Now that the elimination round is over, it is good to check back at our rookies. What is really interesting with the 2019 draft class, except those that are part of the Gilas draft, was how close they are right now in terms of performance.
For this edition of our ranking, we are not going to rank them as candidates for Rookie of the Year. Instead, we will rank them according to our projection of how good will they be in their career. To simplify, let us say that we are trying to predict how we will rank them in a re-draft, three years from now.
#10 Jerrick Balanza - Ginebra
With how loaded the wing position of Ginebra, Balanza has been a benchwarmer in this tournament. Nonetheless, I trust in his combination of length and scoring that he will soon find a good role in the future. Although, it may not be with Ginebra.
#9 Will McAloney - NLEX
Ayonayon was the #3 pick of NLEX but I think Will will be a much better PBA player, three years from now. I saw a skilled bigman who works hard and that type of player will be beloved by coach Yeng Guiao.
#8 Sean Manganti - Northport
He got the playing time from coach Pido Jarencio. He failed to deliver though, averaging 4.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 27% FG per game. His biggest problem is his efficiency and I think the cause is that his fundamentals are not that refined.
#7 Maurice Shaw - Blackwater
He flopped this season. We can already anoint him as a bust if you want. But at this point in the ranking, I am comfortable placing him here because of the potential that he will be much better moving forward because of his 6'8 frame.
#6 Adrian Wong - Rain or Shine
I trust Rain or Shine to build a good development program for Wong. And Wong has the most important skill in modern basketball, shooting. His off-movement three-point shooting is already very good and that is a crucial skill to have.
#5 Arvin Tolentino - Ginebra
Coach Tim Cone loves him. Coach Tim gave him playing time and that exposed his weaknesses. His decision making on both ends of the court is suspect. Although, we can already see him do a lot of fundamental things. Although, I am not really convinced though that his realistic ceiling is higher than the top 4.
#4 Aaron Black - Meralco
Yes. The #6 pick of the 2nd round could be a top 4 player from this draft. Coach Norman Black was right that Black's confidence is the key to his success. That is because Black just needs that confidence to exhibit the plethora of skills that he has. Overall, I consider him the most skilled player in this draft. And he showed that with his statline of 7.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 44% FG and 39% 3FG per game.
#3 Barkley Ebona - Alaska
Even though he is undersized and just a rookie, he actually played himself into a good role. He is very aggressive inside and combines that with his above-average strength and you have an impactful bigman. For him to validate this ranking, he will need to add another skill, either defensively or offensively.
#2 Roosevelt Adams - Terra Firma
10.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 0.9 assist and 37% 3FG per game were way below our expectations. Nonetheless, I think he can give more, as shown by his ascending production all throughout the elimination round. Although, it is already clear to me that he will not be a playmaker in the near future.
#1 Aris Dionisio - Magnolia
He will not be the Rookie of the Year. 6.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 0.9 block and 50% 3FG per game is not enough. But, he validated his potential of being a positive player on both ends of the court. He is a good rim protector and showed glimpses of the capability of defending all positions. Offensively, just being an efficient three-point shooter is already good. He is more than that. He can actually handle the ball in short-rolls and can make good decisions, on and off the ball.
Na bypass nyo naman si ayonayon.
ReplyDelete