Cavaliers Draft: 3 college stars the Cavs could take in NBA Draft

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Brandin Podziemski, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images /

College stars for Cavaliers No. 2: Brandin Podziemski, Santa Clara

Last season the relatively unheralded Santa Clara sent a player to the NBA Draft, and Jalen Williams tore through the pre-draft process and ended up going in the lottery. He is on the path to earning First Team All-Rookie honors this season.

Santa Clara could make it two years in a row with Brandin Podziemski, a 6’5″ wing who earned Player of the Year honors this year in the West Coast Conference. The biggest thing to like about Podziemski’s game is his shooting. The sophomore shot 45 percent on 3-pointers this season, able to shoot off of movement and pulling up on self-created 3-pointers as well.

His underrated skill is his rebounding; one gets shades of the impact Josh Hart has in the league as a nominal shooting guard. Podziemski led the WCC in rebounding this season, inhaling any available basketball and sparking transition opportunities. He has quick hands generating steals, and can make plays with the ball at a decent enough level to attack closeouts in the NBA.

He’s just 6’5″ so he isn’t the answer to the Cavaliers’ need at forward, and he is an average athlete and overall defender. Even so, to get a player with his gifts in the second round seems like a sharp move. If Podziemski can come into the league as a hybrid between Luke Kennard and Josh Hart, he’s a great fit to come off the Cavaliers’ bench.

Santa Clara lost in double-overtime in the quarterfinals of the WCC Tournament, so to watch him play more scouts and fans will hope they get an invitation to the NIT.