Is Armando Bacot Going To The Nba?

While we don’t have a definite answer, we explore the potential of Armando Bacot declaring for the 2020 NBA draft.

Who is Armando Bacot?

A five-star center out of IMG Academy, Armando Bacot is one of the top recruits in the 2019 class. He is ranked No. 9 in the ESPN 100 and is signed with Tar Heels. Some have him pegged as a future lottery pick in the 2020 NBA draft.

High School Career

Armando Bacot is a 6’10” center who played high school basketball for IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He was rated as a 5-star recruit by 247Sports.com and was ranked as the #8 overall player in the nation in their 2019 class. He committed to play college basketball for the University of North Carolina.

College Career

In his first and only college season, Bacot averaged 11.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game, while shooting 51.4 percent from the field and 62.2 percent from the free-throw line.[5] He was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) All-Freshman team.[6]

On March 11, 2020, Bacot was named to the 2019–20 ACC All-Defensive Team.[7]

NBA Mock Drafts

The 2020 NBA draft is just around the corner, and mock drafts are starting to come out. The most recent mock draft from ESPN has Armando Bacot going to the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick.

2019 NBA Mock Drafts

With the 2019 NBA Draft fast approaching, there has been no shortage of mock drafts trying to predict where the top prospects will land.

We take a look at the latest mock drafts and see how they differ on where Armando Bacot, the 6’10” power forward from UNC, could be drafted.

-ESPN has Bacot going #13 to the Miami Heat
-Sporting News has Bacot going #14 to the Boston Celtics
-CBS Sports has Bacot going #15 to the Detroit Pistons
-Bleacher Report has Bacot going #16 to the Orlando Magic

2020 NBA Mock Drafts

Armando Bacot is a name that has been appearing on mock drafts lately. The 6-foot-10, 250-pound center out of the University of North Carolina is currently projected to go late in the first round or early in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft.

Bacot has been praised for his rebounding and defensive abilities, as well as his improved shooting touch. He averaged 9.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game as a freshman last season, shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 31.1 percent from three-point range.

Mock drafts are never 100 percent accurate, but they are a helpful way to get an idea of where draft prospects are being projected to go. It will be interesting to see if Bacot’s name continues to appear on mock drafts as we get closer to Draft Night on June 25th.

NBA Comparisons

Armando Bacot is a 6’10” power forward from Virginia who is currently projected to be a late first round pick or early second round pick in the 2020 NBA draft. Some people have compared him to current NBA players such as JaMychal Green, Paul Millsap, and even Zion Williamson. So, let’s take a more in-depth look at these comparisons and see if Armando Bacot has what it takes to be an NBA player.

Deandre Ayton

Deandre Ayton is one of the best big men in the NBA. He has great size and strength and is an excellent rebounder and shot blocker. He is a very good offensive player, with a good inside game and the ability to shoot from outside. He is not yet a great defensive player, but has the potential to be very good.

Zion Williamson

Zion Williamson was the number 1 pick in the 2019 NBA draft by the New Orleans Pelicans. Along with being one of the most electrifying players in recent years, he is also one of the most unique. Standing at 6’6″, Zion has a weight of 284 pounds, and yes, he is all muscle. When he was 18 years old and still in high school, Zion Williamson was put on ESPN’s cover as #25 on their top 100 list of high school basketball players. Then, as a freshman at Duke University, Zion lived up to the hype. He averaged 22.6 points per game, 8.9 rebounds per game, 2.1 assists per game, 2.1 steals per game, and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 68% from the field and 33% from three-point range. Oh yeah, did I mention that he did this in only 36 minutes per game? Simply put: Zion Williamson is a freak of nature and has limitless potential.

Armando Bacot’s Future

Many people are wondering if Armando Bacot is going to declare for the NBA draft. The answer is still unknown, but there are a few things that we do know. Bacot is a very talented player with a lot of potential. He has the size and skill set that teams are looking for in a big man. Bacot is also a very good student, which is something that is important to him and his family. The decision on whether or not to go to the NBA will be a tough one for Armando Bacot, but one that he will have to make soon.

Potential NBA Teams

The 2020 NBA Draft will be held on October 16th, 2020, and Armando Bacot is projected to be drafted in the late first round or early second round.

Bacot is a 6’10” center who played collegiately for the University of North Carolina. He is a strong rebounder and shot blocker who has shown potential as a scorer inside the post.

Bacot is expected to sign with an agent and declare for the draft after his freshman season at UNC. He has not yet set up any draft workouts with teams, but he is expected to do so in the coming weeks.

Here are some potential NBA landing spots for Armando Bacot:

-Atlanta Hawks: The Hawks have a need for a big man after trading away John Collins this offseason. Bacot would give them a young center to develop behind Clint Capela.

-Charlotte Hornets: The Hornets are also in need of a big man after trading away Cody Zeller this offseason. Bacot would give them a young player to develop behind Bismack Biyombo.

-New York Knicks: The Knicks have been linked to several big men in the 2020 NBA Draft, including Obi Toppin and James Wiseman. They could also consider Bacot if he falls to them in the second round.

NBA Role

There is no doubt that Armando Bacot has the size and skill to play in the NBA. The only question is what role he will play.

At 6’10”, Bacot has the size to play either power forward or center. He is a physical player who is not afraid to mix it up down low. Bacot is a good rebounder and shot blocker, and he has the potential to develop into a great defensive player.

On offense, Bacot is still developing. He has shown flashes of being a good scoring option down low, but he is not yet consistent. Bacot needs to improve his footwork and learn to finish with both hands if he wants to be an offensive force in the NBA.