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Who are the top prospects in the 2020 NBA Draft?

Anthony Edwards, R.J. Hampton and James Wiseman are some names to know when it comes to the 2020 NBA Draft.

The Zion Williamson sweepstakes have come and gone with the New Orleans Pelicans winning the right to select the Duke forward in next month's draft.

But while there were plenty of teams who walked away from Tuesday night's NBA Draft Lottery disappointed with the results, next year will bring a whole new opportunity to land the No. 1 pick.

Unlike this year, there's not one player who stands out as the surefire top prospect -- although it's worth that at this time a year ago, Williamson trailed R.J. Barrett as the projected future No. 1 pick.

Plenty, of course, can -- and likely will -- between now and next spring. With that in mind, let's take a look at the players NBA teams could be vying for in next year's draft lottery:

James Wiseman, center, Memphis

A 7-foot, 210-pound center, James Wiseman is the top-ranked prospect in the 2019 class. While his size has always been one of his recent plusses, a recent surge in energy and production has set the future Memphis Tiger apart from the rest of his peers.

While the importance of centers in the NBA has declined in recent years, Wiseman possesses the type of natural talent and athleticism that can make him a difference-maker on both ends of the floor. While he may not be the consensus top NBA prospect in this year's class, he enters what will likely be a short-lived college season in pole position and could solidify his status with a big freshman campaign.

Credit: AP
Holy Spirit Prep's Anthony Edwards #5 in action against Long Island Lutheran during a high school basketball game at the Hoophall Classic, Sunday, January 20, 2019, in Springfield, MA. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

Anthony Edwards, guard, Georgia

If Wiseman doesn't emerge as the No. 1 pick in next year's draft, that position could be Anthony Edwards' to take.

Having signed with Georgia, the Atlanta native fits the profile of a modern guard in today's NBA, possessing ideal size (6-foot-5, 210 pounds), athleticism and shooting. Not only is Edwards a creative and capable scorer, but an effective defender as well, which could make him too intriguing to pass on if he's able to showcase his all-around game in Athens next season.

R.J. Hampton, point guard, uncommitted

A late reclassification into the 2019 class, R.J. Hampton has yet to decide where he'll be spending his college career. But when he does, the 6-foot-5 point guard will attract plenty of NBA scouts to whichever school he chooses, thanks to his combination of size, shooting and overall feel for the game.

According to ESPN's Jonathan Givony, Hampton possesses "elite potential" as a point guard and could have the highest upside in the 2020 draft class. After his reclassification, NBA teams are still in the early process of gathering information on the Texas native, but once they do, it seems likely they'll like what they find. 

Credit: AP
Oak Hill's Cole Anthony #3 in action against Wasatch Academy in a Boys Quarterfinal game at the Geico High School Basketball Nationals in the Queens borough of New York on Thursday, April 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

Cole Anthony, point guard, North Carolina

A 6-foot-3, 185-pound point guard, Cole Anthony possesses the potential to be the top player in basketball next season, which he'll spend at North Carolina. The MVP of both the McDonald's and Jordan Brand All-Star Games, Anthony has a knack for controlling games as a top-level scorer.

Despite his impressive resume, questions exist regarding Cole's athleticism, shooting consistency, passing and defensive prowess. At North Carolina, he'll have the chance to address those possible shortcomings and prove that his productivity matters more than his perceived limited upside.

Theo Maledon, point guard, France

Considered the top international prospect in the 2020 draft class, Theo Maledon is a 6-foot-5 point guard who has been playing professionally in France since he was 15-years-old. A product of the INSEP sports institute in Paris, Maledon helped lead France's National Team to a gold medal in the FIBA Europe U16 Championship in 2017 and a silver medal in the FIBA U17 World Cup last year.

In 2018-19, Maledon enjoyed a breakthrough season with his professional team, ASVEL, earning LNB All-Star honors. On Sunday, he was named the Final MVP after scoring a team-high 13 points in a 70-61 victory over Le Mans in the French Cup championship.

As far as his physical skills, Maledon has been praised for his size, athleticism and quick first step. He currently projects as a top-five pick in next year's draft, according to both ESPN and NBADraft.net.

Other names to know

Nico Mannion, PG, Arizona

Jaden McDaniels, F, uncommitted

Isaiah Stewart, C-F, Washington

Deni Avdija, G-F, Israel

Josh Green, SG, Arizona

LaMelo Ball, G, SPIRE Academy

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