Arizona’s Markkanen a future NBA starter, according to ESPN’s Chad Ford

The Arizona Wildcats are 17-2 overall and 6-0 in the Pac-12. Ranked 14th in the nation, they have withstood injuries and suspensions in large part because of the play of their freshman class.

Leading the way for UA’s first-year players is forward Lauri Markkanen, who came into the season with high expectations and has managed to surpass them. Through 19 game, Markkanan leads the Wildcats with 17 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while shooting .520 from the field, .829 from the free throw line and .489 from three.

Assuming he decides to leave school, the Finnish forward is seen as a likely 2017 NBA Draft lottery pick. But how good of a pro will he be?

In an ESPN Insider piece by Chad Ford, Markkanen is viewed as a Tier 3 — or NBA starter — among this year’s freshman class.

Ford lists 10 other players ahead of Markkanen, who is in a group of four players among his tier.

Markkanen seems like the consummate NBA stretch-4. He’s a terrific shooter, protects the rim and plays with a very high basketball IQ.

At 7-feet and 230 pounds, Markkanen has proven to be an adept scorer with great shooting touch and a variety of offensive moves. On Friday, SBNation produced a story proclaiming him to be the “best shooting 7-footer college basketball has ever seen.”

The first thing that jumps out about Markkanen’s shot is how smooth and quick the release is. There are no wasted movements in his mechanics. He excels in the pick-and-pop, but there are also examples of him running off screens to get open looks.

Markkanen is fourth among all freshmen in points per game, and appears to be improving with averages of 19 points and 7.7 rebounds in Pac-12 play, in which he has made 18-of-30 three-point tries.

Markkanen is not the only Arizona player on Ford’s list, with guards Kobi Simmons and Rawle Alkins being listed among the “Other freshmen to watch” group.

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