Before we get into the best pro comparisons for the SEC stars in this year’s draft class, check out our new Starting 5 video series. The first episode features each SEC player’s best fit:

The 2020 NBA Draft will take place Wednesday night, and most mock drafts have 5 SEC standouts going in Round 1. Mississippi State’s Robert Woodard II is a fringe first-round guy, so we’ll see how the draft plays out.

Each of them brings a different skill set to the league, but there are some players in the league who have similar repertoires. There are no perfect comparisons, but each incoming NBA player from the SEC shows shades of some current NBA standouts.

So, let’s make some NBA comps for 6 SEC stars who could hear their names called in Round 1 of Wednesday night’s draft:

Anthony Edwards, G, Georgia: Victor Oladipo

This is a bit of an easy comparison to make since both talented guards played for Tom Crean (Oladipo at Indiana for 3 seasons from 2010-2013 and Edwards at Georgia this past season), but it is also an appropriate one.

They’re both 6-5 and can both create shots for themselves off the dribble, though they don’t need to dominate possession to be effective. Oladipo is a bit more aggressive on defense, but Edwards has time to grow on that side of the ball. After all, Oladipo spent 3 years in college to only 1 for Edwards.

Oladipo shot 30.8% from 3-point range as a freshman. Edwards hit 29.4% of his long-range attempts this past season. Edwards shot a heck of a lot more 3s than Oladipo did in college, though. Oladipo didn’t really turn into a 3-point threat until his first season with the Indiana Pacers in 2017-18 (which was also his first All-Star season). Here’s Oladipo’s stat line from that year, compared to Edwards’ 2019-20 numbers at Georgia:

  • Oladipo: 23.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.4 steals per game; 47.7% FG, 37.1% 3FG
  • Edwards: 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals per game; 50.4% FG, 29.4% 3FG

Creating your own shot off the dribble is one of the best skills to have at the NBA level. Here’s Oladipo burying a step-back 3 over LeBron James:

And here’s Edwards showing off his own step-back 3 against Arkansas:

Those are the skills Oladipo developed over time to turn into an All-Star, and it’s the sort of skill that has Edwards in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

Isaac Okoro, F, Auburn: Draymond Green

So, the best comp for Okoro is probably a slightly shorter Tayshaun Prince, as I am fully confident Okoro’s jump shot will eventually come around to make him a lethal 3-and-D guy. But, since I’m limiting this to only current NBA guys for comparisons, might I interest you in a Draymond Green comp?

OK, I know, that’s tough since Green’s intangibles are a huge part of what makes him who he is. As my colleague Will Ogburn told me recently, “I’m not sure 80% of Draymond is even an NBA player today.”

What he means (I think) is that Draymond Green, at only 6-6 but consistently guarding bigs at a high level, is somewhat of a unicorn. Everything had to go perfectly to make Green the player he is today.

Can Okoro have that same success? Well, it’s going to depend on where he ends up. That’s the best way to put it. Okoro has Green’s height, Prince’s build and a jump shot that’s somewhere in between.

That sounds like a solid NBA player to me. Now it’s just up to whatever coach drafts him to help him reach his potential.

Tyrese Maxey, G, Kentucky: Mike Conley

The past 4 seasons, Conley has started shooting more 3-pointers. In his first 9 seasons as a pro, he never attempted more than 4 3-pointers per game. The past 4 seasons, he has averaged 6.1, 6.4, 6.1 and 5.4 per contest.

That’s the path Maxey should follow. He only shot 29.2% from long range on 3.6 attempts per game during his 1 year at Kentucky. It’s not that he will never develop into a long-range threat. It’s just that he’s not there yet.

But, like Conley, he can create off the dribble and score from anywhere else on the floor. Playing alongside Ashton Hagans, Maxey didn’t get a chance to showcase his true point guard skills as much as he probably would have liked, but he did average 3.2 assists per game.

Maxey is one of the more raw SEC draft prospects, so he could develop into a completely different player than I predict. That’s the excitement around him. But, for now, he’s a guy who isn’t afraid to have the ball in his hands in big moments. Plus, he’s coachable and versatile. That’s an exciting prospect.

Aaron Nesmith, F, Vanderbilt: Jaylen Brown

Nesmith is a guy who doesn’t need the ball to make a major impact in a game. That’s the role Brown plays for the Celtics. Brown doesn’t need to be the top option on offense, but when he’s hot, he can carry a team.

The one part of Nesmith’s game he needs to improve is getting to the rim to make plays. He needs a bit more touch when he’s finishing. But that’s something Brown had to work on, too. Like Brown, Nesmith can shoot the 3-pointer at a high level, knocking down an impressive 52.2% of his long-range attempts this past season. That’s not a small sample size, either. He averaged 8.2 3-point attempts per game in the 14 contests he appeared in before his season-ending injury.

Nesmith’s athleticism makes him an above-average defender. Check out how active he is on that end of the floor:

The team that selects Nesmith (likely somewhere in the 8-15 range) will get a guy who can slide into the rotation on Day 1. He’s a guy who teammates love sharing the court with.

Kira Lewis Jr., G, Alabama: Jrue Holiday

Even though Holiday has only made 1 All-Star team, he has become a star with the New Orleans Pelicans. He gets it done on both ends of the court. With the ball in his hands, he can score from anywhere. On defense, he can shut down opposing guards.

Lewis isn’t quite there on defense, but at 6-3 and with the speed he has, he can become a strong defender at the NBA level. Watch as Lewis shows his ability to contest jump shots in this clip:

Like Holiday, Lewis is a good 3-point shooter and can get into the lane, where he’s good at hitting floaters over taller defenders. Check out Holiday doing it all while roasting the Blazers for 41 points in 2018:

https://twitter.com/TheNBACentral/status/1326376152915718145

Now, here’s a look at Lewis getting to his spot and hitting some tough floaters and jumpers:

That’s an NBA-level offensive game. He’s going to score wherever he goes. And he has the speed to adjust to the pro game on both ends of the court.

Robert Woodard II, G/F, Mississippi State: DeMarre Carroll

What I love about Woodard is that he doesn’t need the ball to be effective on offense. He will fit into any offense because he is an ideal “3-and-D” guy, but with even better athleticism. His hustle is also off the charts, which is why I’m comparing him to one of my favorite players — former Mizzou standout DeMarre Carroll.

Let’s compare Woodard’s stats from this past season with Carroll’s stats during the 2013-14 season with the Atlanta Hawks, which was his first stint as a regular starter:

  • Woodard: 11.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.0 blocks per game; 51.7% FG, 42.9% 3FG
  • Carroll: 11.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.5 steals per game; 47.0% FG, 36.2% 3FG

Woodard is 6-7, but his 7-1 wingspan really helps him on defense. Look at this montage of him denying entry passes, providing good help defense and swatting shots away:

When you play that kind of defense at the NBA level, it leads to quick offense for your team, as evidenced by these 2 plays by Carroll:

Woodard isn’t going to be a superstar in the NBA, but he’s the kind of guy you love to have on your team if you’re a contender looking to make a deep playoff run. Look for him to come off the board late in Round 1 or early in Round 2.