Gonzaga
• Fr
• 7’0″
/ 195 lbs
Projected Team
Houston
PROSPECT RNK
2nd
POSITION RNK
1st
PPG
14.1
RPG
9.9
APG
1.9
3P%
39%
I understand the concerns about Holmgren’s slight frame — but he’s such a unique talent that I’d be uncomfortable passing on a 7-foot legitimate rim-protector who can also bounce it like a guard and reliably make 3-pointers. I was somewhat skeptical before his one year with the Zags but saw enough in 32 games to become a believer.
Duke
• Fr
• 6’10”
/ 250 lbs
Projected Team
Orlando
PROSPECT RNK
3rd
POSITION RNK
1st
PPG
17.2
RPG
7.8
APG
3.2
3P%
33.8%
Banchero is probably the safest option at the top of this draft. He’s a big, strong and skilled forward who could be the key to quickly returning the Magic to a place of relevance.
Auburn
• Fr
• 6’10”
/ 220 lbs
Projected Team
Detroit
PROSPECT RNK
4th
POSITION RNK
2nd
PPG
16.9
RPG
7.4
APG
2
3P%
42%
Smith still needs to develop in lots of ways because at this point he’s mostly just a 6-10 shooter on the offensive end of the court. But he’s such a great shooter for a player his size, and a great athlete and competitor in general, that there’s no reason to seriously doubt the idea that he could create an incredible duo with Cade Cunningham in Detroit.
Purdue
• Soph
• 6’4″
/ 195 lbs
PPG
17.3
RPG
4.9
APG
3.1
3P%
35.8%
Ivey is an explosive athlete who plays big and is capable of attacking the rim in a variety of ways. As the Thunder continue to add interesting young pieces, the former Purdue star would be a great option at this point in the draft.
Iowa
• Soph
• 6’8″
/ 225 lbs
Projected Team
Indiana
PROSPECT RNK
9th
POSITION RNK
3rd
PPG
23.5
RPG
8.7
APG
1.5
3P%
39.8%
Murray is a switchable big who can guard in space and consistently make shots from the perimeter. What he does, at his size, is perfectly suited for the modern NBA and would fit well with an Indiana franchise that needs to add talent in the frontcourt.
Kentucky
• Fr
• 6’6″
/ 200 lbs
Projected Team
Portland
PROSPECT RNK
5th
POSITION RNK
2nd
Even though he enrolled in January and was eligible to compete, Sharpe never played at Kentucky in part because the people around him wanted to protect his status as a projected top-10 pick. Unless he really bombs in workouts, it’s hard to imagine the explosive athlete going much lower than this considering he’s a gifted scorer with the physical tools to be a disruptive defender on the wing.
Kansas
• Sr
• 6’5″
/ 215 lbs
Projected Team
Sacramento
PROSPECT RNK
8th
POSITION RNK
3rd
PPG
18.8
RPG
5.1
APG
1.6
3P%
40.9%
I’m higher on Agbaji than most simply because I don’t understand what’s not to like about a 6-5 athlete who is a plus-defender on the wing and excellent 3-point shooter. Once you get past the top-tier prospects in this draft, the Kansas star makes as much sense as anybody.
Wisconsin
• Soph
• 6’5″
/ 194 lbs
Projected Team
New Orleans
PROSPECT RNK
10th
POSITION RNK
2nd
PPG
19.7
RPG
8.2
APG
2.1
3P%
30.6%
Davis went from a mostly anonymous power-conference player to a candidate for national player of the year in his sophomore season at Wisconsin. An ankle injury limited the 6-5 guard down the stretch, but he showed enough before that to justify his status as a projected lottery pick.
Memphis
• Fr
• 6’11”
/ 250 lbs
Projected Team
San Antonio
PROSPECT RNK
12th
POSITION RNK
2nd
PPG
12
RPG
8.1
APG
1.3
FG
59.8%
BPG
2.1
Duren isn’t really the type of floor-spacing big franchises prefer these days, but he’s such a physical specimen and great athlete that there’s probably a place for him in the top 10 of this draft. At worst, he should be a terrific rim-running and rim-protecting center who alters shots and dunks everything.
Arizona
• Soph
• 6’6″
/ 210 lbs
Projected Team
Washington
PROSPECT RNK
11th
POSITION RNK
4th
PPG
17.7
RPG
5.6
APG
2.5
3P%
36.9%
Mathurin was the star of Arizona’s team that won the Pac-12 and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The 6-6 wing is an impressive athlete and above-average shooter who could lighten the scoring load on Bradley Beal in Washington.
Duke
• Fr
• 6’6″
/ 222 lbs
Projected Team
New York
PROSPECT RNK
7th
POSITION RNK
1st
PPG
10.4
RPG
3.9
APG
1
3P%
44.7%
It took Griffin a little while to get comfortable at Duke because of a preseason knee injury that seemed to affect his ability to show his athleticism. But the wing eventually showed glimpses of why he’s a lottery talent, mostly by proving to be a fantastic 3-point shooter who made 44.7% of his 4.1 attempts from beyond the arc per game.
Baylor
• Fr
• 6’9″
/ 230 lbs
PPG
9.2
RPG
6.4
APG
1.8
3P%
29.6%
Sochan is the rare sub-100 high school recruit who could be a one-and-done lottery pick. His ability to guard multiple positions in multiple ways is among the reasons he’s a tantalizing prospect who is one of the most versatile players available in this draft.
Duke
• Soph
• 7’0″
/ 242 lbs
Projected Team
Charlotte
PROSPECT RNK
14th
POSITION RNK
3rd
PPG
11.2
RPG
7.4
APG
0.9
FG%
72.1%
BPG
2.8
Williams, like fellow projected lottery pick Duren, is more of a traditional big than a modern big. But any franchise in need of a rim-protector and lob-catcher — like Charlotte — would have to consider him at this point in the draft.
Ohio State
• Fr
• 6’5″
/ 180 lbs
Projected Team
Cleveland
PROSPECT RNK
19th
POSITION RNK
4th
PPG
13.7
RPG
3.6
APG
2
3P%
41.6%
Branham is a shooting guard with good size and great length who really flourished in the second half of the season. While shooting 41.6% from the 3-point line, the one-and-done standout became the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Year and a legitimate lottery option for his home-state franchise.
LSU
• Soph
• 6’8″
/ 216 lbs
Projected Team
Charlotte
PROSPECT RNK
15th
POSITION RNK
5th
PPG
16.9
RPG
6.6
APG
1
3P%
35.9%
Eason was a breakout star at LSU after transferring following a so-so first season at Cincinnati. He’s a versatile frontcourt option — i.e., somebody very different than the player I have projected to Charlotte with the 13th pick — who can guard multiple positions and punish defenses in transition opportunities.
Ousmane Dieng
SF
France
• 6’9″
/ 185 lbs
Projected Team
Atlanta
PROSPECT RNK
35th
POSITION RNK
10th
Dieng is a long and skilled prospect who still needs to develop but is worth a serious look anywhere outside of the lottery. He might not contribute immediately but definitely projects as an interesting long-term investment with undeniable potential.
Dyson Daniels
SG
G League Ignite
• 6’6″
/ 175 lbs
Projected Team
Houston
PROSPECT RNK
16th
POSITION RNK
5th
PPG
11.3
RPG
5.9
APG
4.4
3P%
25.5%
Daniels isn’t quite the prospect previous Ignite stars have been but is still a fascinating guard with size who can play with or without the ball. His jumper, at this point, is the biggest area of concern.
Auburn
• Soph
• 7’1″
/ 245 lbs
Projected Team
Chicago
PROSPECT RNK
26th
POSITION RNK
4th
PPG
11.4
RPG
8.1
APG
0.9
3P%
20%
Kessler was arguably the best defensive player in college basketball this season while averaging 4.6 blocks per game. He’s an incredible rim-protector with the potential to develop into a comfortable perimeter shooter.
Kentucky
• Fr
• 6’3″
/ 197 lbs
Projected Team
Minnesota
PROSPECT RNK
6th
POSITION RNK
1st
PPG
12.5
RPG
3.5
APG
3.9
3P%
35%
Washington mostly played off the ball in his one season at Kentucky but projects as a lead guard in the NBA. Ankle injuries limited him in the second half of the season but the one-and-done Wildcat showed enough before he was hampered to solidify his status as a top-20 pick.
Jaden Hardy
SG
G League Ignite
• 6’4″
/ 185 lbs
Projected Team
San Antonio
PROSPECT RNK
18th
POSITION RNK
6th
PPG
17.7
RPG
4.6
APG
3.2
3P%
26.9%
Hardy didn’t do much over the past year to help his draft stock — but he’s still an obvious first-round talent capable of developing into a special player. Being drafted by a franchise like San Antonio would probably be the best thing for the trajectory of his career.
Baylor
• Fr
• 6’8″
/ 205 lbs
Projected Team
Denver
PROSPECT RNK
17th
POSITION RNK
3rd
PPG
9.7
RPG
4.9
APG
1.9
3P%
34.1%
Brown never really became more than a role player in his one season at Baylor, which is notable and somewhat concerning. But the 6-8 wing still has the physical tools to make him worthy of a first-round pick from a Denver franchise desperate to put more talent around Nikola Jokic.
Tennessee
• Fr
• 6’0″
/ 171 lbs
Projected Team
Memphis
PROSPECT RNK
32nd
POSITION RNK
3rd
PPG
13.9
RPG
3.2
APG
4.7
3P%
38.3%
The possibility of Tyus Jones leaving via free agency might have Memphis in the market for a point guard. At this point in the draft, the best option would be Chandler — the Memphis-raised product who has won at every level and already has a close relationship with Grizzlies’ star Ja Morant.
Ohio State
• Jr
• 6’7″
/ 240 lbs
PPG
19.4
RPG
7.9
APG
2.5
3P%
37.4%
Liddell is the type of player who could help Brooklyn’s core of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons theoretically compete for a title next season. He’s undersized but undeniably effective.
Duke
• Jr
• 6’5″
/ 213 lbs
Projected Team
Milwaukee
PROSPECT RNK
28th
POSITION RNK
7th
PPG
13.4
RPG
5.3
APG
4.4
3P%
41.3%
Moore shot above 40% from 3-point range in his final season at Duke. The bet here is that his jumper is a translatable skill, which would be valuable in a place like Milwaukee, where chasing championships is the goal for the foreseeable future.
Kansas
• Jr
• 6’6″
/ 218 lbs
Projected Team
San Antonio
PROSPECT RNK
42nd
POSITION RNK
12th
PPG
14.1
RPG
6.5
APG
2.8
3P%
38.6%
Braun is a wing with size who can guard his position, reliably make jumpers and finish in transition. He’s the type of prospect who could flourish in the culture San Antonio has established.
Alabama
• Fr
• 6’3″
/ 195 lbs
Projected Team
Dallas
PROSPECT RNK
30th
POSITION RNK
2nd
PPG
8.5
RPG
4.8
APG
4.3
3P%
30.1%
Jalen Brunson’s pending free agency could lead to a departure from Dallas, which might have the Mavericks targeting a point guard with this pick. If so, Davison, a big-dunking one-and-done athlete, would be a reasonable option.
Notre Dame
• Fr
• 6’5″
/ 181 lbs
Projected Team
Miami
PROSPECT RNK
21st
POSITION RNK
8th
PPG
14.4
RPG
3.7
APG
2.4
3P%
30.3%
Adding a young athlete to the backcourt wouldn’t be the worst idea for a Miami franchise that just recorded the best record in the Eastern Conference. Wesley is exactly that and would be a steal at the bottom of the first round if his jumper becomes more consistent.
Arizona
• Jr
• 7’1″
/ 230 lbs
Projected Team
Golden St.
PROSPECT RNK
40th
POSITION RNK
5th
PPG
12.6
RPG
7.3
APG
1.4
FG%
63.5%
BPG
2.9
With James Wiseman’s potential unclear, the Warriors could target a center with their lone first-round pick. Koloko is the reigning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year with better mobility than most bigs his size.
Milwaukee
• Fr
• 6’9″
/ 220 lbs
Projected Team
Memphis
PROSPECT RNK
34th
POSITION RNK
8th
PPG
12.1
RPG
5.8
APG
1.5
3P%
26.6%
Baldwin was a projected top-10 pick before he more or less disappeared for a year after choosing to play for his father at Milwaukee. The Grizzlies could afford to take a big swing here and see if they hit on another pick late in the first round.
Nikola Jovic
SF
Serbia
• 6’10”
/ 210 lbs
Oklahoma City remains very much in rebuild mode with a young core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort and Josh Giddey. Adding an 18-year-old international prospect like Jovic to the franchise could be a nice long-term move.
