Louisville basketball: Projecting the next NBA draft prospect

Samuell Williamson, SG/SF, Sophomore

Williamson is a former five star recruit that just seems primed to burst onto the scene with a much more defined role in 2020. Williamson played 15.5 minuter per game last season and shot the ball at a 47 percent clip.

While David Johnson might be the safer bet to be a draft pick, Williamson’s upside is off the charts. At 6’7″ 210-pounds, Williamson could be ready to take the next step in his development.

Williamson has been battling a knee injury in the offseason, but has since recently returned to practice.

The name of Sam Williamson’s game is the mid-range jump shot. That’s been his bread and butter ever since he was at Rockwall High School in Texas. His jumper is smooth in the mid-range and he also showed off a floater that worked well for him over the course of the 2019-20 season.

Williamson looked like a freshman in 2019-20. What does that mean? Well, to me, it means that we did not get to see Samuell Williamson’s full arsenal on offense and defense. He never seemed to settle down and get comfortable.

If we get the whole experience of what he can unleash, we might be in for a treat watching one of the most skilled offensive players to come through the program.

Williamson has the athleticism, the above-average size to play the “2” or the “3”, and the shot-making talent to play his way into being a draft pick if he can take the next step in his development as a player. Can it all come together? We will find out very, very soon.

Overall, I think this could take two more years of developing for Williamson. Johnson is much closer as a prospect right now. Williamson would need a massive leap to get to where he wants to be.

Draft pick range: Late Round 1, 2022