Scouting 2021 NBA draft lottery prospects: Strengths, comps, intel
Who are the best prospects in the 2021 NBA draft?
This class features plenty of star power at the top, including Oklahoma State's Cade Cunningham, USC's Evan Mobley, the G League's Jalen Green and more intriguing prospects.
ESPN draft experts Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz provide full scouting reports of the 14 projected lottery picks in our new top 100 rankings, including strengths, improvement areas, physical comparisons and projected NBA roles.
Note: Physical comps are based on players' measurements at similar ages.
Cade Cunningham | G | Oklahoma State | Age: 19.2
Cunningham was considered a versatile forward early in his career. He took off as a prospect after being asked to play point guard as a junior at Montverde Academy, establishing himself as one of the best players in the class going up against top competition at the prep, AAU and FIBA levels. -- Givony
Strengths
Has excellent size for a point guard. Listed at 6-foot-8, 220 pounds with a wingspan that exceeds 7 feet. Fluid athlete who plays at different speeds, passes and handles with both hands and plays a selfless style. Can bully smaller guards in the post. Difficult for bigger defenders to handle due to his shot-creation skill.
Outstanding physical tools defensively that allow him to cover guards, wings and bigs. Has excellent timing, feel and intensity. Likes to crash the glass aggressively and ignite the break on his own. Competitive and attentive off the ball.
Much improved shooter who confidently knocks down pull-up jumpers from midrange and 3. Excellent free throw shooter. Shows soft touch around the basket.
Improvement areas
Lacks a degree of explosiveness beating defenders from a standstill. Relies more on size and strength to get by opponents in the half court.
Struggles to score over length in traffic at times. Can he be efficient creating offense as a No. 1 option?
Plays for an Oklahoma State team that lacks much perimeter shooting and creation. Opponents are aggressive with double-teams intended to get the ball out of his hands. May not be able to show the full extent of his arsenal operating out of pick-and-roll.
Projected role: Big playmaker
Physical Comps
PLAYER HEIGHT WEIGHT WINGSPAN
Cade Cunningham 6-8 220 7-1
Luol Deng 6-8 220 7-0½
Richard Jefferson 6-8½ 223 7-0
Kyle Anderson 6-8½ 230 7-2¾
Evan Mobley | C | USC | Age: 19.4
Mobley has been regarded as a potential No. 1 pick for the better part of two years thanks to his tremendous combination of tools and skill. He really caught our eye in camp settings and while playing a point-center role with Rancho Christian High School, blocking everything around the rim, handling in transition and facilitating. He ultimately ended up as the No. 2 high school player in his class behind Cade Cunningham. -- Schmitz
Strengths
Ideal physical profile for a modern big man. Outstanding coordination for his size. Quick off his feet. Explosive leaper in space. Finishes above the rim with ease. Lob threat. Tools make him a factor on the offensive glass.
Elite rim protector with great timing and a 7-4 wingspan. Rotates well from the weak side. Can step out and switch onto guards. Sound pick-and-roll defender who should be a major asset on the defensive end of the floor.
Modern skill set. Great hands. Has the touch and mechanics to knock down NBA 3s with regularity in time. Comfortable in midrange spots. Smooth handle and excellent passer with either hand. Should be able to play next to another center in certain lineups.
Improvement areas
Not a physical defensive rebounder. High center of gravity. Gets wedged out of position by stronger bigs.
Looks as if he's coasting at times. Incredible talent who leaves you wanting more for stretches.
Can he ever be a No. 1 or No. 2 scoring option on a great team? Doesn't have many ways to go get himself a bucket in the half court at this stage
Projected role: Franchise center
Physical Comps
PLAYER HEIGHT WEIGHT WINGSPAN
Evan Mobley 7-0 215 7-4
Chris Bosh 6-11½ 225 7-3½
Anthony Davis 6-10½ 222 7-5½
Christian Wood 6-10½ 216 6-11¼
Jalen Green | G | G League Ignite | Age: 18.8
Shifty, explosive guard. Has a rare extra gear changing speeds in the open court. Doesn't have glaring holes in his game that can't be fixed with added experience and polish.
Strong finisher with long strides, tremendous body control and nice creativity finishing around the rim with touch. Excellent scoring instincts. Has shown toughness and control in several high-profile settings.
Much improved perimeter shooter who shows glimpses of impressive shot-making prowess pulling up off the dribble with deep range.
Improvement areas
Isn't the biggest shooting guard around at 6-5 with a lean frame. Doesn't possess great length to compensate.
Plays an iso-heavy style that isn't always efficient. Relies heavily on his pull-up game, which can be streaky at times. Shows flashes as a creator but will need to prove he also makes others better, particularly operating with his left hand.
Defensive intensity fluctuated at the high school level. Gambles for steals. Doesn't always get over screens.
Projected role: Creating combo guard
Physical Comps
PLAYER HEIGHT WEIGHT WINGSPAN
Jalen Green 6-5 185 6-8
Jordan Clarkson 6-5 186 6-8
Zach LaVine 6-5¾ 181 6-8¼
Malik Beasley 6-4½ 190 6-7
Jalen Suggs | G | Gonzaga | Age: 19.5
Suggs was a prolific prep athlete, winning Minnesota Player of the Year in both basketball and football. Playing on the UnderArmour circuit for AAU and usually filling more of a complementary role during his 18 USA Basketball games, Suggs wasn't often the focal point of an offense until he got to Gonzaga, so it wasn't as easy to project him as a top-five pick. But Suggs has shown he has franchise point guard potential, backing up his stellar prep career and drawing rave reviews from NBA scouts. -- Schmitz
Strengths
Nice size for a lead guard at 6-4. Strong, compact frame. Powerful athlete. Finishes above the rim in space, especially off of two feet. Great body control. Embraces contact. Downhill driver who can change speeds. Great in transition. Active cutter who can play on or off the ball.
Mature decision-maker on the court with a great feel for the game. Unselfish hit-aheads in transition. Poised pick-and-roll passer who uses both sides of the floor. Rewards cutters and makes the extra pass to shooters. Takes care of the ball at a high level.
Tough defender who wants to defend the other team's best player. Great feet on the ball, dialed in off the ball. Excellent anticipation in the passing lanes. Will mix it up for rebounds.
Improvement areas
Streaky shooter. Sound mechanics and good balance but a career 27% from 3 on 190 attempts, according to our database. Nothing to suggest he won't become a reliable shooter, but the results just aren't there yet.
Not the most nuanced finisher. Relies more on power and two-foot explosiveness than finesse. Would benefit from adding a more reliable floater and additional deception around the rim.
Average length relative to his height.
Projected role: Franchise point guard
Physical Comps
PLAYER HEIGHT WEIGHT WINGSPAN
Jalen Suggs 6-4 205 6-5½
Gary Harris 6-4½ 205 6-6¾
Jrue Holiday 6-4¼ 199 6-7
Donte DiVincenzo 6-4½ 201 6-6
Jalen Johnson | F | Duke | Age: 18.9
Johnson emerged as a top-10 recruit with his play on the 2019 Nike EYBL circuit. Despite never playing in a USA Basketball event outside of minicamps, Johnson finished as the RSCI No. 10 recruit in his class and committed to Duke, where his versatility has stood out early in his collegiate career. -- Schmitz
Strengths
Impressive combination of strength and explosiveness at 6-9, 220 pounds. Strong lower body. Plays with physicality.
Extremely versatile defender. Can shift anywhere from 1 to 5 in a pinch. Good instincts off the ball. Rotates for blocks and charges. Aggressive rebounder on both ends.
At his best pushing in the open court. Fluid ball handler for his size and crafty passer. Excellent straight-line driver who can change speeds.
Improvement areas
Rigid shooting stroke. Long release with mixed results. Doesn't have many ways to score in the half court outside of energy plays.
A bit predictable as a shot creator. Likes to catch, jab right, drive left. A little too turnover prone for a playmaker.
Not overly long relative to his height. Does he have enough offensive game to ever be more than a third or fourth option on a playoff team?
Projected role: Two-way combo forward
Physical Comps
PLAYER HEIGHT WEIGHT WINGSPAN
Jalen Johnson 6-9 220 6-11
Aaron Gordon 6-9½ 225 7-3½
Tobias Harris 6-7¾ 223 6-11
Deni Avdija 6-10 225 6-10
Brandon Boston Jr. | G | Kentucky | Age: 19.0
Boston started turning heads as a high school sophomore with his physical tools and versatility, earning invites to USA Basketball camps and a top-10 recruiting ranking. He committed to Kentucky over Duke, Florida and Auburn and then left his hometown of Atlanta to spend his senior year of high school at Sierra Canyon alongside Ziaire Williams and Bronny James. -- Givony
Strengths
Good dimensions for the wing at 6-7 with a near 7-foot wingspan. Fluid athlete who is at a very early stage of development physically.
Creative scorer who plays at different speeds smoothly. Has excellent body control, polished footwork, long strides and a natural pace operating out of pick-and-roll. Shows flashes of shot-making potential pulling up off step-backs and passing off a live dribble.
Physically weak but shows some toughness crashing the glass and getting in passing lanes.
Improvement areas
Weighs only 185 pounds. Has been slow to add bulk to his frame.
Has struggled to adapt to the physicality of the college game early, especially finishing in traffic and defending. Gambles excessively. Intensity comes and goes.
Still working on fine-tuning his ballhandling to create high-percentage looks around the rim. Lives off tough shots in the midrange. Deep ball hasn't fallen early in his college career. Has a tendency to hunt difficult attempts off isolation moves. Can be a reluctant passer at times.
Projected role: Shot-maker and secondary creator
Physical Comps
PLAYER HEIGHT WEIGHT WINGSPAN
Brandon Boston 6-7 185 7-0
Justin Holiday 6-7 177 7-0½
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 6-6 180 6-11½
Caris LeVert 6-7 191 6-10
Ziaire Williams | G/F | Stanford | Age: 19.2
Williams is a late-blooming prospect who missed the majority of his sophomore season due to injury and played for an unsponsored AAU program during the summer of 2018. He eventually impressed on the Nike EYBL Circuit and was named to the 2019 Team USA Under-19 squad. Williams opted to spend his senior season playing for high school powerhouse Sierra Canyon. -- Schmitz
Strengths
Tall, fluid wing at 6-8 with a 6-10½ wingspan. Big reach. Light on his feet. Can finish above the rim in space. Changes speeds and directions comfortably.
Shows major shotmaking potential both off the catch and the bounce. Has the footwork to rise into pull-ups smoothly and can create space with step backs. Comfortable ball handler with great balance who can play pick-and-roll. Handle and shotmaking potential give him quite a bit of upside as a creator. Willing passer with strong court vision.
Strong off-ball defender who has good instincts in the passing lanes. Will rotate for blocks or charges.
Improvement areas
Rail thin at 185 pounds with narrow shoulders. How much will he fill out long term? Lack of strength limits him defensively and as a finisher. Toughness comes and goes in part because of his lack of physicality. Gets pushed around at times and caught on screens defensively.
Still finding the right balance between when to be aggressive and when to facilitate. Settles for contested jump shots far too often. Doesn't get to the free throw line. Needs to do a better job getting downhill. Will go long stretches without having much of an offensive impact and then take an out-of-rhythm jumper.
Relatively streaky shooter given his reliance on shotmaking. Confidence in his shooting comes and goes.
Projected role: Wing shot creator
Physical Comps
PLAYER HEIGHT WEIGHT WINGSPAN
Ziaire Williams 6-8 185 6-10½
Shaun Livingston 6-7½ 186 6-11
Caris LeVert 6-7 191 6-10
Josh Jackson 6-8¾ 203 6-9¾
Keon Johnson | G | Tennessee | Age: 18.7
A shortstop growing up, Johnson was a late-blooming basketball prospect who didn't fully emerge as a top-notch recruit until the spring prior to his senior year on the Adidas AAU circuit. That earned him an invite to USA Basketball, where he showed he's a five-star-caliber prospect. A knee injury knocked him out for six months during his senior year of high school, but not before several eye-popping showings confirmed his status as a top NBA prospect. -- Givony
Strengths
One of the best athletes in college basketball. Powerful first step in the open court. Explosive accelerating from a standstill and getting off his feet for dunks and blocks. Frame is at an early stage of development but should fill out in time.
Aggressive, competitive prospect who maximizes his tools on both ends of the floor. Versatile defender who can stay in front of guards and wings. At his best sliding his feet and containing the point of attack. Generates plenty of turnovers with his instincts, quickness and activity level.
Shows flashes of playmaking, shot-making and feel for the game that indicate he has significant room for growth.
Improvement areas
At an early stage of development offensively. Lacks experience and polish in the half court. Ballhandling, decision-making are a work in progress.
Frame is on the leaner side; he weighs 186 pounds. Will need to add bulk to be able to play through contact on both ends of the floor.
Pull-up jumper is slow and lacks accuracy under duress. Struggled from the free throw line earlier in his career.
Projected role: Two-way wing
Physical Comps
PLAYER HEIGHT WEIGHT WINGSPAN
Keon Johnson 6-5 186 6-8
Zach LaVine 6-5¾ 181 6-8¼
Malik Beasley 6-4½ 190 6-7
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 6-5½ 204 6-8
Jonathan Kuminga | F | G League Ignite | Age: 18.1
Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kuminga followed his older brother, former Texas Tech player Joel Ntambwe, to the United States in 2016. He bounced around four high schools in four states before ultimately electing to skip his senior year and reclassify, making him eligible for the 2021 draft. He ended up committing to the G League Ignite program, forgoing offers from Auburn, Texas Tech and others. -- Givony
Strengths
Has an ideal physical profile for a combo forward at 6-8, 225 pounds with a 7-foot wingspan. Possesses an outstanding frame and is explosive in the open court with an impressive combination of strength, quickness and fluidity.
Shows intriguing shot-making prowess, making 42 3-pointers in 19 Nike EYBL games. Has smooth mechanics and looks capable of making jumpers in a variety of ways, including off the dribble and even running off screens at times.
Has excellent defensive potential when engaged. Strong enough to defend big men but has quick-enough feet to stay in front of guards.
Improvement areas
Feel, decision-making and overall polish are works in progress. Not an efficient offensive player. Settles for the first shot he can find. Drives with his head down. Not the easiest teammate to play with. Needs to show he can impact winning when his pull-up jumper isn't falling.
Has tools and versatility but is a below-average defender at this stage. Competitiveness and intensity fluctuate. Relies too heavily on his length and athleticism. Technique off the ball leaves a lot to be desired. Has a tendency to stand around and gamble in passing lanes or bite wildly on fakes.
Has some questions to answer about his approach to the game. Body language leaves something to be desired, and he hasn't gotten much high-level coaching. Didn't show a great deal of progress with his feel for the game in his final year of high school.
Projected role: Two-way forward
Physical Comps
PLAYER HEIGHT WEIGHT WINGSPAN
Jonathan Kuminga 6-8 225 7-0
Richard Jefferson 6-8½ 223 7-0
Josh Smith 6-8¼ 221 7-0
Harrison Barnes 6-8 228 6-11¼
James Bouknight | G | UConn | Age: 20.2
Bouknight turned in a solid prep career but a torn meniscus late in his junior season, along with inconsistent production, stalled some of his recruiting momentum. He eventually teamed up with prep star Cole Anthony for the AAU powerhouse PSA Cardinals and signed with UConn, where he turned in an all-freshman campaign in the AAC last season thanks to his microwave scoring. Bouknight generated interest among NBA front offices with his play but opted not to test the waters. Now he is looking like a potential lottery pick thanks to his shotmaking ability and tremendous scoring instincts. -- Schmitz
Strengths
Nice size and length for a scoring guard at 6-5. Good, shifty open-court athlete. Plays above the rim with relative ease. Has the feet and length to be a plus defender in time, especially against point guards. Good positional rebounder. Shows you glimpses defensively.
One of the best scorers in the country. Smooth with the ball in his hands. Changes speeds and directions impressively. Shotmaker who can get to his pull-up out of a variety of different moves. Elite hesitation move going left.
Creative finisher. Uses deception really well in the paint. Can finish off of either foot with either hand and has a floater game.
Improvement areas
Had a tendency to fade in and out of games in the past, on both ends of the floor. Jump shot is on the streaky side. Defensive impact fluctuates.
Better shooter off the dribble than off the catch at this stage of his career. Can improve his ability to add value off the ball. How does he fit alongside other ball dominant shot creators?
Shows glimpses as a facilitator but has more turnovers than assists during his career. Can he develop into more of a lead guard or is he better off as a bucket-getter?
Projected role: Scoring guard
Physical Comps
PLAYER HEIGHT WEIGHT WINGSPAN
James Bouknight 6-5 190 N/A
Derrick White 6-4½ 190 6-7½
Jordan Clarkson 6-5 186 6-8
Bradley Beal 6-4¾ 202 6-8
David Johnson | G | Louisville | Age: 19.7
Johnson earned invites to USA Basketball camps as a 16-year-old but never really rose in the recruiting rankings. He tore his left labrum in July going into his freshman college season, causing him to miss considerable time. Once Johnson started to get into a rhythm again, he emphatically introduced himself to NBA scouts with a 19-point, 7-assist showing at Duke, looking like a future lottery pick. Johnson opted not to test the waters last season and is off to a strong start as a sophomore, making strides as a perimeter shooter and shining in a premier role. -- Schmitz
Strengths
Great size for a lead guard at 6-5, 210 pounds with long arms. A smooth athlete who can change speeds, play with physicality and get above the rim. Good in transition. Length and creativity allow him to finish from different angles. Uses his size to get to his spots. Likes to play out of the post. Comfortable shooting over smaller guards.
Creative passer who can whip the ball all around the floor with his right hand. Strong ball handler. Wants to get his teammates involved. Comfortable in pick-and roll. Capable lob passer who also finds shooters on the move.
Tools give him potential on the defensive end. Plays with energy and toughness for stretches. Uses his length effectively to contest jump shooters. Active off the ball. Good rebounder.
Improvement areas
Doesn't have the most fluid shooting stroke, despite recent improvement. Turns down catch-and-shoot 3s. Confidence seems to fluctuate from beyond the arc.
Right-hand dominant as a driver, passer and finisher. A little bit loose as a decision-maker at times. Not afraid to take risks but can do a better job of taking care of the ball.
Defensive discipline fluctuates and he can be a bit foul prone.
Projected role: Big playmaker
Physical Comps
PLAYER HEIGHT WEIGHT WINGSPAN
David Johnson 6-4½ 199 6-9½
Markelle Fultz 6-4¾ 186 6-9
Bruce Brown 6-5 195 6-9
Emmanuel Mudiay 6-5 200 6-8½
Isaiah Jackson | C | Kentucky | Age: 18.9
Standing smaller than 6-8 and 178 pounds as a 16-year old, Jackson took a while to come into his own physically, playing at four different high schools. He made a name for himself on the Nike EYBL circuit, using that as a springboard to USA Basketball invites and national recognition as a top-ranked recruit, ultimately picking Kentucky over Syracuse and Alabama. -- Givony
Strengths
Elite physical profile at 6-11 with a 9-5 standing reach. One of the best athletes in the college game in terms of his ability to run the floor and get off his feet quickly for dunks and blocks. Covers ground exceptionally well thanks to his coordination and agility.
Difference-maker defensively thanks to the elite timing he displays as a rim protector. Also an excellent rebounder.
Shows significant flashes offensively with his ability to handle, pass and shoot the ball. Still at a very early stage offensively but has good hands, soft touch and upside.
Improvement areas
Weighed just 206 pounds at the Kentucky pro day. Lack of strength, especially in the lower body, can get taken advantage of on both ends of the floor.
Does incredible things defensively but isn't consistent enough with his fundamentals or approach. Falls asleep at times. Needs to improve his technique and maintain his intensity level off the ball. Struggles to defend perimeter players in space.
Not a prolific or efficient scorer at this stage. Can be mistake-prone, as his decision-making is a work in progress. Doesn't always know his limitations.
Projected role: Rim-protecting, vertical-spacing center
Physical Comps
PLAYER HEIGHT WEIGHT REACH
Isaiah Jackson 6-11 206 9-5
Nerlens Noel 6-11¾ 206 9-2
Hassan Whiteside 6-11½ 227 9-5
Mo Bamba 7-1 226 9-7
Scottie Barnes | F | FSU | Age: 19.3
Barnes has been on the NBA radar since he was 15 as a regular at USA Basketball camps and a standout at the high school and AAU levels, bringing a consistent history of winning. He is a tough, competitive player , fitting the same prospect mold that Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton has had success morphing into lottery picks in the past. -- Schmitz
Strengths
Excellent size and length for a modern forward at 6-8 with a 7-2 wingspan and a strong frame. Has the tools to slide up and play some small-ball center in a pinch.
High motor defender who can defend 1 through 5 at the collegiate level. Regularly picks up point guards in the back court. Good technique on the ball. Crowds opposing guards and takes them out of their offense. Can switch every screen onto bigs. Active off-ball defender.
Mismatch facilitator with a great feel for the game. Plays point guard for FSU. Unselfish moving the ball ahead in transition. Comfortable ball handler. Fills in the gaps on offense. Keeps plays alive on the offensive glass.
Improvement areas
Unnatural shooting stroke with unproven results. Lack of floor spacing makes him a tough fit on the offensive end of the floor. Needs shooters around him at all times to make him most effective.
Limited all-around scorer in the half court. Doesn't have great touch or much to go to in his scoring arsenal.
Mobile for his size but lacking a degree of quickness and burst off the dribble. Plays below the rim in the half court. Not much of a leaper. Elite collegiate defender, but will he have the foot speed to lock up elite NBA wings?
Projected role: Two-way point forward
Physical Comps
PLAYER HEIGHT WEIGHT WINGSPAN
Scottie Barnes 6-8 225 7-2
OG Anunoby 6-7¾ 232 7-2¼
Tristan Thompson 6-8¾ 227 7-1¼
Kyle Anderson 6-8½ 230 7-2¾
Daishen Nix | G | G League Ignite | Age: 18.8
Good size for a point guard at 6-5 with a strong 215-pound frame. Fluid ball handler who operates at different speeds well. Has outstanding body control and pace. Can power through defenders with his strong frame, using long strides, polished footwork and impressive creativity as a finisher.
Excellent passer who empowers teammates. Has good court vision seeing over the top of defenses and making advanced passes out of pick-and-roll. Can thread the needle through tight windows on the move with either hand.
Shows impressive instincts defensively and on the glass. Gets in passing lanes frequently. Game comes very easily for him on both ends of the floor. Has some toughness and is not afraid to play through contact.
Improvement areas
Not the most explosive athlete in terms of burst or leaping ability. Isn't always able to create separation from defenders using his first step. Relies heavily on touch and craft inside the arc.
Perimeter shooting has been streaky throughout his career. Relies heavily on pull-up jumpers due to his average athleticism but has been inconsistent with the results.
Has always been the focal point of the offense against mostly low-level competition. Struggles to play off the ball. Casual with his on-court demeanor and approach to the game. NBA teams have gotten little exposure to him outside of one poor showing at a Nike Hoop Summit scrimmage. Has a lot to prove with the G League venture.
Projected role: Big playmaker
Physical Comps
PLAYER HEIGHT WEIGHT WINGSPAN
Daishen Nix 6-5 215 6-4
Matthew Dellavedova 6-4 205 6-4
Marcus Williams (UConn) 6-3¼ 215 6-7
Dion Waiters 6-4 221 6-7¼
