As the NBA draft approaches, the New York Knicks are amassing “a ton” of information on Florida state winger Devin Vassell, according to SNY’s Ian Begley.
The Knicks have the opportunity to select the second year with the eighth pick in the draft, but Begley said teams with higher picks are also interested in the Georgia native.
Vassell was only recruited by two Division I schools before the State of Florida entered the scene, and was ranked outside of the top 400 players in the Class of 2018, according to Begley. But his competitive nature and willingness to improve – evidenced by a three percentage point increase to 41% in college versus 21% in high school – allowed him to become a legitimate prospect ahead of the November 18 screening.
“Inside the lines, he wakes up mad every morning,” told to Begley the assistant coach of Seminoles Charlton “CY”. He knows he was ranked 17th in the city of Atlanta (in high school). He knows every guy who has ranked ahead of him. He has a long list and he’s marking them. He remembers“.
Young offered Vassell a scholarship to join his program after seeing his AAU team in a scrum, but even the coach who believed in him before most of the D1 basketball world is shocked by his rise to NBA draft board leaders:
“When he first came to the state of Florida, I thought he might be there for three or four years and be a pro. Like, ‘Bambi’s got some money on his head, and that’s it.’ I thought it was going to happen, it would happen. But what I didn’t consider was a high-tempered gym rat. His humility was sky high and all he wanted to do was improve. Everything we told him, he tried to do. “
In addition to Vassell, the Knicks have been “very curious” about Auburn striker Isaac Okoro, according to Tigers coach Bruce Pearl.