and-done after the 2020 NCAA season. Mane was actually already eligible for the 2019 draft as an international prospect, and he will again be eligible for the 2020 draft if he stays in Canada for another year, which he told ESPN he plans on doing. Mane was surprised to learn he is draft eligible and told ESPN he would be interested in exploring the option of going straight to the NBA.

"If that's a possibility, that's one of my main goals," Mane told ESPN. "But at the same time, I want to get an education too; that's important for me and my family. I have to think about it, but that's definitely a possibility."

Mane will be projected as a first-round pick in our next 2020 mock draft. -- Givony

A.J. Lawson | 6-6 | SG | Canada | Age: 18.9

The South Carolina guard made a strong case for first-round status in 2020, ranking eighth in scoring (16.7 points per game) while cashing in on a shade under 40% of his 3s on a healthy 7.6 attempts per game. Coming off a solid freshman season that earned him SEC all-rookie honors, Lawson continued to build his résumé as a wiry off guard who can finish above the rim emphatically in space, knock down rhythm 3s and defend point guards effectively, showing some similar strengths and weaknesses to those of Terrance Ferguson at the same stage, while possessing physical attributes more in line with those of Patrick McCaw.

Lawson's thin frame, shaky free throw stroke, sometimes wild play and lack of physicality as a finisher/defender remain question marks among NBA scouts. He is a streaky shooter, getting caught between set and jump shots from distance and often relying on upward momentum to get to his release point. His lack of physical improvement is a bit alarming, as well. But with all that said, Lawson's height, length (6-foot-10 wingspan), athleticism and on-the-move shooting potential have a place in today's game.

So long as Lawson continues becoming a more consistent shooter while rounding out the rest of his game, he certainly is a candidate to hear his name called in the back end of the first round. -- Schmitz

Amar Sylla | 6-9 | PF/C | Senegal | Age: 17.7

Coming off impressive showings in the ANGT and Spanish under-18 championship, Sylla had a fairly underwhelming showing in Crete, being miscast in an unfamiliar role as a small forward on a team with little ballhandling, passing or outside shooting. At this stage in his development, Sylla is at his best using his outstanding length, quickness and explosiveness to make plays around the basket, while dropping glimpses of ability in handling the ball in the open court, making touch shots from 18 feet and in, switching ball screens and protecting the rim ferociously. While being forced to freelance offensively on a team with no half-court concepts, he looked more limited than he did at Real Madrid, as he regularly forced the issue with his decision-making and shot selection.

Sylla is still one of the most explosive athletes you'll find outside of the NBA in terms of his ability to cover ground fluidly and get off his feet effortlessly. He made a number of highlight plays finishing around the basket, elevating for blocks and smothering smaller players on the perimeter in a demonstration of enormous long-term potential. His frame has a long way to go, but Sylla has shown enough in other settings to justify his status as a potential first-round pick down the road. -- Givony

Biram Faye | 6-9 | C | Senegal | Age: 19.3

Despite Senegal's disappointing 1-6 record, few players helped themselves as much Faye, who ranked fifth in scoring (19.4), fourth in rebounding (10.0) and player efficiency rating (29.4) and seventh in blocks per 40 minutes (2.4). After growing up in Senegalese orphanages, Faye has broken out in Spain. He is a mobile, high-motor center with a shredded, 225-pound frame, huge hands, a 7-foot-2 wingspan and a 9-foot standing reach, and he exhibits a game that calls to mind a young Montrezl Harrell. Faye lacks a degree of instincts and feel on both ends, but he covers up a lot of his blunders with effort, especially defensively, crashing the glass aggressively and flying around to make plays around the rim as a shot-blocker.

More of an energetic offensive rebounder in the past, Faye is turning into a legitimate catch-and shoot threat from 3 with sound mechanics. Although he shot only 31% from 3 in Crete, Faye has a greatly improved stroke, and the fact that he hoisted six 3s per game and shot 82.6% from the free throw line speaks to his growth in that area. Again, Faye still has a learning curve ahead of him -- and he'll still have to prove himself at the pro level, as he has long dominated the youth ranks -- but his progress is definitely noteworthy. -- Schmitz

Kira Lewis | 6-3 | PG | USA | Age: 18.2

Lewis played only 10 minutes per game (mostly in blowouts) but showed significant potential in earning a spot on the roster at the USA Basketball training camp in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which we also attended. Despite going into his sophomore year at Alabama, Lewis is younger than many incoming freshmen.

His frame looks more like that of a high school player, and he played somewhat timidly on both ends of the floor in Greece. Lewis made this team largely on the strength of his outside shooting ability, as he was extremely consistent from the perimeter in Colorado Springs. His release is on the lower side and could stand to get quicker, but he brings compact and consistent mechanics. Lewis doesn't always show it, but he has impressive open-court speed and will surprise you at times with his ability to play above the rim. He plays a somewhat vanilla, mistake-free brand of basketball, often preferring to stay in his lane and make the right reads. He has nice poise and a good feel for the game but needs to continue to gain confidence and improve his leadership skills, something he readily acknowledged as an improvement area.

Defensively, Lewis has a knack for being in the right spots, helping compensate somewhat for his lack of length and strength, which likely will render him a one-position player at the NBA level. Lewis isn't loaded with upside, but he ticks some boxes with his height, perimeter shooting ability and feel. He'll be forced to carry a much heavier role as a sophomore at Alabama, something that should help his development and also offer a strong platform to showcase himself as a pro prospect. -- Givony

Reggie Perry | 6-9 | PF/C | USA | Age: 19.3

Named MVP of the tournament, Perry was extremely productive, posting 25.0 points and 15.0 rebounds per 40 minutes, regularly imposing his physical will on opponents in the paint. Coming off an up-and-down pre-draft process, Perry was consistently aggressive, hammering the offensive glass, finishing with force and even showing the ability to push off the glass to score as a mismatch center.

Despite his productivity and mature physical profile at 251 pounds with big hands and a 7-foot wingspan, it remains to be seen just how valuable Perry's prototype is in today's NBA. He struggled to defend on the perimeter in switch situations, he isn't exactly a defensive anchor at this stage and he doesn't offer much as a facilitator, even though he has made strides in that area. The key for Perry is to become a legitimate stretch option in the Noah Vonleh mold, a player to whom he holds some physical and skill similarities. Perry heads back to Mississippi State with considerable momentum, and he eventually could earn first-round looks if he continues to improve. -- Schmitz

Kenny Baptiste | 6-9 | PF | France | Age: 19.4

Few prospects at this tournament passed the eye test better than Baptiste, a tall, long, fluid wing with big hands and a terrific frame who looks like a lottery pick on first glance. In reality, Baptiste is very much a work in progress from a skill and feel standpoint, but he did fill up the stat sheet off the bench, averaging 18 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks per 40 minutes while shooting 73% from 2-point range.

A late bloomer who stood only 6 feet tall when he arrived in France from Guadeloupe three years ago, Baptiste is quick off his feet, fluidly attacks in a straight line and shows impressive versatility switching onto guards on the perimeter, covering ground and often finishing plays with a block. Baptiste's perimeter shooting is a major work in progress. He made just one 3 in 132 minutes in Crete, and he is a career 62% free throw shooter on 179 attempts. He doesn't shoot on the hop and doesn't show enough fluidity in his lower body, shooting mostly through his arms and chest, which leads to a slow and stiff release. He did drop some glimpses of touch with a number of short-range pull-ups over the course of the tournament, indicating there might be some long-term potential.

He also showed a little more ability as a passer and defensive playmaker than you'd expect given his level of experience. Baptiste started off the tournament slowly, but he really came on toward the end, having his best game in the semifinals against Mali by posting 14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals and 3 blocks in 26 minutes. Baptiste is under contract with Le Mans in France, but he will be loaned out this season to the second division (Pro B), where he should have more of an opportunity to get playing time and continue to expand his game. -- Givony

Leandro Bolmaro | 6-7 | SG | Argentina | Age: 18.8

Partially hampered by an ankle injury, Bolmaro still was able to show off his skill level and creativity as a wing shot-creator who can slash to the rim in a straight line or with basic crossovers, facilitate with either hand unselfishly and even knock down an occasional 3 if left alone -- a longtime weakness that he is making strides to remedy. Although he shot only 30% from 3 in Crete after converting 29.9% of his 3s with Barcelona's second team last season, his stroke looked less strained than when we evaluated him at the 2018 Nike Hoop Summit.

Bolmaro whips the ball all over the floor, changes pace naturally in pick-and-roll and slithers his way into tight crevices with body control and footwork. He was the steadying force for a balanced Argentina team that finished 5-2, even if he can stand to improve greatly as a finisher through contact and as a perimeter shooter when heavily contested. There will be inevitable questions about his defensive upside given his mediocre frame (180 pounds) and length (6-foot-8 wingspan). But Bolmaro reminded scouts of his talent, and he is a legitimate candidate to get drafted in 2020 with a strong season in Barcelona. -- Schmitz

Filip Petrusev | 6-11 | PF/C | Serbia | Age: 19.2

Petrusev had one of the most productive showings in tournament history, averaging an impressive 19 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals in just 26 MPG, shooting an efficient 67% from the field. He was also perhaps the most polished big man in terms of pure skill, showing exquisite footwork in the low post, terrific passing, perimeter shot creation, some flashes on face-up jumpers and a great feel.

Petrusev's frame is filling out impressively. He's a mobile big man who is light on his feet and covers ground well. Serbia ran most of its offense through him and he frequently delivered, showing nice potential operating out of short rolls and tossing long outlet passes up the court. NBA teams would like to see Petrusev find a little more confidence in his outside shot -- for the third straight summer he failed to make a single 3 in a FIBA tournament. His career 74% free throw shooting and terrific touch inside the arc hint that he should be able to develop this part of his game in time.

While mobile defensively, he lacks a degree of intensity guarding the post, closing out purposefully on the perimeter and sitting down in a stance. The fact that he does not have great length (with a wingspan roughly equivalent to his height) means he will have to find other ways to be effective, which makes bringing consistent toughness and energy on this end of the floor all the more important. It will be interesting to see where he fits into Gonzaga's crowded frontcourt rotation, but there is a chance that Petrusev could make a case for himself as a draft pick with a strong sophomore season. -- Givony

Dalibor Ilic | 6-9 | PF | Serbia | Age: 19.3

Ilic had a productive showing, averaging 11 points, 11 rebounds and 3 assists in 26 MPG. He's an impressive prospect physically, boasting excellent size, long arms and a frame that continues to fill out nicely. Ilic was utilized mostly as a passer out of high-low situations, an offensive rebounder and a post-up threat, things he excels at but may not necessarily be his calling card as an NBA prospect. He was solid taking rebounds and pushing the ball in the open court, getting low with his dribble, driving with his head up and delivering some nice passes on the move. He also showed his solid instincts by emerging as one of the best offensive rebounders at the competition.

Ilic's biggest weakness at the moment is his lack of perimeter shooting. He didn't make a single 3 at the tournament and seems to have taken a bit of a step back with his shooting mechanics. Defensively, Ilic can do some nice things with his size, but he's a little slow covering ground on the perimeter, looking upright in his stance. Ilic will stay with Bosnian club Igokea next season, during which he'll likely have a solid platform to showcase himself as a draft prospect. -- Givony

Isaac Likekele | 6-4 | PG/SG | USA | Age: 19.3

Likekele shined as arguably the best defender in the entire tournament, heavily contributing while playing a Marcus Smart role -- a player the fellow Oklahoma State product should model his game after.

Likekele was consistently disruptive in press defense, racking up 3.4 steals per 40 minutes. He has the feet to check guards and the physicality and length to slide up to wings, finishing possessions with box outs and aggressive pursuit of the basketball. On the offensive end, Likekele moves the ball, cuts and crashes the glass well. With a low release point and little confidence from 3, Likekele rarely even looked at the rim. But he stuck to his strengths and won over scouts with his impact on winning. -- Schmitz

Nikita Mikhailovskii | 6-8 | SG/SF | Russia | Age: 18.8

After a breakout showing at last summer's under-18 European championship, Mikhailovskii had a disappointing performance on what appeared to be a fairly dysfunctional Russian team. He had very little impact against the top competition, playing only 13 minutes against Serbia and coming off the bench in Russia's final game.

From a talent standpoint, it's easy to see why Mikhailovskii is considered one of the most intriguing players to come out of Russia in some time. He's got excellent size for the wing with impressive skill, handling the ball fluidly, knifing through the lane with polished footwork and passing with terrific creativity. He's not a great shooter, hitting just 30% here, bringing the ball down on the catch and shooting off the side of his hand. Defensively, he put in very little effort, rarely getting in a stance and wildly gambling for steals. His body language left a lot to be desired, and it was easy to see that teammates didn't love playing with him.

Mikhailovskii will be in a better situation to succeed this season in Saratov playing for a team that is run by his Russian agent and will be set up to make him look good, something NBA teams are a little skeptical about. A stronger showing in Crete would have helped his draft stock, even if his flashes of talent were readily apparent. -- Givony

Rokas Jokubaitis | 6-4 | PG | Lithuania | Age: 18.6

Jokubaitis turned in a solid overall performance, dishing out 39 assists with just 17 turnovers and cashing 40% of his 3s. Jokubaitis' shortcomings did show against more athletic teams, though, and scouts are still split on whether he should be considered a legitimate NBA prospect.

He has positional size with an advanced ball-screen game, the ability to make most reads going to his left and an effective midrange pull-up package with a developing 3-ball. He's a fiery competitor who plays with a lot of confidence offensively and shows a willingness to battle defensively. With that said, he remains left-hand dominant as a driver and finisher, needs the ball in his hands to be effective and has issues beating defenders off the dribble without a screen. He'll have to turn himself into a more prolific 3-point shooter, which isn't out of the question despite somewhat unorthodox mechanics.

Jokubaitis hasn't yet proved himself as a sure 2020 prospect, but in time he certainly could work his way onto draft boards given his size and skill level. -- Schmitz

Karlton Dimanche | 6-5 | PG | France | Age: 19.3

The starting point guard for third-place France, Dimanche boasts great size, long arms and big hands. He also filled up the stat sheet impressively at this tournament, with 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and 1 block per 40 minutes, even if his inability to put the ball in the basket puts a serious damper on his long-term prospects for now.

Dimanche is smoother than he is explosive, playing mostly at one speed and having a difficult time consistently beating opponents off the dribble and finishing around the basket. That wouldn't be as big of a problem if he weren't such a non-shooter -- hitting just one 3 in 192 minutes and 56% of his free throws. Defensive versatility is his calling card as a prospect. He has the size and length to guard any of the backcourt positions, often being tasked with guarding the other team's best player. He was a significant part of France's No. 2 defense. Dimanche also did a solid job running the show offensively, demonstrating an improved feel for the game.

Dimanche has a number of intriguing characteristics to work with, but he will have to find a way to improve his perimeter shooting and scoring ability to become a more serious NBA prospect. -- Givony

Joel Ayayi | 6-4 | PG | France | Age: 19.3

After a somewhat underwhelming redshirt season at Gonzaga, the once highly-touted Ayayi needed a bounce-back showing here and he delivered. He earned all-tournament honors while ranking third in scoring, PER and win shares. Ayayi shouldered the bulk of the offensive load for France, doing most of his damage slithering to the rim and feasting on lesser athletes while shooting 61.3% from 2. He also tossed in a handful of deep 3s with his usual flat-footed release (part of the reason he's had issues scoring efficiently in the past). Ayayi proved capable as a facilitator, handing out seven assists in a narrow quarterfinal win over Canada, threading the needle with pocket passes or finding teammates over the top thanks to his size.

Ayayi is still more wired to score and can stand to improve his decision making, defensive physicality, perimeter shooting and casual approach. But he reminded talent evaluators here why he was once seen as a top prospect in France. -- Schmitz

Fousseyni Drame | 6-5 | SF | Mali | Age: 18.8

Drame is a highly-intriguing, long-armed wing who can defend multiple positions, attack the rim impressively in space and knock down a standstill 3 when left alone. He has made great strides since we last evaluated him, regularly putting pressure on the rim with long strides, crashing the glass aggressively, using his length on defense and even showing glimpses of skill that we hadn't seen in the past. Although slender, Drame has a plus-8 wingspan with outstanding feet and fluidity, and his frame should fill out in time. He's a competitive defender, even if his discipline can improve. While he shoots on the way down and plays too sped up right now, he elevates nicely and even showed some semblance of a handle in shot creation situations.

Drame -- committed to Saint Peters in a package deal with his brother Hassan -- is far from a finished product, but he emerged as a legitimate long-term NBA prospect to track with his stellar play. -- Schmitz