2025 NBA Draft Thread



2024 NBA mock draft: Kentucky's prospects sent packing and Zach Edey's impressive tournament run

The NCAA tournament got off to a wild start on Thursday as No. 3 seed Kentucky was upset by No. 14 seed Oakland 80-76, behind an incredible shooting performance from Jack Gohlke, who made 10 3s while scoring 32 points.

This result put a major damper on NBA scouting this month, as Kentucky had the top two prospects in the NCAA tournament and seven of the top 33 prospects in the competition.

Kentucky has been a poor defensive team all year and continued to show an alarming lack of attention to detail, allowing the Golden Grizzlies to get any shot they wanted all game. The Wildcats didn't make any in-game adjustments, as they were unable to match Oakland's scoring prowess while playing oversized lineups with too many non-shooters, shrinking the floor and making it difficult for their guards to find space to operate against Oakland's zone.

Two prospects advancing to the Sweet 16 are Tennessee's Dalton Knecht and Purdue's Zach Edey. Knecht struggled from deep (1-for-8) against Texas but made four free throws down the stretch to help the Volunteers advance.

Edey and the Boilermakers erased last season's loss to No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson with impressive wins versus Grambling and Utah State. The 7-foot-4 center averaged 26.5 points and 17.5 rebounds in the two games.

ESPN NBA draft insiders Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo recap the first weekend of the 2024 NCAA tournament and provide an updated mock draft.

2024 NBA mock draft
The draft order is based on ESPN projections and reflects the current state of picks owed and owned:

FIRST ROUND
1. Detroit Pistons
Zaccharie Risacher | JL Bourg | SF | Age: 18.9
2. Washington Wizards
Alex Sarr | Perth Wildcats | PF/C | Age: 18.9
3. San Antonio Spurs
Rob Dillingham | Kentucky | PG | Age: 19.2
4. Charlotte Hornets
Nikola Topic | Mega MIS | PG | Age: 18.6
5. Portland Trail Blazers
Donovan Clingan | UConn | C | Age: 20.0
6. Toronto Raptors (San Antonio Spurs have if 7-30)
Matas Buzelis | G League Ignite | SF | Age: 19.4
7. Memphis Grizzlies
Reed Sheppard | Kentucky | PG/SG | Age: 19.7
8. Houston Rockets (via Brooklyn Nets)
Dalton Knecht | Tennessee | SF | Age: 22.9
9. Utah Jazz (Oklahoma City Thunder have if 11-30)
Cody Williams | Colorado | SF | Age: 19.3
10. Atlanta Hawks
Isaiah Collier | USC | PG | Age: 19.4
11. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Houston Rockets)
Ja'Kobe Walter | Baylor | SG | Age: 19.5
12. Chicago Bulls
Ron Holland | G League Ignite | SF | Age: 18.7
13. Portland Trail Blazers (via Golden State Warriors)
Tidjane Salaun | Cholet | PF | Age: 18.6
14. New Orleans Pelicans (via Los Angeles Lakers)*
Zach Edey | Purdue | C | Age: 21.8
15. Philadelphia 76ers
Kyle Filipowski | Duke | PF/C | Age: 20.3
16. Toronto Raptors (via Indiana Pacers)
Devin Carter | Providence | PG/SG | Age: 22.0
17. Atlanta Hawks (via Sacramento Kings)
Stephon Castle | UConn | PG/SG | Age: 19.3
18. Miami Heat
Tristan da Silva | Colorado | SF/PF | Age: 22.8
19. Phoenix Suns
Jared McCain | Duke | PG | Age: 20.0
20. New York Knicks (via Dallas Mavericks)
Yves Missi | Baylor | C | Age: 19.8
21. Orlando Magic
Tyler Smith | G League Ignite | SF/PF | Age: 19.3
22. New York Knicks
Kevin McCullar Jr. | Kansas | SF | Age: 23.0
23. New Orleans Pelicans
Bobi Klintman | Cairns Taipans | SF/PF | Age: 21.0
24. Cleveland Cavaliers
Juan Nunez | Ratiopharm Ulm | PG | Age: 19.8
25. Washington Wizards (via LA Clippers)
Kyshawn George | Miami | SG/SF | Age: 20.2
26. Milwaukee Bucks
Kel'el Ware | Indiana | C | Age: 19.9
27. Minnesota Timberwolves
Carlton Carrington | Pittsburgh | PG/SG | Age: 18.6
28. Utah Jazz (via Oklahoma City Thunder)
Johnny Furphy | Kansas | SG/SF | Age: 19.2
29. Denver Nuggets
Tyler Kolek | Marquette | PG | Age: 22.9
30. Boston Celtics
Justin Edwards | Kentucky | SG/SF | Age: 20.2
* The Pelicans can defer the Lakers' first-round pick to 2025

SECOND ROUND
31. Toronto Raptors (via Detroit Pistons)
Ryan Dunn | Virginia | SF | Age: 21.2
32. Utah Jazz (via Washington Wizards)
Jaylon Tyson | California | SG/SF | Age: 21.3
33. San Antonio Spurs
Terrence Shannon Jr. | Illinois | SG/SG | Age: 23.6
34. Portland Trail Blazers (via Charlotte Hornets)
Payton Sandfort | Iowa | SF | Age: 21.7
35. Milwaukee Bucks (via Portland Trail Blazers)
Dillon Jones | Weber State | SF/PF | Age: 22.4
36. Indiana Pacers (via Toronto Raptors)
Izan Almansa | G League Ignite | PF/C | Age: 18.7
37. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Memphis Grizzlies)
Melvin Ajinca | Saint Quentin | SG/SF | Age: 19.7
38. Memphis Grizzlies (via Brooklyn Nets)
Keshad Johnson | Arizona | PF | Age: 22.7
39. New York Knicks (via Utah Jazz)
KJ Simpson | Colorado | PG | Age: 21.6
40. Portland Trail Blazers (via Atlanta Hawks)
Trevon Brazile | Arkansas | PF | Age: 21.2
41. Charlotte Hornets (via Houston Rockets)
Pelle Larsson | Arizona | SG | Age: 23.0
42. Philadelphia 76ers (via Chicago Bulls)
Ulrich Chomche | NBA Academy Showcase | PF/C | Age: 18.2
43. Houston Rockets (via Golden State Warriors)
Pacome Dadiet | Ratiopharm Ulm | SG/SF | Age: 18.6
44. San Antonio Spurs (via Los Angeles Lakers)
Baylor Scheierman | Creighton | SG/SF | Age: 23.4
45. LA Clippers (via Indiana Pacers)
Ugonna Onyenso | Kentucky | PF/C | Age: 19.4
46. Sacramento Kings
D.J. Wagner | Kentucky | PG/SG | Age: 18.8
47. Miami Heat
Harrison Ingram | North Carolina | SF/PF | Age: 21.3
48. Washington Wizards (via Phoenix Suns)
Hunter Sallis | Wake Forest | SG | Age: 20.9
49. Boston Celtics (via Dallas Mavericks)
Adem Bona | UCLA | C | Age: 20.9
50. Orlando Magic
Alex Karaban | UConn | PF | Age: 21.3
51. Detroit Pistons (via New York Knicks)
Mantas Rubstavicius | NZ Breakers | SF | Age: 21.8
52. Indiana Pacers (via New Orleans Pelicans)
DaRon Holmes II | Dayton | PF/C | Age: 21.6
53. Indiana Pacers (via Cleveland Cavaliers)
PJ Hall | Clemson | PF/C | Age: 22.0
54. Los Angeles Lakers (via LA Clippers)
Ajay Mitchell | UC Santa Barbara | PG | Age: 21.7
55. Golden State Warriors (via Milwaukee Bucks)
Jaxson Robinson | BYU | SG/SF | Age: 21.3
56. Denver Nuggets (via Minnesota Timberwolves)
Ryan Kalkbrenner | Creighton | C | Age: 22.1
57. Memphis Grizzlies (via Oklahoma City Thunder)
Jalen Bridges | Baylor | SF | Age: 22.8
58. Dallas Mavericks (via Boston Celtics)
Oso Ighodaro | Marquette | PF/C | Age: 21.6

Note: The Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns forfeited a 2024 second-round draft pick.

Kentucky's prospects exit early
Rob Dillingham | PG | Kentucky | Age: 19.2 | Top 100: No. 3
Dillingham played a poor game by his standards, looking unusually tentative -- he didn't attempt a field goal for the first 17 minutes of the game -- as Kentucky looked to pound the ball into the paint to capitalize on its size advantage. He moved the ball unselfishly for much of a cold shooting night before finally draining a 25-foot pullup 3 in transition near the end of the first half. Dillingham was asked to make magic late in the game and had some chaotic moments trying to create frenetically with the game on the line, which resulted in some poor shots. He made a huge sidestep 3-pointer with a minute left to cut Oakland's lead to one with a minute left, but generally didn't look like himself for much of the night.

Dillingham's defensive concerns, including poor technique, discipline and awareness, were on display in the loss, as he had a multitude of poor possessions leaking points throughout the game. He proved easy for Oakland's guards to rise over for jumpers, failed to get into any kind of defensive stance, and was directly responsible for the most important basket Oakland scored -- digging down aimlessly off the corner for a steal and allowing his man to step into a wide open 3 with 29 seconds left, putting his team down four.

This is a disappointing way for Dillingham's season to end but it doesn't change how well he played all year. He finished the season averaging 15.2 points and 3.9 assists over 23.3 minutes per game while shooting 44% from 3, including some incredibly memorable performances showing why he's the most talented ballhandler and shot-creator in the draft. As Dillingham's career unfolds, Kentucky fans will wonder what would have happened if coach John Calipari had fully empowered and unleashed him as the starting point guard from Day 1, rather than coming off the bench and giving D.J. Wagner 26 minutes per game, for which they predictably saw no benefit in their most important game. Dillingham's speed, shot-making and star power look tailor-made for the NBA game, but the way his season ended will not help his cause for being a top draft pick. -- Jonathan Givony

Reed Sheppard | PG | Kentucky | Age: 19.7 | Top 100: No. 7
Sheppard had his worst game of the season in possibly his final appearance for Kentucky, a disappointing outcome after an incredible freshman campaign. We've never seen Sheppard play such a tentative, anxious style as he did versus Oakland, passing on open 3s, playing with the brakes on, throwing the ball everywhere uncharacteristically and not scoring his first points until the 6:03 minute mark in the second half. He was nowhere close on an off-balance 25-foot pull-up 3 with 23 seconds that sealed the loss.

The concerns about Sheppard's poor defensive potential due to his limited physical tools were also on display. He struggled getting around screens all game with his thin frame and it proved easy for the 6-2 Gohlke to rise up and over for jumpers with poor contests due to his 6-3 wingspan. He got lost off the ball on several occasions, beat off the bounce one-on-one, and didn't come up with a rebound in a game that Kentucky was outrebounded, 40-39.

NBA teams already had some concerns about Sheppard's defense and ability to ramp up his usage in a heavier on-ball role. At 6-2, there's little doubt that Sheppard will need to spend heavy minutes at point guard in the NBA, and his passive showing versus Oakland wasn't a great way to answer those questions.
Still, this is just one of 33 games Sheppard played in what was, ultimately, a remarkable season from a productivity and efficiency standpoint.

NBA teams are still quite high on Sheppard and it's very hard to see him not being a lottery -- if not a top-10 -- pick ultimately should he enter the draft. -- Givony

Justin Edwards | SF | Kentucky | Age: 20.2 | Top 100: No. 29
Edwards only played 16 minutes after a cold start, going scoreless in the first half but looking aggressive with 10 second-half points. Two plays will stick in the memory of fans and scouts: a missed layup and a dunk showing his distinct lack of explosiveness that's hampered him all season.
Edwards' failure to develop into the wing-stopper Kentucky needed really hampered the team's development this season, and it was surprising not to see him (or Adou Thiero) get a turn trying to slow down Oakland's Gohlke, as he had some solid moments in the game.
Edwards' play late in the season, especially as a perimeter shooter, has likely done enough to put him back in first-round conversations this spring, but he still has plenty of work to do to solidify his standing in his class. The first step will be trying to improve his frame, which several NBA teams have pointed out he added quite a bit of bad weight to. He gained 20 pounds from October of his senior year of high school to Kentucky's pro day in October 2023, and seems to have lost some explosiveness in the process, which he can hopefully recapture during the pre-draft process. -- Givony

D.J. Wagner | PG | Kentucky | Age: 18.8 | Top 100: No. 46
Wagner's difficult freshman season came to a close with a poor showing (zero points, two rebounds, three assists, 0-for-5 shooting in 18 minutes) that didn't come as a major surprise based on his play this year. He was ice cold trying to make open 3s that he was dared to take, looked anxious and sped up trying to attack the zone, and was lost off the ball or late getting over screens trying to slow down Oakland's guards. He only played five second-half minutes, and the 18-year-old now has a difficult decision to make after an uneven campaign where he shot 47% from 2 and 29% from 3. The market for streaky shooting, undersized guards in Wagner's mold isn't very robust among NBA teams currently, especially considering how far away he looks from being able to help a team. Wagner has the option of returning to Kentucky for his sophomore year, transferring to a lower level where he can be the sole focal point on a team, or force the issue and work his way up the NBA ranks through the G League. -- Givony

Antonio Reeves | SG | Kentucky | Age: 23.3 | Top 100: No. 64
It's hard to fault Reeves for the way Kentucky's season ended, as his efficient 27 points (5-of-9 from 3) kept Kentucky in the hunt against Oakland, continuing what was a wonderful fifth-year campaign for the 23-year-old wing. He turned himself into one of the best shooters in college, while doing quite a bit of damage with his polished scoring instincts inside the arc as well. Reeves' shortcomings as a defender and passer were again evident, things that likely render him a two-way contract candidate given his age. He struggled to get around screens with his thin frame, got moved around too easily inside the arc, and had some bad moments lunging on closeouts wildly and giving up good looks on the perimeter. Reeves' diverse shot-making prowess and ability to score skillfully attacking closeouts, using screens and in the open floor give him a niche he can hang his hat on as a bench scorer, and he'll surely get opportunities to show how his game translates considering how well he performed all season in front of NBA executives. -- Givony

Prospects advancing to the Sweet 16
Donovan Clingan | C | UConn | Age: 20.0 | Top 100: 5
Clingan single-handedly changed the complexion of UConn's Round of 32 matchup with Northwestern, putting a lid on the basket and making the contest feel over almost as soon as it started on Sunday. Clingan is moving like a different person compared to three months ago, covering ground exceptionally well comparatively and giving UConn a plethora of ways in which to guard ball screens. He was hedging well out beyond the 3-point line for much of the first half, having the agility to extinguish the ballhandler at the level of the screen before recovering back to the paint and contesting shots at the rim, blocking eight shots in 27 minutes.

His much-improved conditioning is allowing him to make multiple efforts going up to protect the rim and then flipping his hips to go right back up again, blocking shots with both hands and showing impressive timing and instincts while usually keeping the ball in bounds so his team can retain possession. Clingan also crashed the boards, finishing with 14 rebounds to go with 14 points and doing a decent amount of facilitation as a hub for UConn's offense. Still, it was his work defensively that stood out most vividly and the skill set that gives him a chance to be a true difference-maker on that end of the floor in the NBA. -- Givony

Dalton Knecht | SG/SF | Tennessee | Age: 22.9 | Top 100: No. 8
Knecht had his worst shooting game of the season -- going 1-of-8 from 3 and 5-of-18 overall -- but made enough plays late to stay alive in Tennessee's narrow win over Texas to advance to the Sweet 16.

The Longhorns hounded him on and off the ball all game long, throwing multiple bodies in an attempt to slow him down, but he also missed some open looks that he normally makes.

Knecht had some shaky moments as a ballhandler and decision-maker, running into walls and having a tough time finishing around the basket. His defense, not known as his strong suit, wasn't great as he gambled for steals, got caught ball-watching on backdoor cuts, and looked upright while giving up straight line drives. To his credit, he kept competing and found ways to be productive, crashing the offensive glass for a putback dunk, cutting off the baseline for another emphatic finish, and hitting four pressure-packed free throws to ice the game.

A stern test with Creighton awaits on Friday in what should be a highly entertaining contest with plenty of NBA prospects, which will be monitored closely by scouts. -- Givony

Zach Edey | C | Purdue | Age: 21.8 | Top 100: No. 14
Edey and Purdue steamrolled through the first two games of the tournament, setting a school tournament record with 106 points against Utah State on Sunday, with Edey turning in 23 points and 14 rebounds in just 26 minutes. He had 30 points and 21 rebounds against Grambling in the first round, continuing his historically dominant run as Purdue aims to erase the memory of last year's first-round loss.

It's all par for the course for Edey at this point. It's evident how dominant he is at the college level, not only with his size, but with his motor and competitive nature. NBA teams are trying to solve for what it means in terms of projecting him into the right role within a winning framework. Purdue will play No. 5-seed Gonzaga in the Sweet 16, with the winner of Creighton and Tennessee awaiting after that -- a reasonable pathway to a potential Final Four berth. A possible Elite Eight matchup against Creighton's star rim protector 7-1 Ryan Kalkbrenner would give scouts something new from a matchup perspective.

It's hard to get overly nitpicky about Edey's remarkable season at this point. But the deeper Purdue can go in the tournament, the longer NBA teams have to consider the ways in which his unique mix of size, strength and production might break the current conventional mold for big men at their level, no matter what he may give up defensively. -- Woo

Jared McCain | PG/SG | Duke | Age: 20.0 | Top 100: 19
McCain was impressive versus James Madison right from the opening tip, dropping 22 first-half points (6-of-8 from 3) to give Duke a 22-point lead at half in the eventual 38-point victory. He drained step-back jumpers, 3s drifting off movement, rose up sharply in transition or from the corners, and showed polished footwork, pace and intelligence operating out of the pick and roll with tremendous confidence, all while never forcing anything and bringing excellent intensity defensively and on the glass. Now shooting 42% from 3 on the season, McCain's scoring instincts and versatile shot-making prowess gives him an easy niche he can fill in the NBA when combined with his feel for the game, toughness and aggressiveness. A tough task lies ahead on Friday with No. 1 seed Houston, one that also brings great promise in terms of McCain's NBA prospects if he can hold his own against the best defense in college basketball. -- Givony

Tyler Kolek | PG | Marquette | Age: 22.9 | Top 100: No. 29
Kolek returned this past week from an oblique injury that sidelined him since Feb. 28. While likely not playing at 100%, he impacted the game in several ways as usual, coming up big to lead Marquette to the Sweet 16 with wins over Western Kentucky (18 points and 11 assists) and Colorado (22 and 11). With Kentucky losing on Thursday, the Golden Eagles have a favorable pathway to the Elite Eight, with No. 11-seed NC State lying in wait in the Sweet 16, giving Kolek a great platform as well as another handful of days to rest and get healthier.

While it did come with some turnovers, Kolek's playmaking was terrific in the nail-biter against the Buffaloes, where he took full advantage of the matchup and was able to involve teammates and ultimately dictate the flow of the game enough to advance. An excellent improviser who excels going to his strong hand side, Kolek uses ball screens well and gets into the paint effectively despite a below-average athletic profile by NBA standards.

Kolek's limited tools will make him a bit more divisive than some other guards, but it's hard to deny the level at which he drives winning in college. The prospect of going further into the tournament creates another opportunity for him to extend his career and solidify himself as a potential first-rounder. -- Woo

Anton Watson | SF/PF | Gonzaga | Age: 23.4 | Top 100: No. 86
Watson played an essential role in Gonzaga's dominant weekend, defeating both McNeese State and Kansas by 21 points each to comfortably advance to the Sweet 16. His versatility was on full display in both contests, with 13 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists in the opener, followed by 21 points, six rebounds and two blocks versus the Jayhawks.

He played with non-stop intensity running the floor in transition, cutting off the ball, finishing above the rim impressively, defending guards and big men, and even hitting a 3-pointer. His instincts, timing and feel for the game are hard to come by at 6-8, giving him a real chance to carve out a role in the NBA if he can find a way to continue to improve his shooting range, which has long been considered his biggest weakness. Watson went 20-of-49 (41%) from 3 this season, but sports unorthodox, unreliable mechanics that allowed him to convert just 63% of his career free throw attempts, and caused him to pass up a lot of attempts from the perimeter.

An NBA team will check outWatson's versatility and smarts to see if they can help him make any gains in that department. If he does, there's a ready-made role-player there who has won an incredible amount of games at Gonzaga and still isn't done, with a huge matchup with Zach Edey and Purdue looming on Friday. -- Givony

Other NBA draft prospects making exits
Cody Williams | SG/SF | Colorado | Age: 19.3 | Top 100: No. 9
Williams' freshman season ended on a positive individual note in Colorado's loss to Marquette on Sunday, with 12 points and a pair of blocks in what was his best game in quite some time. It was important for scouts to see some signs of life from Williams after a difficult final stretch of the season that saw him work through a fractured orbital bone and an ankle injury. His minutes and role had been limited as a result, and with the Buffaloes having to play their way off the bubble to get into the tournament, Williams hadn't been much of a focal point. He was notably aggressive and looked quicker and more decisive getting into the paint versus Marquette chipping in on both ends of the floor and earning playing time in the closing minutes.

Williams' passing and size coupled with his excellent defensive upside makes him most interesting long-term if he can fashion himself into more of a point forward type of player, but there's a lot of work for him to do in order to become that. It's become evident that he's further away from helping an NBA team than we thought earlier in the season: Williams needs to get stronger physically in order to beat defenders to the rim and he has to refine his handle. It would help Williams to develop a deeper array of midrange counters, as he can be a bit predictable going into the paint right now. His jumper certainly isn't broken, but needs some work.

Teams have a variety of opinions on Williams, which has put his stock on more uncertain footing going into the pre-draft process. There's an argument for him to consider another year of college, particularly if Colorado commits to giving him on-ball reps and allows him to build his confidence and showcase his game as a playmaker. Still, the uncertain nature and this year's shallow draft pool might make turning pro a more lucrative decision if he can stabilize himself as a surefire lottery pick in the coming months. -- Woo

Tristan da Silva | SF/PF | Colorado | Age: 22.8 | Top 100: No. 18
One of the big winners of March thus far, da Silva finished his excellent senior season on a strong note, with Colorado beating Boise State and Florida before coming close to an upset of Marquette on Sunday. He scored 54 points and went 9-of-16 from 3 in three tournament games, playing an immensely important role for the Buffaloes on both ends of the floor and showcasing the versatility that makes him a pretty safe bet to find a spot in the NBA in relatively short order.

While not a high-volume scorer by nature, da Silva has the right array of skills to provide valuable connective tissue in different types of lineups, and he can do it on both ends of the floor. The knock on him long centered on his passive approach to scoring but he's taken a jump in that area, proving he can step up when called upon as a scorer, displaying a comfort level getting into his shot off the catch and off the dribble, as well as cutting and attacking closeouts. He's also a smart passer with solid positional size, making good decisions that should let him fit nicely alongside better talent.

Da Silva needs to get a bit stronger and could be more physical in general, but he's a fluid mover who can switch defensively, showcasing good acumen away from the ball in rotations., He has an ability to alter shots by closing out as well as around the basket and the agility to stay with smaller players. While not a stopper in one-on-one situations, he does project as a solid team defender out of the box, which coupled with his offensive game makes for a pretty attractive mix of skills. It's ultimately not too hard for coaches to find minutes for role players who do the things da Silva does at a high level, and he would seem to be on very good footing headed into the pre-draft process. -- Woo

Johnny Furphy | SG/SF | Kansas | Age: 19.2 | Top 100: No. 28
Furphy's season ended in Kansas' 89-68 loss to Gonzaga on Saturday, completing a roller coaster campaign for the freshman. The month of March wasn't particularly strong for the Australian wing, shooting 35% from 2 and 27% from 3 with more turnovers than assists over six games while struggling to make an impact as Kansas' offense struggled without leading scorer Kevin McCullar Jr.

Furphy did have a positive showing against No. 12 seed Samford in his NCAA tournament debut, knocking down a pair of open 3s, and showing his energy and instincts crashing the offensive glass, rotating to protect the rim, ripping through for an and-1 and cutting off the ball intelligently.
Not a dynamic shooter, struggling to shoot off the dribble or off movement, Furphy, who is not a dynamic shooter but more of a catch-and-shoot threat, finished the season converting 36% of his 3s after being guarded much more closely over the past two months of the season compared to his scorching month of January.

Furphy's defense will be a major question mark for teams as his thin frame and poor wingspan cause him to play like more of a 6-5 player than 6-9. He struggles to get over screens, gives up straight-line blow-bys regularly, and has very little margin for error while getting out to contest jumpers on the perimeter. There was nowhere for him to hide against Gonzaga, as he doesn't have the quickness to defend guards or the strength to hang with better wings and forwards while getting targeted all game.
There's a market in today's NBA for wing shooters in Furphy's mold, but the poor end to his season puts his draft stock in a somewhat tenuous spot that should put returning for his sophomore season on the table if he doesn't receive the assurances he needs coming out of May's NBA draft combine. -- Givony

KJ Simpson | PG | Colorado | Age: 21.6 | Top 100: No. 39
There's little question about the winning intangibles and scoring instincts Simpson brings to the table: he went down swinging with 62 points in three NCAA tournament games, including the game-winning shot in the final seconds of Colorado's first-round upset over Florida. Despite being generously listed at 6-2, the more you watch, the harder it is not to appreciate the toughness, focus and consistency Simpson brings nightly. It's always an uphill climb for undersized guards to find a role in the NBA, but he's certainly done what he can to combat some of that stigma, and it's not out of the question he can ultimately break that mold.

A relentless attacker with a polished offensive game, Simpson is tough to keep out of the paint at his size, plays through contact, is comfortable scoring from midrange and out to the three-point line, making him a tough cover and one of college basketball's most dangerous scorers this season. Defensively, he has quick hands, but struggles to contain bigger and stronger guards due to his size limitations, something that was evident in his matchups against Florida's guards and Marquette's Tyler Kolek and could prove to be an Achilles heel at the NBA level. Still, his showing in the Pac-12 and NCAA tournaments put a nice bow on top of an excellent season, and should at the very least help to cement his credibility going into the pre-draft process. -- Woo

DaRon Holmes II | F/C | Dayton | Age: 21.6 | Top 100: No. 52
Both sides of the Holmes coin were on display as No. 7 seed Dayton rallied from a huge deficit against Nevada in the first round, then ultimately couldn't do much to slow down favored Arizona on Saturday. Holmes creates matchup problems at the college level, where Dayton allowed him to dribble into post-ups and use his size and strength to attack, a recipe that's made him a very efficient player in the Atlantic 10 the last three seasons. The problem is he also gives up a decent amount of that back on the other end, as he struggles to defend in space and offers little in the way of rim protection, which was exposed versus Arizona. The Wildcats played small with 6-7 Keshad Johnson at center during a crucial stretch of the second half, which put Holmes in an uncomfortable position and exposed some of those limitations, forcing him to switch and move around the center of the floor. Holmes has decent instincts defensively but is not the fleetest of foot in transition, nor a great lateral mover, creating challenges when he has to regularly cover ground.

Holmes has been a prolific offensive player in college, expanding his comfort level out to the 3-point line this season, getting to the line at a high rate, and having developed the ability to attack off the dribble and exploit matchups. The mobility questions and defensive concerns leave Holmes on uncertain footing going into the pre-draft process though. He will need a strong spring to bolster his stock, but the junior also opt to return to college to try and answer lingering questions about the translatability of his skill set. -- Woo

Jaxson Robinson | SG/SF | BYU | Age: 21.3 | Top 100: No. 56
Robinson was a bright spot on Thursday despite No. 6 BYU's first-round exit, shooting the ball with confidence and showcasing the perimeter skill set that makes him a person of interest for NBA teams. He's able to shoot on the move from deep, attack closeouts adequately, and force defenses to account for him wherever he is on the floor when he has it going. The convincing shooting display was a good way for him to go out from an NBA perspective, and it certainly helps that he's young for a senior.

Defensively, Robinson has enough size and length to hold his own, but isn't the most physical player, so there's work for him to do. It was a bit of an inconsistent season for Robinson, but tall perimeter shot-makers always get extended looks in the pre draft process, and he should be in line for a combine invite and plenty of workout interest. He has eligibility remaining should he elect to return to college. -- Woo

Jaylen Wells | SG/SF | Washington State | Age: 20.5 | Top 100: NR
Wells' under-the-radar breakout season for the Cougars came to a close with a pair of solid showings in the tournament -- 17 points and nine rebounds against Drake and 20 points in a second-round loss to Iowa State. A transfer from Division II Sonoma State, Wells grew from 5-8 to 6-6 over the course of his high school career and is still just 20 years old, with room to grow into his frame, an excellent stroke and solid scoring instincts. That skill set gives him an interesting baseline appeal for NBA scouts moving forward.

The next order of business for Wells will be continuing to work on his frame and individual defense, both of which are understandably lagging behind his scoring due to his unique trajectory. Adding strength in order to better utilize his size would help him in all facets -- he shot just 43.7% on 2-point attempts this season -- but his 3-point stroke and comfort level getting to his shot give him something to hang his hat on as a long-term prospect. Another strong season could vault him into the draft conversation next year. -- Woo

Jermaine Couisnard | PG/SG | Oregon | Age: 25.3 | Top 100: NR
As a fifth-year senior among the oldest participants in the NCAA tournament at 25 years old, Couisnard had an incredible weekend scoring 72 points in two games. While Couisnard's efficiency this season left something to be desired (44% from 2,, 35% from 3), his size, strength, shot-creation and shot-making prowess is going to warrant deeper looks from NBA teams over the course of the pre-draft process. Going into this past weekend, Couisnard wasn't yet invited to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament camp, but that will surely change after the incredible tournament he had. -- Givony

N'Faly Dante | C | Oregon | Age: 22.4 | Top 100: NR
Hobbled by injuries for much of the season, Dante came alive for Oregon in March, averaging 20.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2 blocks per game on 79% shooting inside the arc. A physical outlier with his 7-5 wingspan and chiseled frame, we haven't seen Dante cover ground and play above the rim with such force as he did against Creighton with 28 points and 20 rebounds while playing 49 minutes in a double-overtime loss. Dante might not be the most modern big man with his lack of shooting range, passing and inconsistent technique defending on the perimeter, but there just aren't that many bigs with his combination of physical tools, interior skill and productivity. He could still have some untapped upside as he improves his conditioning in a considerably smaller role in the pros. -- Givony

Koby Brea | SG/SF | Dayton | Age: 21.3 | Top 100: NR
Brea put his shot-making prowess on full display in the NCAA tournament, going 9-of-18 from 3 over two games, many of which came on deep, contested pull-up jumpers or running off screens. He finished the season shooting 50% for 3 on over six attempts per game, making him the No. 1 shooter in college basketball. Despite not having great physical tools or defensive versatility, there's certainly a market on the fringes for players who are nearly automatic with their feet set as Brea seemingly is with his perfect shooting stroke at 6-6. The senior has one more year of NCAA eligibility at his disposal -- he's young for his class, not turning 22 until November -- and will at worst get plenty of looks during the pre draft process after finishing his season on a positive note. -- Givony

Tyon Grant-Foster | SG/SF | Grand Canyon | Age: 24 | Top 100: NR
One of the better stories in the tournament, having, Grant-Foster overcome a heart condition that nearly ended his career at DePaul in 2021. He stepped into the tournament spotlight with a pair of great showings for GCU. He tallied 22 points, seven rebounds and a pair of blocks and steals in a first-round upset of St. Mary's and followed it up with 29 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals in a tight loss to Alabama. He showcased his tough shot-making ability, shiftiness off the dribble and athleticism on both ends and at least had a case as the best individual player on the floor in both games. While a somewhat unorthodox older prospect, it's worth noting that he was at one point the top JUCO recruit in the country before landing at Kansas for a season. His combination of pedigree and productivity will certainly be helped by the tournament platform, and he likely earned himself a longer look in workouts at the very least. -- Woo
 
Just shows how vastly different the college game is to the NBA. You can win player of the year 2 seasons in the row but if your skillset doesn't translate to what the pro game looks like.

Does not matter.
 
Just shows how vastly different the college game is to the NBA. You can win player of the year 2 seasons in the row but if your skillset doesn't translate to what the pro game looks like.

Does not matter.
It's why 3 of the top 4 picks in the latest mock draft aren't even US college players :lol

 
Matas Buzelis & Stephon Castle both are too low on the board :pimp: :pimp:

Cody Williams Is 6' 9 & can handle don’t overthink one CBB season :pimp:
 
Castle reminds me of the Kentucky guards that were always held back a little while there, but then blossomed once in the league.

Seems to have the tools and shows glimpses. UConn just doesn’t need him to be a high usage guy.
 
Castle reminds me of the Kentucky guards that were always held back a little while there, but then blossomed once in the league.

Seems to have the tools and shows glimpses. UConn just doesn’t need him to be a high usage guy.
He’s the best player in the draft if he learns to shoot
 


Da Silva shooting up to the mid-first round after the weekend on there and ESPN. :lol: :smh:
 
Was speaking to some euro scouts this past weekend, they all agreed Topic was the goods, were mixed on the others (european players) coming out this year
 
Tyrese Proctor came back to school because mans thought he could be a top-10 pick this year

And he has played himself into the bottom of the draft
 


NBA Draft stock watch: Jared McCain, Donovan Clingan up; Reed Sheppard and others down

Well, that was a journey.

In 16 days, I went to 31 games in five different cities, mostly focusing on the key college prospects likely to be in the upcoming draft. While I didn’t get in-person eyes on everyone this year (sorry, Baylor), I’ve now seen the vast majority of the key players with my own eyes, and most of them more than once.

There is a lot to unpack, both literally and figuratively. I have notes from the Arizona–USC regular-season battle, from the ACC and SEC tournaments and from NCAA Tournament games in Pittsburgh and Brooklyn. Here are the players I saw in person in the last two weeks who did the most to impact their draft stock, for better or worse:

Stock Up
Jared McCain, 6-3 freshman SG, Duke


One of the questions I took into conference tournament week was about McCain’s shooting. Not whether he could shoot, exactly, but just at what level. At 6-3 and playing mostly off the ball, the selling point on McCain had to be that he could be a CJ McCollum-type shooter to justify a top-20 spot on a draft board.

My eye test probably wasn’t helped by the first time I saw him, during arguably his worst game of the season in an upset loss to Georgia Tech, where his 3-of-10 shooting included a one-handed Steve Nash layup attempt that went over the backboard entirely.

McCain, however, showed out this past weekend, first scoring 15 points on nine shots as Duke crushed Vermont in the first round, then adding an electric second-round performance against James Madison on Sunday. McCain made his first six 3-point attempts before halftime and had the seventh one back-rim out. He also weaved in some pick-and-roll playmaking that included a fancy dime for a dunk and a driving left-handed finish in the lane en route to 30 points, five rebounds and nary a turnover.

McCain’s full-season numbers are now 41.5 percent from 3 and 86.8 percent from the line; his 3-point volume is on the high side (10.7 per 100 in ACC play) but also not epic, as he’s not a guy who comes flying off pindowns and firing from whatever platform is available. His damage mostly comes with his feet set, where he has a smooth, repeatable and quick release. One other small thing: Though only 6-3, McCain had 11 rebounds over the weekend. His season rebound rate of 9.4 percent is pretty impressive for a player of his size.

Kyle Filipowski, 7-0 sophomore PF/C, Duke

Fit questions at the next level still dog Filipowski, where the concern is that he’s a classic big who isn’t quite big enough to play center and not quite mobile or skilled enough to play the four. We’ll get a better feel for the former when he goes up against Houston in the Sweet 16.

Defensively, however, those worries on the perimeter may be overdone. Filipowski showed himself to be a switch-capable player against Vermont and James Madison. He finished the weekend with four blocks and four steals, and in both games the opposition stopped testing him and pursued other scoring routes instead.

Filipowski also dominated the Vermont game despite taking only one shot, repeatedly finding the open man out of the instant double-teams he faced on the block and finishing with 12 rebounds and four assists. He started the James Madison game the same way, picking out McCain for an open 3 on the first trip to set up his big night and finishing with another four assists. We still want to see a more threatening perimeter game from him — he’s at 34.6 percent from the year and just 66.7 percent from the line — but he’s, at worst, a top-20 player in this draft.

Stephon Castle, 6-6 freshman SG, Connecticut

The thing that stood out about Castle was the misery he inflicted on Northwestern star guard Boo Buie in the second round, picking him up full court, denying easy catches and chasing him around screens to contest shots as a trailer. Yes, it helped that he had Godzilla behind him (see below), but Buie missed his first 10 shots and finished 2 of 15 as UConn crushed the Wildcats.

Castle isn’t asked to take on a big offensive role but reads the game well and is very effective in transition; when his number was called on a half-court pick-and-roll, he jailed the defender then dropped in a nice left-handed finish for an and-1. On one other notable play, he turned down an entry pass to big man Donovan Clingan to wait for a cutting teammate to present himself, knowing that teammate would have a better angle for a high-low that eventually yielded an easy bucket for the big man.

Castle’s shooting, however, is still a question mark; he’s only made 17 of his 61 3-point attempts this season. He has too much guide hand on the ball on his jumper and a tendency to lean sideways as he gets into his motion. But those flaws look fairly correctable, and he doesn’t need to shoot like Kyle Korver to make an impact in the league. Overall, the weekend cemented my thought that he can be a high-ceiling NBA wing.

Donovan Clingan, 7-2 sophomore C, Connecticut


“Cling Kong” blocked eight shots on Sunday — at least, that was the official count — and had fans behind us guffawing when he moved his feet on the perimeter and pinned this shot by Northwestern’s Ryan Langborg against the top of the backboard. (Also, check out the dime by our guy Castle at the end.)



In person, Clingan looks every bit of 7-2. In his two tournament games, he grabbed 22 rebounds in 47 minutes, shot 14 of 18 from the field and even had two steals. He hasn’t made a 3 this season and is only at 55.6 percent from the line, but before games, you’ll see him comfortably shoot long, on-target jump shots.

More importantly, his defensive movement and end-to-end transition once again held up well. UConn is an unusually slow-tempo squad for such a dominant team (just 315th in KenPom’s adjusted tempo), but a potential Elite 8 matchup against a fast Illinois team would be the next big test for Clingan at this level.

N’Faly Dante, 7-0 senior C, Oregon

Do you realize how good a season this guy has had? Dante’s 30.7 PER ranked sixth among Power 6 players, and he did that without feasting on non-conference patsies for 10 games like everyone else does. Every one of the 22 games Dante played this season was against a Power 6 school.

I watched Dante score 23 points on nine shots against South Carolina in the first round in Pittsburgh; for an encore, he had 28 points and 20 rebounds in a double-overtime loss to Creighton in the next round. Dante also had 19 steals in the Ducks’ last seven games — not something you typically say about a 7-foot center — and finished the year shooting 69.5 percent from the floor, including a 12-of-12 outing against Colorado in the must-win Pac-12 title game to get the Ducks into the tournament.

There are minuses here. Dante will be 23 in October, has missed games with injuries in all five of his college seasons and has little feel for the types of dribble handoffs and high-post actions that NBA teams like to run. He gets dunks, but he’s more of a load-up powerhouse dunker than a true “vertical spacing” rim runner, and his shot-blocking rate isn’t Earth-shattering for a player of his ilk. Still, he was a hot prospect when he first came to Oregon, and his closing run this season likely regenerated some hope for him as either a late second-rounder or a two-way.

Stock Down
Reed Sheppard, 6-3 freshman PG/SG, Kentucky


After singing Sheppard’s praises heading into the SEC tournament, I watched what were likely his last two games at Kentucky, and folks, that didn’t go real well. Sheppard had a good stat line in a loss to Texas A&M in the conference tournament (14 points on eight shots, four assists, two steals) and had several deflections, but at other points his defensive shortcomings were a bit more apparent.

He followed that one up with a baffling stinker in the Wildcats’ stunning first-round loss to 14th-seeded Oakland, often looking tentative and finishing with just two points in 26 minutes. He also struggled to stay with Oakland gunner Jack Gohlke around screens, although Kentucky’s defensive approach here also can fairly be questioned. Sheppard gets his hands on a ton of balls — he had two steals in each game and multiple other deflections — but his ability to stay solid on the non-turnover plays is still in question.

This game was an outlier at the low end, obviously, and now we’re into tape season. One of the key questions to go back and review through the video is to see Sheppard in one-on-one battles and assess how well his feet held up, and how much his lack of size and length might hold him back at the next level.

On the flip side, Sheppard’s lack of aggression on offense wasn’t completely out of the blue — he had remarkably few 2-point attempts all season. The question on tape is how much wiggle can he show to break defenses down as a full-time point guard at the next level, and how much was just the classic problem of John Calipari limiting elite guards?

Ryan Dunn, 6-8 sophomore SF/PF, Virginia

Dunn clearly can make an impact as a defender. For a non-center, his 10.4 percent block rate this season was absurdly good, and he’s a disruptor in the run of play with fast hands (3.1 percent steal rate in a conservative scheme). His ability to guard at the next level — I mean really guard — is not in question and could see him picked in the first round despite his offensive shortcomings.

As for that offense … yeah. Dunn steadily lost confidence in his shot this season, first in his 3s (which he stopped taking in late December), then at the line, then everywhere else. Over the final 14 games of the season, he took 17 free throws total and topped out at 10 points.

You can see why he might have been shy to unleash the jumper. Dunn’s shot is a wildly spinning moonball that occasionally splashes on target and sometimes lands … other places.


On the year, he shot 53.2 percent from the line, with the above miss against Colorado State thankfully coming long after most of America had changed channels. Playing in Virginia’s archaic movers-and-blockers system doesn’t help; he has looked threatening when he’s had chances to rim run but not anyplace else, and at 6-8, it’s hard to envision him as an NBA center. You can talk yourself into Herb Jones-type upside outcomes if the shot can be fixed, but what if it can’t be?

D.J. Wagner, 6-3 freshman PG, Kentucky

So, how much is the “Calipari tax” worth to you? We’ve seen the coach make many talented guards look ordinary, so maybe that has to be priced into a Wagner evaluation. Nonetheless, he finished a very uninspiring freshman year with an 0-of-5 bagel in the upset loss to Oakland, completing the season with 47.2/29.2/76.6 shooting splits on 2s/3s/FTs. For a 6-3 guard, he also had a miniscule 3.9 percent rebound rate and few disruptive plays. There aren’t really any moments that make you rewind the tape and go, “Who was that?”

Wagner had some sweet left-handed finishes if you dig through the tape hard enough, and a kernel of thought emerged that maybe he was coming on when he put together three straight double-figure games at the end of the SEC season. But after watching him deliver 29 forgettable minutes against Texas A&M in the SEC tournament and then the Oakland game, it’s just hard to see a draftable player here.

Trey Alexander, 6-4 junior PG, Creighton

I watched Alexander in Creighton’s first-round win over Akron, and he was … fine? I guess? But fine doesn’t really do it when you’re a junior trying to get into the first round of the draft. I was bullish on Alexander as a top-22 guy a year ago, before he ultimately pulled out of the draft, and I think I might need to slow my roll and put him in the second round this time around.

Having an on-ball guard at 6-4 is a good place to start, and Alexander is very comfortable getting into pull-up jumpers going to either hand. He loves to snake pick-and-rolls and jail the defender before sidestepping into a jumper, but that needs to be a secondary goal, not the main event — he doesn’t generate many free throws or get to the rim much.

As a deep shooter, he’s just OK, shooting 35.4 percent for his career from 3. Maybe I’m seeing him on the wrong days, but he sure seems to miss to the sides unusually often, even on catch-and-shoots, and might need to hone his mechanics a little further to get himself squared up consistently.

The biggest reason to move him down, though, is that he just isn’t a whole lot better than the guy I saw a year ago, but he is a year older. There’s still a pathway to success as a dribble-pass-shoot combo guard threat here, but we need to see more progress.

Mixed bags
Rob Dillingham, 6-2 freshman PG, Kentucky


I haven’t written a ton about Dillingham yet, partly because I’m still making up my mind on how I feel about him. Like Sheppard, he also was weirdly bad and tentative in the Oakland game, failing to make a 2-point basket in his 28 minutes and shooting 2 of 9 overall. On the other hand, he had 27 points and seven dimes in the loss to Texas A&M.

Nevertheless, as with Sheppard, Dillingham is graded more harshly because he’s projected as a top-10 (or better) pick right now. He has obvious questions about his defensive value given his slight build with Trae Young-ish dimensions and the fact he wasn’t exactly a tiger at this end while at Kentucky.

Even against Oakland, however, there were moments that remined you of his offensive ceiling. For instance, that Justin Edwards 3 in the clip just below came off a sudden rifle of a one-handed pass crosscourt. Dillingham also has blow-by quickness that should become a lot more useful at the NBA level and also can get into his shot quickly and accurately when needed, hitting 44.4 percent from 3 on the season.



I still want to go back through the tape on Dillingham since I was constantly watching other guys at the same time — one issue with a team like Kentucky, where everybody is a prospect, is that you feel like you have to watch each of their games seven times — but my initial takeaway is that I don’t think these last two games did any lasting damage to his draft stock.

Justin Edwards, 6-8 freshman SF, Kentucky

The headline is that Edwards got rim-checked on a wide-open dunk during the Wildcats’ loss to Oakland. The cringe miss was worse because of the physical tell it contained: He needed to stop and gather off two feet rather than just fluidly power up off his right leg while on the move.

However, Edwards also scored 10 points in only 15 minutes against Oakland, including a smooth hit on a contested corner 3 (see below). He struggled in the Texas A&M game in the SEC Tournament, but overall, he was the Kentucky player who probably did the least to hurt his stock in the two games.



Watching Edwards shoot before both contests, he’s not a 50 percent shooter like he shot in SEC games this season, but he seemed believable as a 36.5 percent 3-point shooter — his overall percentage on the season. If this is roughly Edwards’ true skill level, as a 20-year-old 6-8 forward, that’s a platform for a useful player. The pendulum has swung wildly this season, with him being seen by some as a potential top pick candidate before the season, but it may have actually swung too far by now. Yes, Edwards was obviously wildly overhyped entering the season, but there’s something here.

Isaiah Collier, 6-5 freshman SG, USC

I saw Collier late in the year and wrote about him here (fourth item), so I don’t want to double down and repeat myself too much. However, I will point out that his Pac-12 Tournament — seen in person by many scouts trying to one-stop shop three conference tourneys in Las Vegas — offered a similarly mixed bag, perhaps at the lower end of the spectrum actually.

Collier still got downhill to the tune of 26 points in two games but also continued to battle turnovers, finishing with nine miscues and 10 assists in Vegas. I doubt anything that happened there was enough to change any minds, but he should be thankful the first game was at noon on a Wednesday on the Pac-12 Network.

Cameron Matthews, 6-7 senior SF, Mississippi State

I wrote here about Matthews’ fantastic SEC Tournament game against Tennessee and won’t go too long in this space, but his first-round NCAA game against Michigan State produced a relatively typical Matthews output of a stuffed stat sheet (four steals, two blocks, five boards, two assists) but just eight points and zero 3-point shots.

Matthews has the size and athleticism to check NBA forwards and a good enough feel to operate as a secondary option. However, he only made two 3s all season, shot 55 percent from the line and will turn 23 in December. That makes him a project for the late second round or a two-way; he also has another year of eligibility and could return to Starkville or hit the portal.

Hunter Sallis, 6-5 junior SG, Wake Forest

How much do you believe in the shooting? Sallis has decent size, though he’s a bit on the wiry side, and is a solid athlete with a knack for surprise dunks on half-court drives. He’s not a point guard, but as a two, he doesn’t betray any overtly tragic weaknesses.

The big story for him is that he went from shooting 25.6 percent on 3s at Gonzaga to 40.6 percent at Wake Forest, while more than doubling the per-possession volume. Sallis’ shot still doesn’t look pure; he gets his guide hand involved, and that will knock the spin off a quarter-turn sometimes, and the one time he tried reloading after a fly-by was not smooth, easy or effective.

Perhaps the free-throw line tells the more believable story: He went from 78.0 percent to. 78.3 percent. I’m not sure why he couldn’t make a 3 at Gonzaga, but the truth on Sallis is clearly between the two extremes presented by his last two seasons. As with Alexander above — a similar archetype but one who offers more ballhandling at the expense of less size — that résumé makes Sallis draftable but probably a reach in the first round.
 
Back
Top Bottom