Markis McDuffie, SF, Wichita State
A 6-8 forward, Wichita State’s Markis McDuffie is another college prospect who potentially fits the 3-and-D mold. Playing primarily as a small-ball power forward, McDuffie helped lead the Shockers to one of the nation’s top defenses in 2016-17. He possesses the size, strength and toughness to battle against larger players on the interior and sufficient athleticism to keep up with guys on the perimeter. McDuffie also led Wichita State in steals last season, a sign of his defensive intelligence.
Much of McDuffie’s NBA potential hinges on his jump shot. He’s been a career 35.5 percent 3-point shooter so far, but his improvement as a foul shooter last season — he shot 81.9 percent on 144 attempts — suggests an improving and more repeatable stroke. At this stage, McDuffie is mostly a spot-up option rather than someone who can shoot on the move, but his ability to beat closeouts with straight line drives adds some diversity to his offensive game.
The 20-year-old has yet to play this season due to a stress fracture in his foot, so how he responds to the injury will be something worth watching as will how well he handles playing against the tougher competition of the American Athletic Conference on a regular basis. If McDuffie’s able to put everything together, though, he could be an intriguing second-round option should he opt to leave school early in the spring.
