New York Knicks: 5 compelling prospects to consider at 2020 NBA Draft

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AMES, IA – MARCH 9: Davide Moretti #25 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders drives the ball as Tyrese Haliburton #22 of the Iowa State Cyclones puts pressure on in the first half of play at Hilton Coliseum on March 9, 2019 in Ames, Iowa. The Texas Tech Red Raiders won 80-73 over the Iowa State Cyclones. (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images) /

Tyrese Haliburton, Iowa State Cyclones

There’s a case to be made that Tyrese Hailburton is the best point guard prospect in the 2020 NBA Draft. Following in the footsteps of Denver Nuggets standout Monté Morris, Haliburton has been groomed by the Iowa State Cyclones to be able to contribute in every phase of the game.

Haliburton checks the boxes in the court vision, defense, and shooting categories, and adds elite size at 6’5″ to round it all into form.

Haliburton finished the 2019-20 college basketball season with averages of 15.2 points, 6.5 assists, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game. He did so while shooting an incredibly efficient 50.4 percent from the field, 41.9 percent from distance, and 82.2 percent at the free throw line.

You won’t find many stat lines as impressive as that in college basketball, and there’s reason to believe that Haliburton’s versatility can translate to the NBA.

Haliburton shot 43.4 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman, leading one to believe that his mark of 41.9 percent as a sophomore is sustainable. He also shot upwards of 50 percent from the field during his first season, and racked up 1.5 steals per contest.

The biggest jump has been in his production as a facilitator, but watching the tape makes it clear that Haliburton knows how to put his teammates in a position to score.

The New York Knicks would be able to have Haliburton run the offense, with the added benefit of having him play off-ball when RJ Barrett works in isolation.

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