Robert Covington has opened the door for players with unique skillsets -via Getty Images

The Philadelphia 76ers have become the NBA’s most intriguing young team. Led by star rookie Ben Simmons and emerging superstar Joel Embiid, they have gone from a team with nobody paying attention, to a team everyone wants to watch develop. They also have a guy that everyone is trying to find their own version of, Robert Covington.

Image via USA Today Sports

Covington wasn’t always such a highly regarded player, he was very lightly recruited and didn’t even get drafted coming out of Tennessee State. But Covington’s skillset lines up almost perfectly with two of the biggest things NBA teams are asking for out of players now: 3 point shooting and defensive versatility. And with his success, NBA teams are now searching for players who have a similar skillset, and it will lead to more and more players like him getting drafted higher and higher.

Mikal Bridges is one of the best players in college basketball this season -via USA Today Sports

One of those players who is getting a ton of buzz as a 3-and-D player is Mikal Bridges out of Villanova. Bridges is rocketing up draft boards as a junior thanks to an increase in opportunities this season. He’s always been a good defender and capable shooter when given the chance, but he was basically the 4th option for Villanova last year and even lower as a freshman. Like Robert Covington, Bridges is also a versatile defender (thanks to a wingspan measuring over 7 feet) and gets a good amount of steals and blocks. I love Bridges as a prospect, he’s one of my top 10 players, and think his role as a 3-and-D role player is very easy to project.

Shake Milton’s combination of shooting, ball handling, and defensive potential make him one of the more intruiging players in this year draft class. -via USA Today Sports

Another player with that potential is Shake Milton from what I’m trademarking as 3-and-D university, SMU. Milton hit 42% from 3 each of his past two seasons (he’s only shooting 36% so far this year but that’s due to a few off games) and is a nice ball handler as well. Defensively, Shake has all the tools thanks to his 6’6” height and near 7’0” wingspan. The problem is that he just lacks engagement on defense at times. I’m still very high on Shake because he’s shown a lot of potential in a lot of different areas and I could definitely see him becoming a valuable role player in the NBA.

Jaren Jackson Jr is one of the youngest players in the upcoming class. -via Getty Images

The player with the most upside out of these three is Jaren Jackson Jr out of Michigan State. Jaren Jackson has become one of my favorite prospects to watch on the defensive end thanks to his fluidity and advanced IQ on that end for one of the youngest players in the entire class. As a shooter, Jackson’s shot looks a bit awkward, but he’s a good free throw shooter (a good indicator of shooting success in the NBA) and has hit open shots. If he goes to a team with good outside shooters and/or playmakers that can help him get open, I think he can be a good stretch 5 in the NBA.

With the NBA stressing versatility on defense and outside shooting on offense, these are just some of the players NBA fans should be keeping an eye on as rising up draft boards and eventually becoming key role players on competitive teams.