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Texas Tech basketball: Reasons for Jahmi’us Ramsey to head to the NBA

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - JANUARY 25: Guard Jahmi'us Ramsey #3 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders stands on the court during the second half of the college basketball game against the Kentucky Wildcats on January 25, 2020 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - JANUARY 25: Guard Jahmi'us Ramsey #3 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders stands on the court during the second half of the college basketball game against the Kentucky Wildcats on January 25, 2020 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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The first round draft board is seen during the 2019 NBA Draft  (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
The first round draft board is seen during the 2019 NBA Draft  (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

The 2020 Draft class is extremely weak

By just about any measure, the 2020 NBA Draft Class is expected to be one of the weakest in quite some time.  That’s why a player like Ramsey, who is just a marginal first-round prospect in this class, might want to test the waters now.

If Ramsey is merely projected to go at the end of the first round or the top of the second round in such a poor class, it might be foolish for him to wait for next year when the talent pool is expected to be better.  Though he could improve his stock with another year under Beard’s tutelage, as we discussed when looking at why he should return, even if he’s able to make a significant jump as a player, he might not be able to jump much higher as a prospect in a deeper talent pool.

"“It’s difficult to truly get a bead on large-scale pessimism,” writes Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated.  “But based on conversations I’ve had over the first two months of the season, a wide, wide range of sources across the industry seem to agree that the 2020 draft class, well, kind of sucks.”"

He goes on to point out that this class lacks top-end talent and the players that might be considered the cream of the crop either didn’t play this year as was the case with Memphis forward James Wiseman, or played overseas like LaMelo Ball and R.J. Hampton, where their development has not been as good as it might have been if they had played for a top college coach and spent a year in a college strength and nutrition program.

Ramsey did have that benefit.  Learning the game from one of the best coaching staffs in the nation and developing physically under renowned strength coach John Reilly, he’s had as much help as he could have hoped for when trying to improve as a player.

"“The 2020 NBA draft has acquired a reputation as somewhat messy, with no sure-fire superstar talent available,” writes Patrick Murray of Forbes.com.  “All the purported top picks have significant question marks…”"

While there will be stars emerge from this class, it seems like an awful time to hold a lottery pick if you are an NBA team.  However, it might be the perfect year for a player like Ramsey who is not a superstar prospect, to make the jump.

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