Raptors Draft: 3 hidden gems Toronto can turn into the next Fred VanVleet

The Raptors are well versed in finding hidden gems that happen to fall out of the draft. In fact, some of the most highly regarded Raptors in history, like Jose Calderon and Fred Vanvleet, were products of the Raptors willingness to reach outside of the draft to find and nurture talent.

With both Philadelphia and Phoenix forfeiting second round picks due to violations of the NBA's anti-tampering rules, this year's draft pool shrinks from 60 total picks to 58, meaning there are bound to be a couple of players that will slip through the cracks.

In this article, we'll dive deep into this mix of players to find three prospects who could thrive in the Raptors esteemed development system, and, given time, maybe even develop into legitimate contributors for the first team.

Antonio Reeves - Kentucky

There's a lot of buzz throughout NBA draft fields about the superstar potential of Rob Dillingham who, despite his outstanding scoring ability and great on-floor chemistry with Reed Sheppard, had only managed to start 1 of Kentucky's 32 games throughout the season. The reason behind this decision has been the uber-consistent play of Kentucky's lead guard, Antonio Reeves.

In many respects, Reeves' game mirrors the skillset of Dillingham's. In his senior year, the 6'6" combo guard shot 44.7 percent from three on nearly 6 attempts per game. His ability to relocate when off the ball makes him a deadly catch-and-shoot threat, and his craftiness as a finisher helps to compensate for his lean frame.

Apart from scoring, there's not a lot that sets Reeves apart from others. He's not a particularly great defender, carrying a -0.3 defensive box +/-, and despite the gravity he attracts on offense, his 1.6 assists per game indicate that he needs to mature as a facilitator.

In the NBA, everybody can score, so for most players securing a consistent spot in the rotation means doing all the little things, something that Reeves will likely need to do at a higher volume.

Still, Reeves' confidence as a scorer and his comfort as the leader on one of college basketball's most competitive programs shows promise for his future as a professional.