Every year there seems to be one prospect that falls lower in the draft than anticipated, and last year just happened to be Cam Whitmore.

A consensus five-star recruit out of high school, Whitmore showed flashes of his potential in college, highlighted by his athleticism, physical build, and ability to finish at the rim. At Villanova, he averaged 12.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game which earned him Big East Freshman of the Year Honors. There was no reason to believe Whitmore wouldn’t be a lottery pick in the 2024 Draft, with many mock drafts having him as high as the fifth pick.

The Maryland native heard 19 different names called before him, which might have been a huge mistake by teams who passed on him.

After being selected at No. 20 by the Houston Rockets, Whitmore put together eye opening performances at the NBA Summer League. He led the Rockets to a second-place finish and ended up as the Summer League MVP, making a statement to the rest of the league.

But what made him fall so low on draft night? Concerns regarding his potential as a playmaker and medical red flags didn’t help his case, but what hurt Whitmore the most was his poor individual workouts and interviews which tremendously affected his draft stock. The potential to become a superstar was still present but was overshadowed by too many questions surrounding his game and character.

Whitmore was assigned to the NBA G League early in the regular season but immediately proved he is a class above everyone else, making easy work of his competition.

Fast forward to today, GM’s are probably scratching their heads after viewing what they missed out on. After 26 games played this season, Whitmore is averaging 11.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and is shooting 41.1 percent from the field and 48.1 percent from three. His performances since the start of the new year have been exceptional, scoring in double-figures in 15 of 19 games, including a career-high 25 points against Toronto last Friday.

Whitmore has gained the trust of Rockets Head Coach Ime Udoka and only time will tell how high his ceiling is. He has patiently been waiting for a consistent opportunity and has excelled in his role on the team, with extended minutes likely to follow.

Cam Whitmore and the Houston Rockets will visit Indiana tomorrow as they look to make a push towards a postseason appearance.