Potential No. 1 overall 2020 NBA Draft pick James Wiseman announced on Thursday he is leaving the University of Memphis ahead of his NCAA suspension expiring on Jan. 12, to prepare for the NBA.
Wiseman was the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2019 Recruiting Services Consensus Index (RSCI) Rankings and was projected to be a large part of helping lift the Memphis basketball program back to postseason glory in Penny Hardaway's second year as head coach. Wiseman only played a total of 69 minutes in his NCAA career, averaging 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks over three games (23.0 minutes per game). In high school, he flashed the ability to knock down the 3-point shot but largely stayed away from the 3-point line, only taking one 3-pointer over his three-game stint at Memphis. He did, however, hit 70.4% of his free throws. In his brief college career, he focused on the things he does best: rebounding, blocking shots, and rim-running (including in transition and the halfcourt).
He dominated from the opening tip in college basketball, posting an impressive 28-point, 11-rebound double-double in his regular-season debut for Memphis.
With Wiseman now done for the year, Memphis will be relying on the rest of their highly touted 2019 class to pick up the slack, including potential NBA lottery pick Precious Achiuwa (13.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.6 blocks per game). Wiseman's path is very similar to that of up-and-coming New York Knicks shot-blocker Mitchell Robinson.
Robinson was a projected lottery pick who fell to the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft — and was drafted with a former Bulls second-round pick, no less — after leaving Western Kentucky before ever playing a game for the Hilltoppers. Things are a bit different for Wiseman since he played three NCAA games and was able to showcase his skillset, but he will need to prove in future workouts that he has stayed focused and in shape while he waits for the 2020 NBA Draft workout process to fully get underway.
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The Bulls don't have a specific need for a big man prospect in any way but where Wiseman is drafted will ultimately have a big impact on the rest of the draft.
The lack of NCAA game tape on Wiseman will make it a bit harder for scouts to analyze him but seeing as he projects as an NBA center, he will likely be selected by one of the several lottery-bound teams with a very obvious need at the center spot. This list includes teams like the Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks, and Boston Celtics and means a Wiseman selection early on 2020 draft night could cause a talented wing prospect to slip further down the order, much like the way the Phoenix Suns' selection of a wing player in the 2019 NBA Draft left the door open for the Bulls to take the top point guard prospect available on their board in Coby White.
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