New York Knicks: Five best NBA Draft prospects in 2019 Final Four

1. Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech

Age: 20
Height, Weight: 6-foot-5, 195 pounds
Slash Line: .476/.316/.709
Season Averages: 18.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 1.3 3PM

Perhaps the best two-way backcourt prospect of the 2019 NBA Draft, Jarrett Culver enters the Final Four with a football school, except with the chance to make this into a basketball school, especially if Texas Tech wins their Final Four game and claims the National Championship over Auburn or Virginia.

Culver’s Elite Eight performance was just 5-for-19 shooting, but he made up for it with five rebounds, two assists, three steals,  one block and 7-for-8 from the free throw line. It was not indicative of his previous tournament outings, including 22.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists in the first three games. The opener even teased a triple-double.

There is top 10 or top five potential from Culver in the 2019 NBA Draft, due to his ability to impact the game on all levels. One of a few hiccups is his outside shooting, which fell dramatically from his 38.2 percent mark in 2017-18. Free throws are improving, but still needs work.

Then, turn to his 85.9 defensive rating in the Per 40 Minutes numbers. Already a standout stat, it is an improvement from his freshman year.

Behind Zion Williamson and even Ja Morant, Culver’s ceiling is the third overall pick, and the New York Knicks can land as low as fifth. He should be in play if they land that low, and with a defensive backcourt need, this makes too much sense.