#4 Scottie Barnes – Forward – Florida State
Coming out of high school, Scottie Barnes was the nation’s #5 overall prospects according to the 2020 ESPN Top 100 Recruiting Rankings and at Florida State this past year, he showed glimpses into his full potential.
In 24 games with the Seminoles, Scottie Barnes averaged 10.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.5 steals and shot 56.1% from the floor. He usually came off-the-bench and never really got a chance to prove himself more than he did, but Barnes still ended up being recognized as the ACC Freshman of the Year and one of the best freshmen in college hoops.
Now, after attending the NBA Draft Combine, measuring well and being a guy NBA personnel love after meeting with him, the 19-year-old forward enters the NBA Draft as a potential Top-5 pick. Not only does he have a ton of potential to grow into something special in this league, but Barnes is a very versatile player in terms of what he can do on the court.
He did not participate in any of the scrimmages at last week’s combine, but Scottie Barnes did measure in at 6’8” with shoes, he measured a 7’2.75” wingspan, 5th best at the combine, and his standing reach was measured at 9-feet, which ranked 6th best at the combine. Barnes also was tied for the third best standing vertical leap at 36 inches.
Measurement wise, Scottie Barnes is every team’s “dream come true” in the pre-draft process and he has checked all of the boxes so far in terms of what teams are looking for in a guy who can play numerous positions on the court given his athleticism and playmaking abilities.
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In the NBA, Scottie Barnes is going to be a point-forward type of player given his gifted abilities to play one-on-one and be a very strong threat in transition. He may not be the best perimeter threat in this draft class, but he is definitely one of the better players in this year’s draft off-the-dribble attacking the rim, as well as being a playmaker for others.
Outside of the guards in this year’s draft class, Scottie Barnes may be the best passer in this year’s draft, which is very impressive for a guy who stands 6’8” on the wing. Shooting wise, Barnes has some room to grow, but these things can be worked on and taught. Having a high-motor and being an above-average athlete for his size is something that you cannot teach and is something Barnes possesses.
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With the length and athleticism that he possesses, Scottie Barnes would definitely be a solid fit on the wing in Cleveland. With other athletic players in Sexton, Garland, Nance Jr. and Okoro around him, Barnes could definitely thrive as a primary ball-handler and be a threat to score in transition.
Cleveland was more focused defensively than they were offensively this season, which is why adding Barnes to their rotation could definitely be beneficial for them. He checks all the boxes on being a legit two-way threat at the next level, which is the type of player the Cavs need. They could potentially trade down a few spots though and still be able to draft Scottie Barnes, which is why he finds himself ranked 4th on this list.
