Daniels touted for top ten

DYSON Daniels could become the next Australian basketballer to be selected in the top ten players of the NBA draft on Friday.

Current mock drafts have the six-foot-eight shooting guard listed as high as pick seven, with a number of teams expected to give the promising 19-year-old a look.

American sports news outlet The Athletic has Daniels at number nine on its list of the top 75 prospects, highlighting his size, competitiveness, and defensive acumen.

The Bendigo product turned heads when he chose to play for the G League Ignite team, rather than a college team, for the 2021 season.

In 29 games he has impressed with 11.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game and only allowing 0.64 points per one-on-one possession.

ESPN’s mock draft has Daniels going at pick seven and being selected by the Portland Trail Blazers.

“The Blazers are early in their rebuilding process and can afford to swing for the fences for a prospect like Daniels, who possesses significant upside but will need time to fill out his frame and become a more dynamic scorer,” ESPN’s Jonathan Givony wrote.

All mock drafts praise Daniels’ defensive ability and high ceiling if his shooting improves. He shot 52.5 per cent from the line and 27.3 per cent from three this season.

According to SB Nation’s mock draft, the most likely team to select Daniels is the New Orleans Pelicans.

“Daniels has the potential to be a lockdown defender who can smother smaller guards with his quick feet and agility,” the mock draft reads.

“New Orleans could use another high-level defender in the line-up with Zion Williamson set to return, and Daniels showed enough offensive improvement in the second half of the season as a playmaker and spot-up shooter to warrant this pick.”

The same mock draft said Daniels is most suited to the Washington Wizards, who are also looking at Canadian Bennedict Mathurin.

The draft takes place from 9am on Friday, 23 June.