2020 NBA Draft - Brew Hoop Community Draft Board: Saddiq Bey Goes 17

Saddiq Bey, the wing prospect out of Villanova who was picked at 17 in this draft board, thrived in coach Jay Wright’s system, posting two prolific seasons before bolting for the NBA after his sophomore year. The measurables line up for him as a potential 3-and-D prospect, at 6’8” with a 6’10” wingspan. He posted a 41.8% 3-point percentage over 306 attempts at Villanova, albeit with just a 72.8% free throw percentage on much smaller volume, 136 attempts.

It’s a little like one of the Bucks prospects out of Villanova, Donte DiVincenzo, where the free throw attempts are markedly smaller than the 3-point attempts. Still, Bey was such a knockdown shooter from deep, including 45% this past season, that I’m sure teams feel fairly confident that his stroke will translate to the next level. If it does, he has all the traits team want in a rangy wing who can match up against forwards defensively and still nail the triple on the other end.

While Villanova occasionally asked him to attack defenders off the dribble, that would probably be a work in progress at the next level. His quick trigger and accurate scope means he could be used immediately as a threat from the perimeter to create gravity. He hit plenty of spot-ups, but is also comfortable pulling up occasionally. A hand in his face may as well be a fly on his shoulder — there’s no deterring Bey when he thinks the bucket could drop in.

You can see him attack far lesser defenders with some strength inside the arc as he bullies his way to finishes, but the more potent ability for him immediately could be some pump fake and drives. Even if his handle needs work, or he can’t finish with consistency at the rim, if he’s able to develop some passing ability, then dishing off the pump fake could keep offenses humming.

As a defender, he can match up against several positions with his combination of height and strength. That would be incredibly beneficial to a team like Milwaukee, who will be in need of some defensive help on the wing, particularly if Wes Matthews were to opt out of his contract next season.

All in all, if I’m the Bucks, Bey is someone I would be ecstatic to have at 24. Even if he’s somewhat limited as a playmaker, getting a potential knockdown shooter from a school where most players emerge with a strong fundamental sense of how to play at the next level would be a boon. Bey seems in line with a long lineage of Villanova alumni from DiVincenzo to Jalen Brunson to Eric Paschall that have found success as bit players in the big leagues.

You can read more about Bey in our previous scouting report here, but let’s continue the draft board with our next poll:

This poll will close at noon (CST) on Tuesday, November 10.

Brew Hoop Draft Board Rankings

1. Anthony Edwards, SG, Georgia
2. LaMelo Ball, PG, Illawarra Hawks
3. James Wiseman, C, Memphis
4. Deni Avdija, SF, Israel
5. Isaac Okoro, SF, Auburn
6. Onyeka Okongwu, C, USC
7. Killian Hayes, PG, France
8. Obi Toppin, PF, Dayton
9. Devin Vassell, SG, Florida State
10. Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Iowa State
11. Aaron Nesmith, SF, Vanderbilt
12. Tyrell Terry, PG, Stanford
13. Cole Anthony, PG, North Carolina
14. Kira Lewis Jr., PG, Alabama
15. Tyrese Maxey, SG, Kentucky
16. Patrick Williams, SF, Florida State
17. Saddiq Bey, PF, Villanova