While there was plenty of debate about what order perimeter prospects like Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green and Jalen Suggs should come off the board in Thursday's NBA Draft, when it came to the big guys, the conversation started and ended with one player – 7-foot center
Evan Mobley of USC.
Mobley was selected third overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2021 NBA Draft.
The versatile center has a unique skill set that fits the current landscape of the NBA. Mobley can handle the ball, facilitate offense and block shots.
The No. 3 prospect in the Class of 2020 according to 247Sports was a two-time California Player of the Year and earned Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year honors as a senior after leading
Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.) to a 22-8 record and averaging 20.5 points, 12.2 rebounds, 5.2 blocks and 4.6 assists per outing.
Evan Mobley in action during his senior season at Rancho Christian in Southern California.
Photo by Louis Lopez
His numbers as a senior were a slight up-tick from his junior year numbers, averaging 19.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.7 blocks per game in 2018-19. Mobley earned MaxPreps All-American honors both seasons.
In his only season at USC, Evan Mobley was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year, Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and was a consensus second team All-American after averaging 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.9 blocks and 2.9 assists while shooting 57.8 percent from the field.
Mobley was the catalyst for USC's first Elite 8 run since 2001, averaging 13.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, four assists and two blocks per contest in four NCAA Tournament games.
