Mock Draft Monday: How good is USC's Evan Mobley?

                                 

                                     (Credit: John McGillen/USC Athletics) 

One of the top prospects in the 2021 NBA Draft is USC freshman forward Evan Mobley, who is averaging 16.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game. Listed at 7'0", 210 pounds, Mobley has tremendous physical tools and has been a dominating force in the paint this year in the Pac-12. In the game against Cal that I covered, he ate the Golden Bears for lunch with 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks. He was the single dominating force that won the game for the Trojans. The Bears simply did not have an answer for him inside. 

While dominating Cal and dominating NBA players are very different, Mobley has shown all season long that he is a legitimate NBA talent and deserves to be in consideration for the top pick in the 2021 draft. Guys with his size, quickness, length, and skill don't grow on trees. They're very hard to find and whatever NBA team gets him will have a really exciting player to work with. 

In addition to being a great individual talent, Mobley has shown he can have a winning impact on his team. The #19 ranked Trojans are 19-6 overall and 13-5 in the Pac-12. When Mobley succeeds, his team does in the process. He's not one of those players that puts up big stats a on a bad team. He's putting up big time stats on a team that has the potential to reach the Sweet Sixteen and possibly deeper. 

As far as who he reminds me of in the NBA, he kinda reminds me of a more athletic version of Tim Duncan, which is really high praise. Like Mobley, Duncan could score around the basket with ease, get rebounds, and block shots. On top of that, Duncan was a great team player and made everyone around him better. Duncan knew how to win and be a part of a winning formula. 

With the NCAA tournament coming up, one player to keep a close eye on is USC's Evan Mobley. He has tremendous physical gifts and has a chance to perhaps vault himself into the #1 draft spot with a good showing in March. It's going to be fun to see how things go for Mobley in next week's Pac-12 tournament and how the rest of his collegiate career goes before he presumably leaves for the NBA. 

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