Texas Basketball: 5 best 2020 NBA Draft prospects Horns faced in 19-20

The draft stock started really high at the outset of the 2019-20 college basketball season for the LSU Tigers 6-foot-9 freshman forward and former five-star recruit Trendon Watford. But a slow start out of the gates for Watford and LSU caused his draft stock to drop. It would teeter about between a late first to early second round pick for most of the 2019-20 season.

Watford and the Tigers got to play the Longhorns once in the season that was. Texas and LSU met in the Big 12/SEC Challenge that occurred in the midst of conference play. He registered 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field, along with six rebounds, three assists, and one block in an eventual LSU win over Texas.

In 31 games played during his true freshman season, Watford averaged 13.6 points per game, 7.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.7 blocks, while shooting 48.9 percent from the field, 26.9 percent from beyond the arc, and 67.4 percent from the charity stripe. Watford had a good end to his freshman season, but left a lot to be desired compared to the level of expectations he came into college with.

There were very few quality NBA Draft prospects out of the SEC that were hurt as much by the early end to the season just as it was getting good as it did for Watford. His up and down freshman campaign came to an abrupt end. Whatever team selects him if he declares for the 2020 NBA Draft will be taking a decent risk.