Fresh off a workout in Sacramento, the gritty Illinois guard offers elite perimeter defense and veteran composure for a team seeking backcourt depth and high-IQ playmakers.
The Sacramento Kings have three draft picks in the upcoming NBA Draft, looking to supplement young talent alongside last year's rookie successes.
At KingsRoundtable, we have covered various prospects of different ranking and backgrounds, most recently Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile and Grand Canyon guard Jaden Henley.
In this profile, I will highlight Illinois point guard Kylan Boswell, who led the Illini back to the Final Four for the first time in over 20 years.
Boswell also was recently announced as one of the six players to be invited to a Kings workout on Tuesday.
Veteran Experience
Boswell played in countless big games during his college career, starting off with Arizona before playing his final two seasons in his home state of Illinois.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound point guard averaged 12.3 points per game in both campaigns with the Illini, providing steady guard play for head coach Brad Underwood.
Boswell is a low-turnover, smart lead guard who has significant strength at his position, averaging a 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio last season.
Although Boswell struggled offensively towards the end of March Madness, he made an impact with his rebounding and defense.
Defensive Pedigree
Boswell is an elite perimeter defender, using his size and lateral quickness to bump players off their drives and beat them to the spot.
Last season, Boswell was named to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team, while finishing as a candidate for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.
While continuing to develop his offensive game, Boswell's defense will get him on the court at the next level, serving as a Marcus Smart/Davion Mitchell-type pest on the perimeter.
Areas For Improvement
At Illinois, Boswell became a much-better all-around scorer, but took a dip in his 3-point shooting efficiency.
Boswell shot 38.2-percent from deep at Arizona, but struggled at Illinois, averaging a 27.2-percent clip.
The undersized guard will also need to become more comfortable in the in-between game, continuing to look for floaters and short jump shots to eliminate the NBA's size at the rim.
Draft Projection
Boswell is currently ranked as the No. 48 overall prospect, according to ESPN.
In ESPN's post-combine mock, Boswell was the third-to-last pick in the draft, landing with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Are Kings a Fit?
While the Kings should probably look elsewhere with their two second rounders, Boswell is an obvious target as an UDFA, bringing experience and defense to a rebuilding team.
Sacramento needs to improve defensively, especially on the perimeter.
Adding Boswell would give the Kings a lockdown guard defender who can play spot minutes as the lead guard.
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