Valley of the Suns
Fansided

The Phoenix Suns’ top draft prospects have been on display

By Chad Boyles

HARTFORD, CT - MARCH 23: Murray State Racers guard Ja Morant (12) during the NCAA Division I Men's Championship second round college basketball game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Murray State Racers on March 23, 2019 at XL Center in Hartford, CT. (Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HARTFORD, CT - MARCH 23: Murray State Racers guard Ja Morant (12) during the NCAA Division I Men's Championship second round college basketball game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Murray State Racers on March 23, 2019 at XL Center in Hartford, CT. (Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – MARCH 24: De’Andre Hunter #12 of the Virginia Cavaliers dunks the ball against the Oklahoma Sooners during the second half in the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena on March 24, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – MARCH 24: De’Andre Hunter #12 of the Virginia Cavaliers dunks the ball against the Oklahoma Sooners during the second half in the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena on March 24, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

4.  De’Andre Hunter

Hitting the ground running his sophomore year, after starting ZERO games his freshman season, De’Andre Hunter is one of, if not college basketball’s best, two-way player.

While the top three prospects in the draft are seemingly set in stone, Hunter can fit a position of need at the power forward spot while not taking away from the kind of game the Suns want to play.  If Phoenix lands the fourth or fifth pick in the upcoming draft, Hunter needs to be in serious consideration.

Not extraordinarily flashy, De’Andre is a steady, heady big time defender with the ability to defend at a high level and facilitate to shooters.  Hunter has the ability to knock down clutch shots, and has a Kawhi Leonard-esque approach to his game.  He plays his role, has exceptional footwork, and can play with his back to the basket.

Hunter has not been the leading scorer, or the flashiest of assets for Virginia through two games in the tournament, but his teammates perform well in many cases as a result of his game.  As attention falls to Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome in the Sweet 16 and moving forward, expect Hunter to be the difference maker as Virginia continues it’s winning ways.

While prospects outside of the top three are in many ways interchangeable, Hunter would be a nice pick for the empty power forward position on the Suns.  His game resembles gameplay at the professional level.  He’s a safe pick if Phoenix were to fall lower than expected.

Home/Suns Draft