Draft season is one of hope for each of the league’s 30 teams, as the next wave of prospects arrives to potentially change a franchise’s fate. While there will be plenty of discussion about the true top-tier prospects, we’ll start to see unfamiliar names slip in as the draft goes on — guys who could be game-changers if they’re developed properly. Serious talent comes from every corner of the basketball world and the onus is on teams to identify it everywhere, even from less conventional sources. Today we’re going to take a quick glance at some noteworthy draft prospects who have made their names at smaller programs and might not be well-known until their name gets called on draft night. You don’t need to go to Kentucky or Kansas to be an impactful NBA player. Last year we hit it big with Santa Clara’s Jalen Williams, who ended up locking down a starting spot for the Thunder and delivering middle-round value for fantasy GMs.

This year we’ve got a collection of profiles from the entire SportsEthos staff — enjoy!

Maxwell Lewis, G/F, Pepperdine

Pepperdine was the lowest-ranked program in the West Coast Conference, which only produced two tournament teams in 2023 and has held multi-bid status for a relatively short period of time. To say that Lewis was the star of that team would imply some sort of accomplishment, which would be misleading. However, Lewis was individually excellent while leading his team in scoring for the season and ranking in the top-5 for all other major stats. The reason he is so well-regarded by draft evaluators is that Lewis was clearly a fish out of water on a noncompetitive squad that needed him to do too much. Alongside more talented pros and with all the benefits of NBA coaching and development, the 6’7” wing could blossom into the sort of player that teams kick themselves for doubting.

Lewis is athletic, can score at all three levels, has playmaking potential and could become a plus defender with some polish. So long as the jump from small-time Pepperdine to the pros isn’t too much for him, the 20 year-old has multiple paths to becoming a reliable role player. If he eventually checks all the boxes, Lewis could prove to be much more.

— Derek Ball

Brandin Podziemski, G, Santa Clara

Coming out of high school, Podziemski had offers from Kentucky, Miami, Illinois, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest. That list is a sign of trust and talent, but he chose Illinois and played just four minutes per game in 16 appearances. Santa Clara lost their main offensive weapon in the 2022 Draft (Jalen Williams), and Podz jumped at that opportunity to be a big fish in a small pond.

Podz’s sophomore leap matched his expectations coming out of high school, albeit for a smaller college program. At 6’5 and 205 lbs, his rebounding and shooting stroke will find him a place in most NBA rotations, making his transition from a small pond to the huge ocean that is the NBA the biggest question mark in his draft profile. His blend of out-of-positioning rebounding, playmaking and 3-point efficiency will make his life easier, as he possesses the skills to play off-ball, but he’ll still have to adapt to a very different role after starring as The Guy for Santa Clara.

— Goncalo Teiga

Ben Sheppard, G, Belmont

Ben Sheppard has been a stud for mid-major Belmont. His two-way play has not gone unnoticed – Sheppard was voted into his All-Conference First Team the past two seasons as well as the All-Defense team the past season. Sheppard has put up impressive numbers on both sides of the ball, averaging 18.8 points on 47.5% from the field, 2.5 triples, 5.2 boards, 2.9 assists and 1.4 blocks, but where Sheppard really shines is his movement shooting. He is an excellent shooter in almost all facets, whether it be off pindowns, relocations, or just finding the open space. He flashes some passing ability as well, with the ability to hit the open man off DHOs or from atop the key.

Sheppard additionally jumps passing lanes frequently, leading to easy transition baskets for his team. The concerns for Sheppard are ones usually found in smaller school prospects – size and athleticism. At the NBA Draft Combine, Sheppard measured 6’5.25” without shoes with a 6’7.75” wingspan – decent measurables but nothing special either and ones that would limit him to guarding shooting guards or smaller wings. On film, Sheppard’s feet can be heavy when guarding in isolation, leading to blow-bys from quicker guards. This will only be magnified at the NBA level and should be a focus area for Sheppard. Still, movement shooting is one of the premier skill sets in the NBA today. Sheppard’s ability in that area should give him some playing time opportunity, in which we could see his fantasy game develop further.

— Mark Camero

Jake Stephens, C, Chattanooga

As a fifth-year player, Jake Stephens was the leader of the Chattanooga Mocs. Possessing great size at 7’0” height and weighing in at 270 lbs, Stephens is a bit of a throwback in terms of build. However, he does bring some modern NBA skills at the center spot. Stephens regularly shot from deep at the top of the arc, hitting 2.1 triples per game at a 40.8% clip. With a sweet shooting stroke and a clean 82.0% clip on FTs, the shooting seems like a real skill for him. In addition, Stephens nearly averaged a double-double per game with 22.0 points and 9.8 boards. To top it all off, he demonstrated some high post passing ability with 3.4 assists per game.

Yes, Chattanooga is not a heralded school – you may not have even heard of it – and Stephens does have his warts, namely lack of mobility, leaping ability, and slower feet, but if Stephens can stick around in the NBA, he can be useful as an offensive connector piece.

— Mark Camero

Omari Moore, G, San Jose State

A shot-creating guard that can make an impact on defense will get a shot in the league. San Jose State doesn’t have nearly the sort of notoriety of most prospect-producing colleges but what Moore was doing in the Mountain West Conference was hard to ignore. He was named Player of the Year by coaches and media in a conference that featured eventual March Madness finalists San Diego State and three other programs that qualified for the tournament.

Moore might not have the ball in his hands as much when he makes the leap to the pros but he has shown that he is equally capable of creating shots for himself and others with on-ball reps. Learning to work off-ball and continuing to develop as a pesky defender should ultimately determine how much success Moore eventually has in the league. Although nothing is guaranteed, Moore has all the tools of a potential high-level starter.

— Derek Ball

Taevion Kinsey, G, Marshall

Kinsey spearheaded a potent Marshall offense for years. Unfortunately, that fell below the radar for most NBA fans who typically only tune in to college ball after February. Kinsey’s game hearkens back to the great swingmen from the turn of the century; the ones that could single-handedly change the outcome of a game. However, he’s making a double jump in competition after facing non-ranked college teams and now jumping to the pros. That’s also likely to come with a major drop in on-ball time unless Kinsey really asserts himself as the real deal. Perhaps he’ll have to prove his worth against G League players before getting a call-up.

While future success isn’t promised, Kinsey has proven able to leave an imprint on a game when he’s getting his reps. A high steal rate and above-average athleticism reveal the best way for Kinsey to separate himself from the pack: by becoming a true two-way force.

— Derek Ball

Tosan Evbuomwan, F, Princeton

Is Princeton a small school if it’s also one of the most recognizable schools in the world? In the basketball world, Princeton was the David to 2-seed Arizona and 7-seed Missouri’s Goliath during the most recent March Madness. Evbuomwan was one of the central figures of that effort and is using that momentum as a springboard to the league. The playmaking forward was able to keep opposing defenses off-balance by making smart reads and exploiting weaknesses. Evbuomwan projects to do more of the same in the NBA and seems primed to do whatever his team needs at the next level, so long as that isn’t spacing the floor.

— Derek Ball