New York Knicks: 2019 NBA Draft targets who stepped up on March 22

2. Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech

Slash Line: 10-for-17/3-for-5/6-for-10
Stat Line: 29 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, one steal, one block

Texas Tech has not garnered the headlines of other major collegiate teams, with attention to the ACC and the Big Ten, but they were among the elite of the Big 12 throughout the 2018-19 season. A big reason for that, Jarrett Culver, was on display in the Red Raiders’ lopsided win over Northern Kentucky.

Culver is a projected lottery pick, with the potential to land in the middle of the top 10. To support that notion, he scored 29 points on 10-for-17 shooting. A triple-double was even teased, which only shined this night for the sophomore guard.

If Texas Tech was a lower seed, and Culver did this against a higher seed, he might receive the spotlight of someone like Ja Morant, as the Lubbock, TX native still isn’t a household name. Performances deeper in the tournament, however, will put him on the national radar as one of this draft’s top guards, pending his team advances to the Sweet 16.

Culver’s two-way potential in the backcourt should entice the New York Knicks, who have outstanding outside shooting and defensive problems. He makes sense if the Knicks land at fourth or fifth overall in the final order, at least potentially slotting after Williamson, Morant, and Barrett.