New York Knicks: Non-lottery point guards to consider in 2017 NBA Draft

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Mar 23, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Frank Mason III (0) guards Purdue Boilermakers guard P.J. Thompson (11) during the first half in the semifinals of the midwest Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Sprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /

Frank Mason III, Kansas Jayhawks

Projection: Second Round
Upside Comparison: Jameer Nelson
Age: 23 (4/3/1994)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’0″, 189 pounds, 6’3.25″
2016-17 Slash Line: .490/.471/.794
2016-17 Season Averages: 36.1 MPG, 20.9 PPG, 5.2 APG, 4.2 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 2.3 3PM

Kansas Jayhawks point guard Frank Mason III is coming off of one of the best individual seasons in Division I history. He not only averaged 20.9 points and 5.2 assists per game, but did so on an absurdly efficient slash line of .490/.471/.794.

Severely underrated because of his age, Mason is an elite 3-point shooter and explosive athlete who’s perfectly built for the triangle offense.

Over the course of his final three seasons at Kansas, Mason converted 167 3-point field goals on 43.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc. He also averaged 5.2 assists per game with a respectable assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.17 during the 2016-17 campaign.

Mason also has a 41″ max vertical leap that he may not have displayed very often with the Jayhawks, but should be able to showcase in a more free-flowing NBA.

There’s a chance that Mason won’t be available at No. 44 overall, but if he is, the New York Knicks should draft him. If it requires a trade up, then it would still be a rational decision due to both the fit and individual value Mason possesses.

The Knicks need a point guard who can space the floor, facilitate, and create penetration, and Mason can excel in every one of those areas.

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