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NBA Draft prospects for the Miami Heat to watch in Kentucky vs North Carolina

By Wes Goldberg

Nov 23, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Edrice Bam Adebayo (3) shoots the ball against the Cleveland State Vikings in the first half at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Edrice Bam Adebayo (3) shoots the ball against the Cleveland State Vikings in the first half at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 24, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari talks with guard Isaiah Briscoe (13) in the first half against the UCLA Bruins during the semifinals of the South Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari talks with guard Isaiah Briscoe (13) in the first half against the UCLA Bruins during the semifinals of the South Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /

Both Kentucky and North Carolina feature classic college guards who are productive but don’t project as high-reward NBA players. The Heat have had luck combing the waters for undervalued guards like this (Tyler Johnson, McGruder, Briante Weber) so you can’t sleep on this pair.

Isaiah Briscoe

Kentucky’s Isaiah Briscoe is Kentucky’s sophomore combo guard who projects as a late-second round pick or an undrafted free agent.

At 6-foot-3 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan, he has great size as a guard. Someone who could potentially turn into a defensive-first wing who can fight over pick-and-rolls and play passing lanes.

He doesn’t shoot necessarily well, especially from deep (just a 28.8 percent three-point shooter this season) but if he can defend and play with a motor, he could get a shot.

Joel Berry

Joel Berry doesn’t have the size of Briscoe (6 feet with a 6-foot-3 wingspan) but he can stroke it, shooting 40.2 percent on 5.9 three-point attempts per game.

Berry, 22, is finishing up his junior season at North Carolina. Between his lack of size and age, he’ll likely go undrafted, but should get a tryout somewhere. His best-case scenario is a Patty Mills-type. A bench scorer who can play on and off the ball and bolster a second unit.

Next: Heat have decisions to make about upcoming free agents

Kentucky and North Carolina should be an exciting game, and from bigmen, to shooters to guards, there will be plenty of things to watch for Heat fans with an eye toward the NBA Draft.

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