The New York Knicks have their eyes on the 2020 NBA draft. While the draft order is yet to be determined, the Knicks will be picking in the lottery and have a shot at some of the top prospects. One player they should target is French point guard Killian Hayes.
Hayes is becoming the draft’s worst kept secret. Hayes is was born in America but played in France’s basketball academies growing up. He currently plays for Ratiopharm ULM in the Bundesliga, the top basketball league in Germany.
The 18-year-old has mostly flown under the radar but has recently been making waves among scouts. Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer recently released his 2020 NBA draft guide, and Hayes was the number one prospect. The top three prospects have typically consisted of LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, and James Wiseman. Now it looks as though Hayes is in the mix.
Elite Passer. Elite Scorer.
Hayes has everything you want in a modern point guard. From a physical standpoint, he’s got great size at 6’5 tall and a 6’9 wingspan. More importantly, Hayes is a talented scorer and phenomenal passer who’s game seems to improve every month.
Hayes shooting has been inconsistent. However, he’s got great form and keeps improving his numbers. In 10 games in Eurocup, before play was suspended, Hayes was shooting 39% from 3 and 90% from the free-throw line. Hayes’ impressive handles allow him to create space and score off of the dribble. He’s starting to put it together.
Killian Hayes is already advanced as a playmaker. His processing is quite advanced for his age, and his ability to find open shooters pops off the screen. Hayes is already an advanced pick and roll ball handler with a good understanding of pro basketball spacing.
What really stands out watching his film is his speed. Hayes’ quickness and burst are clearly a step above some of the other guards projected as lottery picks.
Killian Hayes still has kinks to work out. He’s incredibly left hand dominant and needs to improve his defense. However, his combination of quickness, scoring, and passing make him one of the most captivating prospects in the entire draft. An ascending player, Killian Hayes is exactly what the New York Knicks want in a franchise point guard.