2021 NBA Mock Draft: Way too early picks for the lottery

One of the more volatile draft stocks that you will see in this 2021 class is the 6-foot-8 and 210 pound Florida State Seminoles signee and small forward Scottie Barnes. This five-star Montverde Academy wing product plays for the same high school as the top pick that’s going in this 2021 mock draft.

Barnes ranks as the nation’s No. 6 2020 high school prospect and the No. 2 small forward. His 247Sports recruiting profile compares him to the likes of Denver Nuggets forward Jarred Vanderbilt, and projects him out to be a first round pick if he comes out in the 2021 draft. Barnes does need to improve his consistency in shooting, especially from deep.

But there’s very few wing prospects in this class that share the slashing, distributing, and two-way ability that Barnes has. His pure length and gifted physical tools allow him to thrive on the defensive end of the floor just as much as he does on offense. Barnes has a lot of bounce in his game and carries a lengthy 7-foot-2 wingspan.

There is also a high ceiling that Barnes carries with him in terms of rebounding ability and shot blocking for a small forward. Barnes is a double-double machine waiting to happen. If he truly fulfills his potential in his true freshman season in Tallahassee, then the New Orleans Pelicans would be getting an absolute steal at No. 11 to slot him alongside Zion Williamson and Jrue Holiday.

The problem for Barnes will come about if he’s not ability to get his scoring and shot creation ability down during his first year with the Florida State basketball program.