The 2017 NBA Draft’s Biggest Sleeper at Each Position

NBA scouts should already have a good sense of the premier prospects at each position. But it’s inevitable: We’re going to see under-the-radar players at basically every spot rise up the ranks during the year.

Based on each player’s summer and previous season, I pegged five sleepers who are expected to creep quietly up boards and emerge as quality options at their respective positions. Three of the following could surprise by launching themselves into the lottery. Two won’t play college basketball in 2016-17. 

These aren’t the headliners of the current draft discussion, but NBA teams will regard them as desirable options come June. 

Center: Chimezie Metu (USC, 6’11”, Sophomore)

Draft Ceiling: Late first round

Outside of Jarrett Allen and Marques Bolden, there aren’t many obvious pros at center in college basketball right now. But Chimezie Metu is a breakout 5-man to watch. He’s a project with enough upside to surge past Thomas Bryant and Omer Yurtseven on draft boards—if he can convert freshman flashes into steady production his sophomore year.

Following an offseason that’s included Adidas Nations, Drew League games and prospect workouts, Metu should return as a more confident player with a bigger role at USC. 

Size, athleticism, line-drive ball-handling and mid-range touch highlight his intriguing NBA potential. At 6’11” and 215 pounds, he’s skinny but explosive around the basket, where he does most of his damage as a finisher off lobs, putbacks and dump-off passes.

This year, we should see a more aggressive Metu capable of attacking his man from the shorter corners and making plays out of the post. Having averaged 3.4 blocks per 40 minutes, his rim-protection ability is another appealing piece of the pie. The 19-year-old’s bounce and 7’2″ wingspan translate to weak-side rejections and defensive upside. 

Though raw without much bulk, polish or feel for the game, Metu’s can’t-teach tools and athleticism help buy him time. He’ll be a sharper, more versatile scoring threat in 2017. In turn, expect the NBA buzz to build.

Power Forward: Isaiah Hartenstein (Germany, 6’11”, 1998) 

Draft Ceiling: Top 10

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Isaiah Hartenstein packs the most upside among our top-ranked sleepers. He’s earned a lot more recognition within scouting departments than he has from media outlets, but we’d have heard more about Germany’s next big prospect had back issues not sidelined him over the summer. 

One NBA general manager raved to Bleacher Report about Hartenstein’s potential and draft outlook:

A late riser who I think will look better as teams get individual workouts and see this kid at the combine is Isaiah Hartenstein. I am anxious to see how he does this year in his development and against the physicality of the combine.

It is easy to compare him to Dirk [Nowitzki] with his German nationality, but he looks the part of a prototypical stretch 4 that is becoming increasingly important in today’s game. If Hartenstein can buckle down on defense and continue his offensive development, I expect him to go in the top five. 

At 6’11”, 230 pounds, his size, strength and destructive athleticism …

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