Valley of the Suns
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Ten sleeper prospects for the Phoenix Suns at draft’s end

By Khaleel Abdullah

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 7: Arizona State guard Tra Holder (0) looks on during the first round game of the mens Pac-12 Tournament between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Arizona State Sun Devils on March 7, 2018, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 7: Arizona State guard Tra Holder (0) looks on during the first round game of the mens Pac-12 Tournament between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Arizona State Sun Devils on March 7, 2018, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 19: Ajdin Penava #11 of the Marshall Thundering Herd goes for a rebound during a game against the Xavier Musketeers at Cintas Center on December 19, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Xavier won 81-77. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – DECEMBER 19: Ajdin Penava #11 of the Marshall Thundering Herd goes for a rebound during a game against the Xavier Musketeers at Cintas Center on December 19, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Xavier won 81-77. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

3. Ajdin Penava (6-9 220) from Marshall

Season Stats : 56-34-75 shooting line (1 trey) for 15.6 pts, 8.5 rebs and 3.9 blks in 29.4 mins

Ajdin Penava is a virtual unknown, but that’s part of what makes him so intriguing.

He’s a late bloomer but he has shown significant improvement each of his three seasons at Marshall. In two tourney games this season he made 13 of 18 shots (72%) along with 4 triples for a combined 34 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 blocks.

There have been samples at just how great he can be with nine games with at least 20 points, 14 with at least 10 rebounds, 12 with at least 5 blocks, and even six games of at least 4 assists.

Ohio saw first hand how dominant he could be as he made 10 of 13 shots, three long bombs, and scored 33 points, pulling down 15 rebounds while swatting away 9 blocks.

He’s a strong finisher, a decent play maker, a good rebounder, and a great shot blocker. He needs to continue developing and could be foul prone right now against better talent, but he is an athletic stretch-big that is very productive and was crucial for his team’s success.

After looking at video and his stats in tough games, I have a mouth watering comparison for him: Imagine if Dragan Bender went to confidence camp and while there was given Dikembe Mutombo’s timing and skill as a shot blocker

I’d love to see him in purple and orange.

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