5 under-the-radar 2020 NBA Draft prospects Cavs should pay attention to this NCAAB season

#1: Nico Mannion-G, Arizona

While not necessarily the most unheralded player on this list, Arizona guard Nico Mannion is still not getting nearly the notoriety of the likes of LaMelo Ball (who is playing overseas), Memphis’ James Wiseman, Georgia’s Anthony Edwards and really, others.

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This is also a pick that would clearly shock and likely even frustrate many fans given the Cavaliers’ two top first-round selections in the past two drafts have been similar combo guards in Darius Garland and Collin Sexton.

Logically Mannion does not have a great fit here in Cleveland position wise, but the team is clearly in no position to draft based on need or fit, and should instead focus on drafting based on talent.

If Mannion falls to a draft worthy slot for the Cavaliers, he very well could be both a unique and underrated selection that could add a great piece to the team’s young core and future.

Mannion possesses a quick first step, to go with a very polished shooting touch with a fundamentally solid and quick release.

He is also a surprisingly high flier for his size at just 6-foot-3 and build as well at 190 pounds, and he is an excellent passer with a great sense of control over the game and sees the floor really well.

He has already impressed in a short time on a solid Arizona team alongside other impressive freshmen such as Josh Green and Zeke Nnaji and even has helped elevate the Wildcats to a 8-0 start to the year.

He will be tested early in his games against Baylor and Gonzaga coming up in December and Mannion must prove he can truly continue this elite play in a tough Pac-12 Conference, but his strong play to start could very well be a sign of big things to come for the young freshman from Pinnacle, Arizona.

Mannion is averaging 16.1 points, 5.6 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game, and is shooting an impressive 55.7% from the field to begin his NCAA career, as noted by Sports Reference.

He is coming off four strong games in which he has quite literally led his Arizona team to four solid wins in strong fashion by putting up 22 points and eight assists in a 104-67 win over Long Beach State, and then 14 points, four assists, and three rebounds in a close 71-64 win over San Diego State.

From there, he had the game-winning bucket alongside 16 points, 11 assists and a steal in a 93-91 win over Pepperdine, and 24 points, four assists, two rebounds and two steals in a 92-82 win over Penn, as noted by Sports Reference.

He has looked thoroughly impressive and impacted the game on the defensive end as well, intercepting numerous passes from his capable defensive instincts and being overly active.

Mannion must continue to prove that he can remain consistent with his play, and must do so against higher end competition, but his play so far has clearly helped cement him as a potential lottery pick this upcoming draft and as such one to pay attention to moving forward this NCAA season for the Cavaliers.