2019 NBA Draft: 5 reasons Jaxson Hayes should be first round pick

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 22: Jaxson Hayes #10 of the Texas Longhorns dunks against Sterling Manley #21 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2018 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on November 22, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

A player to watch from the Texas basketball program that is continuing to rise up 2019 NBA Draft boards is the 6-foot-11 forward Jaxson Hayes.

The player that had a fast rise from the Texas basketball program was not who most expected this season. At least early on, the Texas Longhorns are getting a ton of production from true freshman big man Jaxson Hayes. The rise of Hayes is much different than what the Horns got out of its top pro prospect last season. Hayes is also emerging into a legitimate first round 2019 NBA Draft prospect.

Last season, the top tier NBA prospect from the Horns roster was solidified from the very start of the year. That former Texas standout is now with the Orlando Magic as a first-year center part of a deep front court, Mohamed Bamba. Hayes had a different type of rise to prominence than Bamba did.

For the 2018 Texas basketball recruiting class, Hayes was one of the lower rated signees. He was anticipated to take a few years to develop under head coach Shaka Smart. Although, Hayes showed early on that he was in fact ready to make an immediate impact in the Texas rotation.

Through 10 games for the 2018-19 regular season, Hayes has mostly surpassed the production that both senior Dylan Osetkowski and sophomore Jericho Sims provided the Horns. Smart consistently gave Hayes a bigger role as the non-conference slate moved along. He had another huge outing

Here’s a look at the five reasons why the breakthrough first-year Texas forward Jaxson Hayes should be a bona fide first round 2019 NBA Draft pick.

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