Chicago Bulls 2019 NBA Draft: Point guards on the rise
By Ryan Heckman
Ashton Hagans, Freshman, Kentucky
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 192lbs
2018-2019 Averages: 7.2 points (45.7 percent shooting), 4.3 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 2.0 steals
Current rank on SI’s Big Board: No. 45
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One kid to keep an eye on as we inch closer to March Madness is Kentucky point guard Ashton Hagans. At the moment, he very well could return to school next season. But, if the Wildcats find themselves deep into the tournament (like they do often), he may improve his stock enough to take the leap.
First off, any starting player coming off of a team coached by John Calipari is worth a shot. Sure, sometimes they don’t pan out. But, chances are, you’re getting a mature kid who is worth the time and development.
Hagans is more of a defensive-minded player at his core, which is why another year at Kentucky would benefit him greatly. One more season of maturing on the offensive end could help potentially launch him into a late-first round candidate.
The most glaring weakness of Hagans’ game is his inability to score from long distance. Shooting the three at under 20 percent will deter interest of a lot of teams. In today’s NBA, you have to be able to score at the point guard position. Heck, this is half the reason why we’re talking about getting rid of Dunn to begin with.