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Cavaliers: Top Rookie of the Year competitors for Darius Garland

By Tyler Marling

Cleveland Cavaliers Darius Garland (Photo by Stephen Pellegrino/NBAE via Getty Images)
Cleveland Cavaliers Darius Garland (Photo by Stephen Pellegrino/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Rui Hachimura

While the first four players seemed fairly obvious, Rui Hachimura would be a bit of a shocker. Hachimura improved tremendously throughout his career at Gonzaga University.

Per Sports Reference, Hachimura averaged just 2.6 points and 1.4 rebounds per game. By the time he finished his third and final season, he averaged 19.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

Hachimura had an incredible 28.6 PER in his last season for Gonzaga (per Sports Reference).

The Washington Wizards apparently thought very highly of Hachimura as well. They selected him higher (9th overall) than most draft pundits had him coming off the board.

Hachimura has been turning heads already this summer as he averaged 19.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game for the Wizards in the Summer League (per NBA.com).

Playing off of Bradley Beal and eventually, John Wall (when he is fully recovered from his reported Achilles tear) could allow Hachimura to flourish.

Next. Cavs: Potential drafting of James Wiseman would be defensive anchor. dark

Being the second and eventually, the third option on a Wizards team that has the looks of a poor team could allow him to put up some serious stats.