ONE of the most exciting factors of a draft in any sporting format is the ability for a surprising name to throw their hat into the ring late in the race.

That has been the case for the meteoric rise of Taylor Hendricks, who has stormed into top 10 contention with a consistently strong campaign with the UCF Knights in the NCAA.

While he may have left it too late to sneak towards the top five on draft night, his potential and glimpses of excitement have clearly got the attention of NBA scouts, and he is moving up the order in Mock Drafts as each game passes.

Taylor Hendricks

TEAM: UCF Knights
POSITION: Forward
DOB: 22/11/2003
HEIGHT: 6ft 9in
WEIGHT: 210lbs

Hendricks was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, slowly building his basketball repertoire as he grew. After forging a promising start, his high school career began to really take off when he attended NSU University School.

Along with the likes of Scottie Barnes, Vernon Carey Jr. and Jett Howard, the school’s basketball team thrived and won the state championship, as Hendricks played a crucial role.

He transferred to Calvary Christian Academy following his sophomore season, and his numbers began to truly reflect the sort of skillset he possessed. During his junior season, the forward averaged 14.1 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game, before backing it up with 15.1 points and 8.2 rebounds in his senior campaign.

Hendricks soon found himself scouted by a number of collegiate teams, but opted to sign with the Knights, despite offers from Florida, Florida State, Miami, LSU, and Iowa State.

Since joining the team, Hendricks has been one of the biggest surprises of the entire NCAAM season, thriving as the team’s starting power forward. He has claimed the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Rookie of the Week award seven times thus far, which is the most in NCAA history.

Hendricks has plenty to offer at the forward position, making him popular among NBA scouts of late. His consistency shooting the ball and ruthless defence have played a big role in his draft projection rising of late. From behind the arc, the forward is shooting 39.3 per cent, and given the current state of the NBA, could contribute as a stretch four with a solid shooting mechanic.

Defensively, Hendricks has protected the paint in a big way for the Knights, averaging 1.8 blocks against some taller opponents. He is not afraid to stand in the way of a vicious drive, and has the numbers to back up his impact as an interior defender.

Nearly 30 dunks on the season showcases Hendricks ability to score in the low block, making him difficult to guard. At 6ft 9in, he can play both forward positions, and offers something different at each. As a three, he will bring size and force mismatches, while as a four, his mix of inside and outside scoring will make him a perfect fit for most NBA sides.