2020 NBA Draft - Small College Prospects

Tim Soares
photo courtesy of
The Master's University

1. Tim Soares - 6'11", 230lbs - Center

Senior, The Master's University (CA) (NAIA)

It is not often that you see players with Tim Soares' size and skill set in NAIA basketball. Soares is a mobile big man with excellent post moves and legitimate 3-point range. He could be effective in the high post as a pick-and-pop shooter, and has enough size to impact the game on defense. Both Tim and his sister Stephanie starred as post players for The Master's University, Tim as a 2nd Team NAIA All-American and Stephanie as NAIA Player of the Year. Soares' shot-blocking ability helped him earn GSAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Soares will be taken seriously because of his size, and his ability to run the floor and the quick release on his shot give him a chance to fill a role as a pro.

18.7 pts, 8.4 reb, 1.5 ast, 1.0 st, 2.2 bl

56.8% FG, 40.5% 3PT, 69.5% FT

Brodric Thomas
photo courtesy of
Truman Athletics

2. Brodric Thomas - 6'5", 185lbs - Shooting Guard

Senior, Truman State (MO) (D2) [Southwestern CC (IA)]

Swagger is not a problem for Brodric Thomas. His game exudes confidence and control on both ends of the court. Thomas is a long and lean athlete with plenty of highlight reel dunks, blocks, and is known for taking and making big shots. He has excellent court vision, beats people in transition, and is an aggressive defender. His Truman State teammates believe his future is still bright as a pro. Thomas was named GLVC Player of the Year and 1st Team DII All-Midwest Region. Thomas has the size and athleticism to play shooting guard as a pro, but it is his mean streak on defense that makes him stand out.

21.5 pts, 7.2 reb, 3.3 ast, 1.8 st, .8 bl

49.7% FG, 41.7% 3PT, 80.9% FT

Leo Behrend
photo courtesy of
Ave Maria Athletics

3. Leo Behrend - 6'4", 200lbs - Shooting Guard

Senior, Ave Maria University (FL) (NAIA)

Explosive is the word to describe Leo Behrend's game. From his first step on a backdoor cut leading to a powerful dunk, to chasing down a man on the break for a block off of the backboard, to a thundering two-hand slam running the break. Behrend is not the typical athlete you see on the NAIA level of basketball. If his athleticism wasn't enough to get him noticed, Behrend also shoots over 40% from 3-point range and constantly has defenders rocking on their heels, scared of both the drive and the shot. Behrend was a 2-time Sun Conference 1st Team selection and 3rd Team NAIA All-American. Behrend is exactly the kind of prospect NBA teams are trying to find for an audition in a typical Summer League.

22.6 pts, 9.1 reb, 1.5 ast, .8 st, .8 bl

49.6% FG, 40.7% 3PT, 81.1% FT

Jake Ross
photo courtesy of
Springfield College

4. Jake Ross - 6'5", 200lbs - Shooting Guard

Senior, Springfield College (MA) (D3)

Jake Ross was basically the LeBron James of Division III basketball this season for Springfield. He has guard skills to handle and distribute the ball, as well as shoot from deep. He has the forward skills to rebound and slash to the basket. But where Ross really stands out is with his intangibles. He is active on defense, moves without the ball, makes great decisions, and has the talent and athleticism to do whatever his team needs to win the game. In a 105-99 2OT win over Coast Guard, Ross had 55 points and 21 rebounds. Ross was named ECAC Player of the Year, Northeast Region Player of the Year, and 1st Team DIII All-American. Ross has a chance to get noticed because he has the size and skill to play shooting guard at the next level.

26.0 pts, 9.7 reb, 3.9 ast, 2.1 st, 1.3 bl

45.7% FG, 37.6% 3PT, 81.3% FT

Jhonathan Dunn
photo courtesy of SNU Athletics

5. Jhonathan Dunn - 6'4", 180lbs - Shooting Guard

Senior, Southern Nazarene (OK) (D2)

Jhonathan Dunn is a deadly shooter that uses fakes and excellent footwork to create space and get open looks. As soon as defenders start playing him tighter, Dunn ends up going on a backdoor cut for a layup or dunk. Dunn's senior year highlights are a clinic on the variety of ways a player can score. Dunn was a 2-time GAC Player of the Year, 1st Team All-Central Region, and 2nd Team DII All-American. Dunn made 46% as a high volume 3-point shooter, but he is a versatile scorer and takes whatever the defense gives him. He already has people believing he deserves a chance at the next level. Dunn's creativity to score and legitimate size bode well for his future as a pro.

25.3 pts, 6.0 reb, 2.1 ast, 1.6 st, .4 bl

51.8% FG, 46.1% 3PT, 86.6% FT

Nate West
photo courtesy of
Le Tourneau University

6. Nate West - 5'10", 165lbs - Point Guard

Senior, LeTourneau University (TX) (D3)

West has some Stephen Curry-like flare to his game: he will stop on a dime to square up and fire a shot, he has outstanding range and an uncanny ability to make long shots, and he sets up his teammates for great scoring opportunities. When West has the ball and attacks the lane, his teammates stay alert and engaged because they know he will find them. West recorded 5 career triple-doubles, 3 in his senior campaign. He also made 12 3-pointers and scored 67 points in a 114-98 win over Bellhaven on Senior Day. West was named ASC East Division Player of the Year, DIII 1st Team All-South Region, DIII 1st Team All-American, DIII South Region Player of the Year, and DIII National Player of the Year. West will get some pro attention because of his dynamic play-making ability and excellent use of change of pace and direction to attack defenses.

28.6 pts, 7.9 reb, 7.2 ast, 2.0 st, .3 bl

42.7% FG, 36.9% 3PT, 85.6% FT

Selom Mawugbe
photo courtesy of
Ryan Walvoord/Azusa Pacific

7. Selom Mawugbe - 6'10", 230lbs - Center/Power Forward

Senior, Azusa Pacific (CA) (D2)

Not many players shoot over 70% from the field, but Selom Mawugbe is an athletic big man with an impressive arsenal of post moves that allowed him to dominate the competition at Azusa Pacific. Mawugbe is humble and seems like a gentle giant, but he throws down thundering alley-oops and turns away shots at a staggering rate. Mawugbe was named PacWest Conference Defensive Player of the Year, 1st Team DII All-West Region, and 1st Team DII All-American. He had 20 points, 19 rebounds and 5 assists in his final game of the season against Biola. Mawugbe has the muscle and frame to defend and bang in the low post against other quality big men.

16.9 pts, 10.4 reb, 2.0 ast, 1.1 st, 3.1 bl

71.8% FG, 0.0% 3PT, .69.8% FT

Chris Coffey
photo courtesy of
Richard Davis/Georgetown
College Athletics

8. Chris Coffey - 6'7", 225lbs - Power Forward

Senior, Georgetown College (KY) (NAIA)

One of Coffey's most impressive traits is to see how he and sensational point guard Eljay Cowherd seem to have a telepathic wavelength to abuse defenses. They each possess great instincts and feel for the game to produce easy baskets, both in transition and the half-court set. He has the power and explosive game to compete inside, but he runs the floor and intercepts passes like a much smaller player. Coffey was Mid-South Conference Player of the Year, 2-time NAIA 1st Team All-American, and NAIA National Player of the Year. Coffey is a little undersized as a power forward in the pros, but his athletic ability is undeniable with his tenacious rebounding and breakaway dunks.

15.4 pts, 12.7 reb, 1.5 ast, 1.4 st, 1.0 bl

63.9% FG, 34.8% 3PT, 48.1% FT

Jordan Floyd
photo courtesy of
Mason Thomas/King University

9. Jordan Floyd - 6'2", 165lbs - Point Guard

Senior, King University (TN) (D2) [Albany State (GA)]

Jordan Floyd suffered a fractured ankle in his first game of the 2018-19 season, and returned in 2019-20 to lead all of Division II basketball in scoring, averaging 31.9 points per game. He is a shoot-first lead guard that is comfortable with the ball in his hands. Floyd has great anticipation on defense to niff out lazy passes and does a nice job to create spacing on offense. Floyd was named Conference Carolinas Player of the Year, DII Southeast Region Player of the Year, and DII 1st-Team All-American. Teams will take a long look at Floyd because he is a very smooth ballhandler and weaves through traffic with ease.

31.9 pts, 4.1 reb, 2.7 ast, 1.9 st, 1.1 bl

50.3% FG, 81.3% FT, 42.6% TP

J.J. Culver
photo courtesy of
Wayland Baptist Athletics

10. J.J. Culver - 6'5", 195lbs - Shooting Guard/Small Forward

Senior, Wayland Baptist University (TX) (NAIA)

Brother of Minnesota Timberwolf Jarrett Culver, J.J. has already carved out a name for himself by scoring 100 points in a single game this season in a win over Southwest Adventist. Culver moves extremely well without the ball to setup scoring changes, both in coming off of screens and cutting to the basket. He is a sneaky defender that generates many steals with his active hands and catching the offense napping. Culver was named SAC Player of the Year and 2nd-Team NAIA All-American. His name alone will force NBA teams to take a look, but he has good size and an all-around game that will help his chances.

23.1 pts, 6.4 reb, 3.2 ast, 2.7 st, .5 bl

46.2% FG, 34.3% 3PT, 76.8% FT

Honorable Mention: Brandon Myer - F, Minnesota-Duluth, Tra'Quan Knight - SG, LSU-Shreveport, Brian Halums - SG/SF, Arkansas-Fort Smith, Luka Majstorovic - C, Embry-Riddle (FL), Raquan Mitchell - PG, New Mexico Highlands