San Antonio Spurs: Ranking 5 guys primed for a huge leap next season

San Antonio Spurs: No. 1 - Devin Vassell

Speaking of being a believer, it'd be tough to find a bigger fan of Devin Vassell's game than me. From the day I wrote about his coach at Florida State boasting about him, I've been high on every aspect of having him as a San Antonio Spur.

Vassell checks all the boxes you can think of when you think of the prototypical Spur: He's a consummate professional, waits patiently for his moments, is eager to learn, and has some serious basketball skills.

While Devin received only seven starts this season (which is expected for a rookie in San Antonio), I wouldn't be surprised to see him make the jump to full-time starter before too long. Vassell already has a reliable 3-pointer, which puts him ahead of most of the current roster. He also has shown growth when it comes to finding his own shot in the mid-range area.

What really sells me the most about Vassell is how quickly he seems to be picking up the professional game. I think anyone who saw him play regularly can agree that he rarely looked like a rookie out there. The 20-year-old only played 17 minutes per game last year and already showed defensive instincts on the level of the team's best defenders in Dejounte Murray and Derrick White.

I would be completely shocked if Vassell didn't take a major leap next season -- of course, assuming Coach Popovich gives him the necessary minutes. This kid is going to be special.