My first two mock drafts have been/will continue to be based on a combination of talent/ability & team needs. Here’s my player rankings for the 2022 class to get a clearer look at what I think from an overall view.
- Jabari Smith- Auburn
- Paolo Banchero- Duke
- Shaedon Sharpe- Kentucky
- Chet Holmgren- Gonzaga
- Jaden Ivey- Purdue
Notes: Like I said before, I think Jabari Smith is the best two way player in this class and Paolo Banchero is one of the best scorers we’ve seen in the last few drafts. I’m definitely way higher on Shaedon Sharpe than most people, as I have ranked ahead of possible #1 picks Chet Holmgren & Jaden Ivey. I just think that his natural scoring ability on offense is better than Chet & Jaden’s, and in today’s NBA with the hundreds of points being put up every game, that’s a huge need for any team, especially the bottom ones right now. My concerns with Holmgren are his body & scoring at a high level, and two concerns I have with Ivey are his shooting ability & playing off the ball. Nonetheless, both are still more proven players than Sharpe (never played past high school) with plenty of pro skills already who I’m certainly confident in.
- Dyson Daniels- G League Ignite
- Keegan Murray- Iowa
- AJ Griffin- Duke
- Jalen Duren- Memphis
- Bennedict Mathurin- Arizona
Notes: Dyson Daniels & Keegan Murray’s composed skillsets and length make me convinced that they’ll have bright futures, but I believe aggressiveness is something that they will struggle with at times throughout their careers. AJ Griffin’s two way skills (shooting, ball handling, & defense) and his young age (doesn’t turn 19 until late August) bring quite the potential. Hopefully, he can stay healthy after missing a bunch of time in high school. To me, Jalen Duren is the best big man in this draft and another extremely young prospect (doesn’t turn 19 until mid November). At #10, Bennedict Mathurin’s size and shooting ability at the combo guard position excites me because of how different he is compared to Sharpe, Ivey, & Daniels. However, just like those guys, he has some question marks (ability to play in the halfcourt), but should be fine in the regular season (more fast paced than playoffs).
- Nikola Jovic- Serbia
- Jeremy Sochan- Baylor
- Mark Williams- Duke
- Jaden Hardy- G League Ignite
- Ochai Agbaji- Kansas
Notes: At #11, Nikola Jovic’s ability to shoot and stretch the floor at his size are two areas I don’t see another prospect with when you get past the top ten (still questions on how that will translate in the NBA). Jeremy Sochan is the best wing defender in this draft and would fit well with any team, so that’s why I have him higher on my mocks and lower on my rankings (lacks offense right now). Mark Williams could be ranked above Jalen Duren, but it’s pretty close and Duren is the younger prospect/has more natural basketball moves. Another scorer in this draft I don’t see on others’ level is Jaden Hardy (working on his consistency right now). And for my #15 ranked prospect, Ochai Agbaji’s 3-point numbers & defense make him as NBA ready as it gets.
- Johnny Davis- Wisconsin
- Malaki Branham- Ohio State
- TyTy Washington- Kentucky
- Jalen Williams- Santa Clara
- MarJon Beauchamp- G League Ignite
Notes: I already noted how Johnny Davis’ low 3-point numbers make me concerned at the NBA level, and something I didn’t mention yet was he only averaged 12.4 MPG at the FIBA U19 World Cup for USA. He was the best player on Wisconsin by far this season, so I question his consistency with fewer shots and his overall talent at the pro level. However, his defense, scoring ability, and ball handling are solid and I don’t think being ranked as the 16th best player in this loaded class is a bad ranking for him at all. Malaki Branham has made serious noise during predraft on & off the court with his interviews and work ethic, I think that professionalism should translate well. TyTy Washington at 18, much like Davis with his 3-point shooting (35.0% 3-PT but still a solid scorer & playmaker), may make it seem like I might be low on both, but again just speaks for their lack of shooting and the depth & talent of this draft. At #19, Jalen Williams’ 7-2 wingspan and playmaking ability are nice NBA qualities to have already, not to mention he shot 51.3% from the field and hit 39.6% of his 3-point shots this past year. Lastly at #20, MarJon Beauchamp did pretty much everything but shoot it well from deep during his time in the G League (still has the potential to be a better shooter), so I think he fits in with any team and should have a long career based on his versatility.
