2020 NBA Draft sleepers: Isaiah Stewart draws Zach Randolph comparisons

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Editor's note: As the Warriors prepare for the 2020 NBA draft, NBC Sports Bay Area will present a twice-weekly series spotlighting two "Sleepers" likely to be evaluated. This is the second of a 12-part series on intriguing prospects considered risky to select among the top 10.

As the NBA continues to push the pace and space revolution, the assumption follows that traditional centers are becoming obsolete. However, Washington's Isaiah Stewart is on a quest to buck that trend. 

A burly 6-foot-9 center, he led the Huskies in scoring, rebounds and blocks as a freshman. Along the way, he set UW freshman records for most blocks and rebounds in a season. His best game came against Arizona in the season finale, when he finished with 29 points, 12 rebounds and a block. 

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Before the season, Stewart and fellow freshman Jaden McDaniels were expected to lead Washington to the top of the Pac-12 standings. Both top-10 recruits, some observers thought the duo could have a similar impact as RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson displayed during the 2018-19 season at Duke. However, that was not the case as the Huskies finished 15-17 in a weak Pac-12 conference, losing in the first round of the conference tournament. 

Nonetheless, Stewart showed a skillset more valued during the 1990s. A solid post-up player, his game shows similarities to former Memphis Grizzlies big man Zach Randolph. Like Z-Bo, most of Stewart's points come in the paint without a hint of athleticism. He can also step out and shoot comfortably 15 to 17 feet from the basket. 

However, he struggles to create offense outside of the post and needs to extend his jump shot beyond the arc, where he shot just 25 percent from 3-point range at UW. His lack of foot speed and quickness limits his defensive ability. 

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His old school back-to-the-basket style doesn't mesh with the Warriors' motion offense, which is based on ball movement and tempo. But the burly center could be a steal if he gets snagged by the right system. 

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Isaiah Stewart profile

Position: Power forward/Center

Class: Freshman

Birthdate: May 16, 2001 (19 years old)

Hometown: Rochester, New York

2019-20 season averages: 17.0 points (57.0 percent field goals, 25 percent on 3-pointers, 77.4 percent on free throws), 8.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 2.1 blocks.

Height: 6-foot-9

Weight: 250

Wingspan: 6-10

What they're saying: “Isaiah exemplifies everything you want from a student-athlete. He wears his heart on his sleeve, in the way he plays, how he interacts with the community, our fans and everyone he comes into contact with. As a coach, you want to see your players' dreams come true. His dream of playing in the NBA is becoming a reality." - UW head coach Mike Hopkins.

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