Getty Image / Sarah Stier
In most years, basketball fans mostly find themselves focusing on around the top 20 picks in the NBA Draft because that is where most of the talent that will become starters in the league is expected to be drafted.
This year, the Miami Heat proved over the course of their playoff run that everybody needs to be paying attention well after those 20 picks.
The star of their team was 30th pick when he entered the league and their roster was loaded with players who never even heard their names called on NBA Draft night.
Caleb Martin, Gabe Vincent, Duncan Robinson, and Haywood Highsmith all went undrafted, but still had big moments for the Heat as they defied the odds on their way to the Finals.
Following last night’s draft, there were plenty of notable names that made their mark on the college game, but didn’t end up being selected for one reason or another.
Here are 3 of those players who could be the next undrafted players to make an impact in the NBA.
Mike Miles Jr
If you’re going to find your way onto the court as an undrafted rookie, you need to have something that is going to make you stand out to your team’s coaching staff.
For Mike Miles Jr, that something is his ability to score the basketball.
He averaged at least 13.6 points per game in each of his 3 college seasons and was particularly impressive this past season.
While taking on college basketball’s toughest conference, he averaged 17.9 points per game and did so efficiently. He shot 49.7% from the floor and 36.2% from three.
Don’t expect to see Mike Miles Jr starting any time soon as he signed with the Mavs, but he could absolutely provide an offensive spark off the bench in Dallas when Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving need to rest.
Nathan Mensah
For the next undrafted player that could make an impact at he next level, we’ll look at the other side of the ball.
If you want a player with one truly elite skillset, you need look no further than Nathan Mensah.
Mensah was a monster on the defensive end of the floor the past two seasons.
He won back to back Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year awards as a part of one of college basketball’s stingiest programs.
His defensive abilities helped the Aztecs slow down some of the nation’s most explosive offenses on their way to the national title game.
Nathan Mensah is limited on offense, but his defense should be enough to carve out a solid role for himself in the NBA, especially after signing with a Hornets team that allowed 117.2 points per game last season.
Oscar Tshiebwe
Oscar Tshiebwe seems to be the most obvious answer on this list, but is somehow the only one of the three that hasn’t signed anywhere yet.
That’s baffling to me.
It’s surprising enough that he wasn’t taken in the NBA Draft, but for him to not already have been signed is truly shocking.
2 years ago, Oscar Tshiebwe was college basketball’s best player.
Last season he followed it up by making the All-American 2nd team.
He led the nation in rebounding each of the last two seasons.
Is Tshiebwe an elite scorer? No, but he’s definitely a capable scorer. He shot 58.4% from the field at Kentucky while leading the team in scoring for two seasons.
He also might get 3 or 4 attempts to score any time you dump it into him because he’s just that good on the offensive glass.
With Tshiebwe, you know exactly what you’re getting. He’s a high-effort player who is going to pull down a ton of rebounds and get you a few buckets while he’s on the floor. There is absolutely value to that.
Tshiebwe may not have the athleticism or size that teams are looking for, but the things that made him a dominant college basketball player will also make him a net positive on an NBA roster.
The Phoenix Suns should have called him the second the draft ended last night because he’s a player that they could immediately use as depth on a top-heavy roster without it costing them too much.
If they don’t grab him soon, somebody will and that team will be very happy with what they get from Tshiebwe.