1. Anthony Edwards, G, Georgia

Edwards gets the early nod at No. 1 for his explosive athleticism, three-level scoring ability, and young age as he heads into college. He essentially skipped his senior year of high school to enroll at Georgia, following a path of reclassification previously taken by R.J. Barrett, Marvin Bagley III, and many more. He won’t turn 18 years old until Aug. 5 and has already shown the early signs of becoming a go-to offensive option on the perimeter.

The 6’4 guard was named MVP of the Under Armour Association in his final year on the grassroots circuit, averaging 21.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 53.5 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range on 4.8 attempts per game. He projects as an ultra-athletic combo guard who puts relentless pressure on the rim and thrives in transition. His three-point shooting and passing are the swing skills that determine his draft stock.

2. Cole Anthony, PG, North Carolina

Anthony is actually older than both Williamson and Barrett. While there is some concern that he’s burnished his reputation beating up on younger competition, Anthony’s advanced scoring instincts and athleticism feel like a seamless fit for what NBA teams are looking for in a modern point guard.

At 6’3, Anthony has dunk contest-worthy leaping ability and rare skill as a pull-up shooter. He’s fast and explosive coming out of his moves and should be a strong downhill attacker both in transition and out of the pick-and-roll. He also plays with a competitive edge and has great genes as the son of long-time NBA veteran Greg Anthony. There is some concern that Anthony too often looks for his own offense before getting his teammates involved. It will be something to monitor as he becomes the new star at North Carolina.

3. Theo Maledon, G, France

Maledon is part of a golden generation of young French players and the first of three projected countrymen in this mock draft. Tony Parker has already taken him under his wing as the president of ASVEL, a successful club team in France’s top pro league where Maledon has already assumed the role of starting point guard at just 17 years old. At 6’5 with a wingspan close to 6’9, Maledon is a skilled floor general who has shot 55 percent on twos, 40 percent on threes, and 86 percent on free throws against older, stronger competition.

He’s not as athletic as the American guards and won’t blow by you off the dribble, but Maledon has a well-rounded skill set that has already been tested in big games against pros. His ability as a facilitator is something to keep an eye on moving forward.

4. Killian Hayes, G, France

Another Frenchman, Hayes is a smooth 6’5 combo guard who is a dynamic playmaker for himself and others with the ball in his hands. His ability to manipulate defenses with creative passes and soft touch inside the arc should make him deadly in the pick-and-roll as he continues to mature. He’s made nearly 56 percent of his two-pointers during his first two years as a pro in France’s top league while also making an impact by posting high steal and block rates defensively. His passing ability might be the most interesting thing about him after finishing with a 36 percent assist rate in 2017-18, and a 27 percent assist rate against better competition this past year.

Hayes played a starring role during Frances silver medal finish at the U17 World Cup in 2018, averaging 16 points per game on 50 percent shooting before falling to the Americans in the title game. His clear weakness right now is as a three-point shooter, but his high free throw percentage makes his stroke projectable moving forward.

5. R.J. Hampton, G, New Zealand Breakers (NBL)

Hampton will play professionally in New Zealand next season after reclassifying to 2019 and then deciding to bypass college. He was a consensus top-five recruit in two different high school classes before his move abroad, establishing himself as an athletic 6’5 guard who loves attacking the basket. His aggressive scoring mentality will be tested against older pros, as will the swagger that runs through his game. He’d do well to have improved shooting and passing skills to fall back on, which will be his biggest point of development over the next year.

Hampton’s move to the Australian league makes a lot of sense on paper as he can maintain his intrigue while his peers risk getting exposed at the college level the way former top recruits like Nassir Little, Romeo Langford, and Cam Reddish did last season. His decision will ultimately be tested by his ability to maintain or improve his top-10 status in early draft projections like this one.

6. Deni Avdija, F, Israel

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Avdija is a 6’8 playmaking forward who thrives initiating the offense with the ball in his hands. At 18 years old, he’s already seen spot minutes in Euroleague for Maccabi Tel Aviv and also performed well in FIBA youth tournaments. His open floor ball handling and passing ability is what makes him so intriguing. Shooting will be his swing skill, after putting up underwhelming numbers both from the three-point line and foul line during his short pro career. NBA teams will wonder if he’s athletic enough to hold up defensively and score efficiently at the rim.