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Maryland Basketball: Diamond Stone a first rounder in DraftExpress mock

By Chris Bengel

Feb 6, 2016; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins center Diamond Stone (33) drives to the basket asPurdue Boilermakers center A.J. Hammons (20) defends during the second half at Xfinity Center. Maryland Terrapins defeated Purdue Boilermakers 72-61. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2016; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins center Diamond Stone (33) drives to the basket asPurdue Boilermakers center A.J. Hammons (20) defends during the second half at Xfinity Center. Maryland Terrapins defeated Purdue Boilermakers 72-61. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Maryland will almost certainly have three players selected in the NBA Draft later this month.

All were thought to be in the second round, but Diamond Stone is being tabbed as a first round pick in the latest DraftExpress mock draft.

DraftExpress has Stone going at No. 30 to the Golden State Warriors. The site also had Robert Carter being picked by the Atlanta Hawks at No. 44 and Jake Layman to the Detroit Pistons at No. 49.

DraftExpress previously had Stone going to the Los Angeles Clippers at No. 33 and Phoenix Suns at No. 34.

One of the main reasons for Stone being a fringe first round pick is the fact that he doesn’t possess elite size along with not being overly athletic.

It also doesn’t help Stone’s cause that there’s quite a bit of depth in terms of big men in this draft. Guys like Dragan Bender (International), Marquese Chriss (Washington), Henry Ellenson (Marquette), and Jakob Poeltl (Utah) will likely be selected in the lottery.

After that, most players will be taken based on pure potential. Despite not being the most dynamic big man, Stone still possesses a strong post game, which will be a huge asset at the NBA level.

If he were to land with the Warriors, that’s about as good a situation as he could hope for.

Stone most likely wouldn’t be expected to produce right away. Golden State currently has an abundance of big men with Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli leading the way.

Ezeli is a free agent this summer, but even if he does sign elsewhere, the Warriors have the depth to absorb the loss. That’s also a reason why the team will likely draft a big man with their first round pick.

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Stone needs to land in the right situation in order to be a productive pro and the Warriors are a perfect fit.