The Under-the-Radar 2016 NBA Draft Prospect Guaranteed to Turn Heads
There will be a ton of NBA eyes fixed on this year's LSU Tigers. Credit the arrival of super recruit Ben Simmons, arguably the No. 1 prospect in the country. Simmons alone should draw routine trips from scouts and general managers.
And nobody should benefit more than rising junior Tim Quarterman—one of the better-kept secrets in the 2016 draft discussion.
Quarterman flew mostly under the radar until coach Johnny Jones began starting him at point guard in February. After triple-doubling against Ole Miss and averaging 5.7 assists over his last 11 games, Quarterman quietly emerged as a prospect to watch heading into the summer.
And a strong summer has now made him a must-follow prospect entering the season.
He generated all sorts of positive buzz for himself at June's Adidas Nations.
Quarterman then continued to make noise during LSU's recent tour to Australia, where he averaged 16.4 points, 4.6 assists and 5.2 rebounds through five games (against pro clubs).
Possessing 6'6" size and above-the-rim burst, he certainly stands out under the NBA lens. Quarterman, a former 247Sports top-100 recruit, was always blessed with potential, and now we're seeing it come to life.
Along with the occasional highlight dunk, something most point guards don't typically create, he's flashed intriguing playmaking skills, vision and facilitating instincts.
Quarterman breaks down defenses with quickness, hesitation, change of direction and nifty footwork.
He's a weapon in the open floor, where he can glide with the ball coast to coast or drop 50-foot dimes in stride to leaking teammates.
And though still a work in progress when the game slows down, Quarterman began to show improved patience and feel as a setup man (30 assists, 11 turnovers over final five games). I'm not sure you'd categorize him as your traditional point guard, but he's a willing, accurate passer off screens, penetration and fast breaks.
"I just really like passing the ball because I feel like that opens up my game if I get others open often and early," Quarterman told DraftExpress' Jonathan Givony. "It just makes the game fun for me when everybody's having fun."
Not only should Quarterman get to showcase his floor game in 2015-16, but with Simmons in the lineup, he'll also have the opportunity to sell teams on versatility.
He'll spend time operating both on and off the ball. With the height and athleticism of a wing, we should expect to see Quarterman moved around positions 1 through 3.
And that holds true on defense as well. Impressive physical tools and foot speed help Quarterman guard multiple positions. Meanwhile, his energy and length translate to activity—Quarterman gets into lanes, cuts off drivers and makes plays on the ball (47 steals, 19 blocks last year).
He even goes to work under the boards, having averaged 5.1 rebounds and racked up 18 putbacks last season, according to Hoop-Math.com.
It's his shooting stroke that may raise the most questions or doubt. Quarterman shot 20.8 percent from deep before converting at a 31.3 percent clip as a sophomore.
Still, despite the lack of accuracy, he did make 40 threes in 33 games, a number that highlights shot-making ability while suggesting his jumper isn't broken.
Quarterman ultimately fits the mold of a Shaun Livingston or Michael Carter-Williams-style playmaker. He's become a tough individual cover and a two-way player who serves more than one purpose.
If all goes well, Quarterman shouldn't have too much trouble generating buzz when you consider the built-in audience expected to follow LSU. Assuming he picks up where he left off, he looks poised to soak up attention that Simmons, as well as freshman Antonio Blakeney, will bring to the program.
And given the lack of depth the projected 2016 draft class appears to offer, Quarterman has a terrific chance to capitalize and fly up boards from now until June.
For a prospect with this type of upside, there just hasn't been enough national chatter. He'll still have plenty to prove, but if Quarterman's comfort level running an offense and scoring within it continues to increase, he's bound to emerge as a first-round riser in 2016.
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