The Atlanta Hawks are all-in on this year’s draft, and for good reason.
In every league, there is the occasional moment of brilliance that even outsiders can appreciate. LeBron’s 3-1 comeback in 2016, Leicester City winning the Premier League, Indiana’s College Football Playoff Championship this season. One of these moments is currently taking place in college basketball.
This freshman class is universally appraised as one of the best in NBA history, led by a trio of future MVP candidates. On Saturday, two of these budding talents face off: Darryn Peterson of Kansas and AJ Dybantsa of BYU.
ESPN reported that at least 32 NBA front office personnel were in attendance for the game, but no team’s presence was more prominent than Atlanta’s. While Indiana sent six staffers to Atlanta’s five, the Peach State played their ace of spades, as owner Tony Ressler is reported to be in attendance.
Hawks get an inside look into two of the most exciting prospects this decade
Peterson is widely regarded as the most tantalizing prospect of this year’s class. A 6’6 wing, the Kansas guard is the prototypical scoring two guard, with one of the most aesthetically pleasing games you’ll see.
He has excellent poise in the triple threat or under heavy defensive pressure, then can use his elite burst to create a driving opportunity. Unlike most freshman guards, Peterson can both finish in the paint against centers and stop on a dime and hit the stepback midrange shot. On the other end, his quick hands have helped him grab 1.0 steals and 0.7 blocks a night. He’s a uniquely complete prospect who could be a solid NBA contributor in his debut.
Dybantsa, on the other hand, is riskier prospect. He moves like no other at his height and weight, slithering through defenses like a slim 6’6 guard despite standing 6’9, 210 pounds. Dybantsa is already an incredible slasher who teams hopelessly foul to have some chance of stopping him. If he can hit his ceiling, there is nobody that can stop him on either end of the floor.
Surprisingly, Dybantsa’s athletic gifts haven’t quite translated to the defensive side. He averages just 0.5 blocks a night, and the advanced stats question his efficacy on this end. This should improve over time with increased coaching and development, but is still worth monitoring.
Dybantsa’s real weakness is his shooting. Like all slashers, Dybantsa is playing an antiquated playstyle. This isn’t to say he can’t make it work – Dillon Brooks, a less talented player, is averaging 21.1 points a game by using his best Charles Barkley impression on offense. But for a player like Dybantsa to be an MVP-caliber player in today’s NBA, he’ll have to be an utterly dominant slasher or improve the jumper.
You should be as excited as Atlanta is for this game, which tips off at 4:30 PM ET on Saturday. With the Hawks game following at 6:00, this is an excellent opportunity to grab some wings, invite a few friends over, and enjoy a fun doubleheader.