
4. Work Ethic
Perhaps the No. 1 reason to be intrigued by Xavier Rathan-Mayes is his work ethic. Many players have talent, but few are willing to put the necessary work in as they pursue a brighter future and a more well-rounded status as a player.
If Rathan-Mayes can carry that momentum over into the NBA, he could develop into a quality player with sixth man potential.
When Rathan-Mayes arrived at Florida State, he was viewed as a lethal slashing threat who could lead the Seminoles in scoring. He had a weak jump shot and a tendency to turn the ball over, however, which limited his effectiveness.
Over the course of his three years at Florida State, Rathan-Mayes made drastic improvements to his jump shot, decision making, and overall basketball IQ.
Rathan-Mayes has transformed from a score-first slasher into a pass-first player with well-rounded offensive skills. He shot 41.2 percent from the field and 28.2 percent from 3-point range between his first two seasons, and posted marks of 45.3 and 32.3 percent as a junior.
Rathan-Mayes also improved his assist-to-turnover ratio in each of his three seasons, and seems to be learning the smartest and safest ways to play at a high level.