Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
(Colorado: Wing, Freshman, 6-8)
Previous rank: 10 (+5) / Best rank: 3 / Worst rank: 17
Colorado’s Cody Williams has steadily risen from just inside the lottery from the first aggregate mock draft in September to potentially being off the board within the first five picks of the draft.
“I have Cody Williams towards the top of my board,” an NBA executive told HoopsHype. “He shows two-way potential, and he’s shot the ball well this year. He’s got the pedigree with his brother, Jalen, who’s already in the NBA, so he knows what it takes. I think he’s fairly easy to project. He just needs to get stronger, which he should through maturation. He seems to have a pretty promising future.”
The Pac-12 All-Freshman Team member is a sleeper for the No. 1 pick due to his positional size, long-term upside as a two-way player, consistency when he’s played this season, and the overall uncertainty at the top of the draft, according to a few NBA executives and scouts who spoke with HoopsHype.
“Williams is the most solid player of all the guys,” an NBA scout told HoopsHype. “He’s got length, he’s big, he can shoot, and he can pass. Out of all these guys, I’m taking him first.”
As Williams’ stock appears to be solidifying higher in the lottery, some NBA talent evaluators believe he could use up to two seasons to make a big impact as he fills out his frame in the weight room. Cody has more of a lanky physique than his brother, Jalen, but that should improve with time in the weight room, as the executive noted, to compliment his 6-foot-8 frame as a small forward.
“His body type is a little scary to me,” another NBA executive told HoopsHype. “He doesn’t have the physicality or frame his brother has yet. However, he can put on weight and make shots. He’s got a high IQ for the game. He can pass, drive on closeouts, he can rebound, and he does other things well out there. Defensively, he can help and recover. He can block shots, too.”
In a draft with little certainty, Williams’ consistency should help him continue to climb the ladder on draft boards heading into June.
