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New York Knicks: Top 5 SGs in 2018 NBA Draft as of All-Star Break

By Maxwell Ogden

MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 17: Lonnie Walker IV #4 of the Miami Hurricanes wears a t-shirt to honor the students and administrators that lost their lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida earlier this week during pregame of the game against the Syracuse Orange at The Watsco Center on February 17, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 17: Lonnie Walker IV #4 of the Miami Hurricanes wears a t-shirt to honor the students and administrators that lost their lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida earlier this week during pregame of the game against the Syracuse Orange at The Watsco Center on February 17, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 01: Creighton Bluejays guard Khyri Thomas (2) guards against Villanova Wildcats guard Jalen Brunson (1) during the college basketball game between the Creighton Bluejays and the Villanova Wildcats on February 01, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia PA. (Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 01: Creighton Bluejays guard Khyri Thomas (2) guards against Villanova Wildcats guard Jalen Brunson (1) during the college basketball game between the Creighton Bluejays and the Villanova Wildcats on February 01, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia PA. (Photo by Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Honorable Mention: Khyri Thomas, Creighton Bluejays

Age: 21 (5/8/1996)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’3″, 210 pounds, 6’10”
Slash Line: .527/.402/.815
Season Averages: 30.4 MPG, 14.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.9 3PM

The Creighton Bluejays have done an underrated job of producing NBA-caliber players. Presently in the NBA are former Creighton standouts Kyle Korver, Doug McDermott, and Anthony Tolliver, who have all established themselves as high-quality three-point shooters.

The latest Creighton star to surface on the NBA Draft radar may be the best defender the program has produced: Junior shooting guard Khyri Thomas.

Thomas fits the bill of the traditional Bluejays stars as an efficient and productive three-point shooter. He buried 46 three-point field goals on 39.3 percent shooting as a sophomore, and has already converted 51 shots from beyond the arc on 40.2 percent shooting as a junior.

The difference between Thomas and those who came before him is the fact that he’s earned a reputation as one of the best defenders in this draft class.

Thomas has the length to defend shooting guards and the athleticism to take on point guards. That should be appealing to the New York Knicks, as he and Frank Ntilikina could alternate assignments on the defensive end of the floor.

Thomas isn’t necessarily on the lottery radar, but if the Knicks are in a position to acquire a second first-round draft pick, he should be a primary target.

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