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2025 NBA Draft Thread
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by addict4sneakers,
- Start date
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Quinerly is turning 23 in November. He was born the same year as Payton Pritchard who was a 4 year senior and is now playing in the NBA. Pritchard is much better than him and only snuck into the end of the first.
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I see a lot of Pau Gasol in Mobley...
Would love to see Suggs next to Ant in Minnesota. Build around those two, move on from KAT and DLO and you got a lot of equity to build around.
Would love to see Suggs next to Ant in Minnesota. Build around those two, move on from KAT and DLO and you got a lot of equity to build around.
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Suggs x Ant
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
storm2006
Supporter
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Suggs x Ant Man would be
As an outsider, I’m just not sure what you do with KAT and DLo. DLo won’t get you much at this point and I kind of also think you might not get the appropriate value back for KAT unfortunately. But if you can get Suggs x Ant, you do it then figure it out later.Suggs x Ant vs Fox x Halliburton backcourt battles for years to come would be nice
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I don’t think Cade is that much better of a prospect than Green, Mobley and Suggs. He just has the highest floor.
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I think he probably has the highest ceiling also. but I don't think he's any likleir to reach his ceiling than those other guys.
like if you asked me who ends up as the best player in the draft,
Cade or the field?
id take the field. but comparing 1 v 1 id take cade.
Im happy I don't have to make this decision, because I feel zero conviction about anyone in the top 5.
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How top NBA draft prospects fared in the NCAA men's basketball tournament
Multiple players in our top 100 NBA draft rankings played their final games of the season over the weekend in the men's NCAA tournament. The next time we see some of these players in action might be during the NBA's Las Vegas Summer League, or in preseason games ahead of the 2021-22 season.
So, after five days of games so far in the Indianapolis area, which prospects are rising and falling?
Here's the latest draft intel on Cade Cunningham, Max Abmas, Cam Thomas, Tre Mann, Buddy Boeheim and more.
We'll also look ahead to this weekend's Sweet 16 action, and who to keep an eye on as the field gets cut down to the Final Four.
What we saw last weekend
Cade Cunningham | PG | Oklahoma State
Top 100 ranking: 1
Cunningham did not have a great weekend by his standards. Oklahoma State was upset in the round of 32 by 12-seed Oregon State after squeaking past Liberty in the opening round. Cunningham needed 34 shots to score 39 points overall and was unable to provide his typical late-game heroics against Oregon State, being frozen out by his teammates at times while dealing with two or three players sent his way on every ball screen. Cunningham made the right basketball play more often than not but played into Oregon State's game plan. The Beavers wanted the ball in anyone else's hands and saw Cunningham's teammates go 4-for-18 from beyond the arc and 8-for-27 from inside it. It was a disappointing outcome for NBA executives and fans who saw a significant amount of intrigue dissipate from the tournament.
It was somewhat of a miracle that Oklahoma State was able to put together the season it did considering how little offensive talent the Cowboys had on the roster outside of Cunningham. They had zero consensus top-100 high school recruits, very little in the way of veteran experience and almost no outside shooting surrounding him, allowing teams to load up on the No. 1 pick with impunity on every ball screen. As a result, his assist numbers were not remotely indicative of the type of passer he is.
Only 24% of Cunningham's jump shots came on catch-and-shoot attempts, per Synergy Sports Technology, a testament to the extraordinary load he was forced to shoulder all season as the be-all, do-all creator for Oklahoma State. To Cunningham's credit, he was a classy teammate throughout and handled this burden far better than other recent No. 1 picks such as LSU's Ben Simmons or Georgia's Anthony Edwards.
So while it's fair to be disappointed in how Cunningham's season ended, it was far from a surprising outcome considering how many of Oklahoma State's games came down to the wire. The magic was bound to run out at some point.
-- Jonathan Givony
Cameron Thomas | SG | LSU
Top 100 ranking: 14
Capping one of the most productive freshman seasons in NCAA history, Thomas proved he's a lottery-caliber prospect, averaging 28.5 points on 20.5 shots against St. Bonaventure and Michigan and resting just 90 seconds total during LSU's final four games of the season.
The ever-confident scorer splashed step-back 3s from NBA range, put consistent pressure on the rim to the tune of 20 total free throws, and showed glimpses of progress as a facilitator and defender. Thomas' ability to space the floor off the catch, rise into jumpers out of handoffs, create space and draw fouls should translate immediately to the NBA.
Thomas is still a low-motor defender, poor rebounder and erratic decision-maker, but he flashed enough potential in those areas to suggest future improvement with NBA coaching. As a scorer, the 19-year-old was the model of consistency all season, reaching 16 points or more in every game and averaging 23.0 points on 46% from 2 and 33% from 3. Since 2000, only four other power-conference players have averaged at least 23 points before turning 20: Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley, Markelle Fultz and Trae Young. Even if he's best suited for a microwave scorer role in the NBA, Thomas is the most prolific bucket-getter in the draft, with the type of shooting versatility NBA teams covet.
-- Mike Schmitz
James Bouknight | SG | UConn
Top 100 ranking: 18
Bouknight's college career likely ended on a disappointing note, with two of his worst games of the season coming in UConn's losses in the Big East and NCAA tournaments against Creighton and Maryland. He was 10-for-30 from the field with three turnovers and seven assists in those two games. That's particularly discouraging considering Bouknight was limited to 15 games due to an injury and finished the season shooting 29% from beyond the arc while posting a 1.8 to 2.8 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Nevertheless, there's a lot to like about Bouknight's talent as a shot-creator. He handles the ball on a string and has real shot-making prowess from all over the floor. His body will likely continue to fill out, which should help him on the defensive end, where he struggles at the moment, as well as when taking contact around the basket.
Bucket-getters in the Jordan Clarkson mold are easy fits in today's NBA, making Bouknight a strong candidate to hear his name called somewhere in the 10-20 range, even if he'll need to have a strong pre-draft process after the uneven end to his season.
-- Givony
Tre Mann | PG | Florida
Top 100 ranking: 15
Mann made a strong case for himself as the most talented guard projected outside the top 10 with his play against Virginia Tech and Oral Roberts, averaging 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists on 7-for-11 shooting from 2 and 6-for-14 from 3. Over his final five games, Mann averaged 21.2 points, shooting 66% from 2 and 41% from 3. He finished the year as the most efficient pick-and-roll scorer among high-major guards to use at least 160 possessions.
Mann hit a pair of clutch step-backs to help lift Florida over the Hokies and splashed deep pull-up triples when Oral Roberts ducked under screens. With that said, Mann struggled to put two halves together against Oral Roberts, going 0-for-4 from the field with two turnovers over the last 10 minutes of the game. While making a few impressive reads, Mann ultimately committed eight turnovers over the course of the two contests, often missing the roll man or crumbling against aggressive blitzes.
But Mann is an NBA-caliber ball-screen scorer with deep range, Darius Garland-like shiftiness and touch from all over the floor. He has similar measurements and collegiate production to Coby White in his freshman season at UNC. Don't be surprised if Mann rises into the lottery conversation as teams continue to study his film and body of work.
-- Schmitz
Ayo Dosunmu | SG | Illinois
Top 100 ranking: 22
A likely first-team All-American, Dosunmu had 9 points, 2 assists and 6 turnovers on 10 field goal attempts in a double-digit loss to No. 8 seed Loyola Chicago. It was by far the worst game of an otherwise brilliant season, and perhaps his college career.
Dosunmu's lack of strength and high-end explosiveness were on full display as Loyola blitzed him on every ball screen and forced the ball out of his hands. The Ramblers made him look passive and limited as a shot-creator. He forced some difficult passes in traffic for turnovers, and his made baskets came on shots with a very high degree of difficulty. He has very little room for error against elite defenses due to his average tools.
With a game built mostly around skill, timing and smarts rather than elite explosiveness or deep shooting range, Dosunmu is usually at his best picking his spots and taking what the defense gives him. He's highly reliant on teammates providing the proper spacing and his normally calm demeanor -- things that didn't happen Sunday because of Loyola's outstanding game plan and half-court defense.
While Dosunmu's performance was disappointing, it would be foolish to throw away an entire season of outstanding play based on one bad game (playing with a broken nose and a mask) against the No. 1 ranked defense in college basketball, per Ken Pomeroy. He was brilliant in the open floor all year, had plenty of success making strong decisions in pick and roll with his reliable pull-up jumper and creative passing ability, and was clutch in late-game situations on both ends of the floor in Big Ten play. A role playing off a star ball handler will benefit him, as will NBA spacing, though he'll need to become a knockdown shooter from the 3-point line to maximize his potential.
Dosunmu's chances of being a top-20 pick likely took a hit due to Illinois' shortened NCAA tournament run, but he still has a strong case to hear his name called in the first round.
-- Givony
Max Abmas | PG | Oral Roberts
Top 100 ranking: 30
Abmas introduced himself to a national audience and emerged as a legitimate NBA prospect by averaging 27.5 points and 5.0 assists during upset wins over Ohio State and Florida.
With the majority of NBA execs off the road this season, it's likely few made it out to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to see the nation's leading scorer, a slight, 6-foot-1, 165-pound scoring machine who had already put up 36 points and nine assists on Cade Cunningham and Oklahoma State. He was the most efficient high-volume, half-court scorer in the NCAA.
Abmas looked the part of a four-year player who could have an outside chance at the highest level after his senior season. That's no longer the case for the 19-year-old. His shooting touch, feel for the game and unshakeable demeanor caught the NBA's attention in a big way in Indianapolis. Although likely not as big as his listed height, Abmas gets wherever he wants on the floor thanks to the threat of his 30-foot pull-up, his effortless change of pace, slick handle and low-to-the-ground attacks.
What surprised the most was his style of play, which is far different from what you'd expect from a mid-major scoring champion. Abmas plays with tremendous poise and patience and is incredibly difficult to speed up. If you play off him, he splashes a long 3. If you crowd him, he's quick enough to shift gears, get a piece of the paint and find an open teammate. If you blitz him in pick-and-roll, he unselfishly makes the right play. His overall court sense is far better than his numbers indicate, and he has an excellent feel for when to get his own and when to defer.
It was hard not to think of a smaller Trae Young at times when watching Abmas' deep-strike 3s, change of pace and kick-outs, though he's not as gifted as a facilitator. He has a lot of room to improve as a finisher in a crowd, he struggles to make plays in traffic at times, he's incredibly undersized defensively and NBA teams aren't exactly yearning for 165-pound guards who get hunted on switches. Oral Roberts ranked 239th in defensive efficiency this season, and Abmas doesn't project well on that end at the highest level. But he has some special qualities offensively, his feel for the game shines through at times defensively, and he plays with a little more toughness than most high-volume scorers, even sprinting back in transition for blocks.
You never want to overreact to a couple big games in March, but his combination of production, age and NBA skill makes him highly intriguing, potentially even in a 2021 draft that doesn't have many elite point guards.
-- Schmitz
Miles McBride | PG | West Virginia
Top 100 ranking: 35
West Virginia was upset in the second round by No. 11 Syracuse, but McBride had a good weekend overall, scoring 41 points on 27 field goal attempts while dishing out 13 assists compared with 4 turnovers.
Somewhat sped up and out of control early in the season, McBride showed improved decision-making in Big 12 play and made the right, unselfish reads against Syracuse's 2-3 zone. He shot the ball very well in the NCAA tournament (6-for-9 from 3) like he has all season long (41% 3-point FG, 81% FT). He played his typical outstanding one-on-one defense, disrupting passing lanes, heating up ball handlers in the backcourt and generating plenty of turnovers with six steals.
McBride still leaves something to be desired as a shot-creator inside the arc. He isn't the most advanced ball handler and relies heavily on his pull-up jumper, but he will likely be better with more talent around him in a smaller role. There's a market for aggressive combo guards in his mold who can hound the opposing team's best player, make an outside shot and disrupt the game with the energy he brings off the bench.
Only a sophomore, McBride has a big decision in front of him. He has room to improve his offensive polish, but he has made a strong case to hear his name called on draft night if he decides to enter and keep his name in. He could possibly get into the late first round, depending on how his pre-draft process goes.
-- Givony
Austin Reaves | PG | Oklahoma
Top 100 ranking: 40
Reaves helped himself more than any senior in the country, jumping from fringe draft pick into our top 40 thanks to a signature performance against Gonzaga. The 22-year-old followed up his 23-point, six-assist outing versus Missouri with a masterpiece against the Bulldogs that showed scouts his skill level, creativity, fiery nature and gamer mentality.
Gonzaga threw everything at Reaves -- hard hedges, blitzes, switches, elite on-ball defender Jalen Suggs -- and he was still able to generate 27 points on 17 shots against a top-10 defense. Reaves attacked Drew Timme in switches time and time again, playing off hesitations, using sweeping crossovers and step-backs to create space into pull-ups or to get downhill to the rim where he regularly finished through contact. Blowing by a slower-footed center like Timme won't lead NBA teams to crown Reaves a lottery pick, but he also beat Suggs off the line a couple times thanks to his footwork and change of pace.
He dropped in a high-arcing tear drop over the projected top-five pick and showed a great feel for drawing fouls. A 31% 3-point shooter who likes to operate in the midrange, Reaves still has room to improve his pull-up 3. His proven catch-and-shoot during his two seasons at Wichita State bodes well for his ability to play in multiguard lineups. While playing as more of a score-first guard against Gonzaga, Reaves showcased his playmaking chops against Missouri, even whipping a left-handed scoop pass from 30 feet away to a cutter in one sweeping motion. He's a confident, creative facilitator who isn't immune to telegraphing a pass or two per game but should look better when surrounded by NBA talent.
Maybe most impressive of all, Reaves showed the kind of defensive toughness against Gonzaga that NBA teams covet. He'll talk trash to opponents after big plays and compete in one-on-one situations defensively. We wrote about Reaves' big senior season in early February, but he has improved his stock even more since and looks the part of a second-unit guard at the next level.
-- Schmitz
Luka Garza | C | Iowa
Top 100 ranking: 52
Iowa was upset by Oregon in the second round behind a fairly typical performance from Garza, the presumptive national player of the year, who posted 36 points on 20 field goal attempts to go along with 9 rebounds. Garza showed what makes him such an outstanding college player, stepping into several effortless 3-pointers, having his way with Oregon's undersized frontcourt around the basket and doing plenty of damage running the floor in transition and crashing the offensive glass.
He also showed why he's such a flawed NBA prospect at the same time, looking very slow covering ground on the perimeter, having no length to contest shots around the basket and missing several point-blank layups due to his inability to get off the ground. Garza has a good chance to hear his name called on draft night thanks to his tremendous productivity, skill, motor and feel for the game, but he did little to discourage the notion the notion that he's going to be a liability defensively due to his poor physical tools, leaving him in a similar situation to where he entered.
-- Givony
Buddy Boeheim | SG/SF | Syracuse
Top 100 ranking: 84
Not only has Buddy Boeheim captured the hearts of college basketball fans nationwide, he thrust himself onto the NBA radar with his incredible shot-making as the catalyst of Syracuse's Sweet 16 run. Boeheim averaged 27.5 points in wins over San Diego State and West Virginia, making 13-of-23 3s in 71 minutes.
We've seen shooters get hot in the NCAA tournament before and never sniff the NBA. This one feels different. Boeheim is far from an out-of-nowhere story. He shot over 45% from 3 as a key piece of an Albany City Rocks AAU team that was led by Isaiah Stewart, now with the Detroit Pistons. He knocked down three triples per game last year at 37% and is averaging 23 points on 58% from 2 and 48% from 3 over his past 10 games. At 6-foot-6 with a versatile shooting stroke, Boeheim is a candidate to hear his name called in 2022 should he opt not to use his fifth year of eligibility.
What separates Boeheim is his ability to shoot the ball on the move, sprinting around screens and getting square in the air in either direction like we've seen from great shooters such as Joe Harris, Kyle Korver, JJ Redick and Duncan Robinson. Although he doesn't have quite as quick of a release as some of those players, he's a threat when he crosses half court, is dangerous out of handoffs, can make a pull-up 3 if you give him space and clearly has the confidence necessary to make it in the NBA. The questions for Boeheim come on the defensive end. While it's tough to evaluate him in Syracuse's zone, watching a quick guard like Miles McBride or a physical wing like Matt Mitchell completely dismiss him in 1-on-1 transition situations was telling.
Boeheim is 6-foot-6, 195 pounds with short arms and a narrow frame, so he doesn't have the size of a Robinson or the strength of a Corey Kispert, Max Strus or Desmond Bane. Boeheim can also continue improving his passing out of quick-hitting actions, even if he is fairly comfortable in pick-and-roll. Studying the trajectory of a player like Garrison Mathews could be beneficial.
We'll learn a lot more about Boeheim against Quentin Grimes and a top-10 defense in Houston next weekend. But at the very least, he has the attention of NBA scouts thanks to his flamethrower jumper and ability to raise his level of play in big moments.
-- Schmitz
Jaden Ivey | PG/SG | Purdue
Top 100 ranking: N/A
Purdue was upset in the first round by 13-seed North Texas, but Ivey scored a career-high 26 points on 24 field goal attempts, showing some of the scoring and physical talent that could make him a breakout prospect in the 2022 NBA Draft.
After playing a relatively minor role to start the season, Ivey got his first career start in late January and was outstanding down the stretch for Purdue. He showed major progress with his outside shot in particular, one of the weakest parts of his game.
The son of former WNBA player and current Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey, Jaden stands 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan and a frame that should fill out impressively in time. Ivey gets anywhere he wants on the floor thanks to his long strides operating out of crossovers and hesitation moves driving in both directions. He doesn't always have the strength or craft to finish everything he creates around the basket, and has a ways to go both with his pull-up game and decision-making, but when operating at his best, Ivey's highlights are impressive and suggest a very high floor that he can grow into over time.
Defensively, Ivey is inconsistent, showing flashes of being able to get in a deep stance, heat up the ball, get in passing lanes and block shots far more frequently than your average guard. His intensity level comes and goes, though, especially off the ball. He can be casual with his approach and doesn't always make the right rotations and stay engaged in plays or show great nuance with the way he navigates ball screens.
A candidate to represent the United States at the FIBA U19 World Championship, having just turned 19 last month, time is on Ivey's side. He has a big summer ahead of him, working on adding the type of polish that would allow him to shoulder significant shot-creation duties for Purdue next year and possibly make a run at being a first-round pick.
-- Givony
Looking ahead to the Sweet 16
Saturday, March 27
(1) Baylor vs. (5) Villanova
5:15 p.m. ET on CBS
Villanova's Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is averaging 20.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.0 blocks through two tournament games against Winthrop and North Texas, showcasing a fairly modern skill set in the process. Can he help slow down Baylor guards Jared Butler, Davion Mitchell and aggressive wing scorer Matthew Mayer?
(3) Arkansas vs. (15) Oral Roberts
7:25 p.m. ET on TBS
Tournament darling Max Abmas clashes with Arkansas' top-10 defense and one of the most impressive on-ball defenders in the tournament: quick, long-armed, 6-foot-3 freshman guard Davonte Davis. Can he keep up his stellar play against the high-motor guard?
(2) Houston vs. (11) Syracuse
9:55 p.m. ET on TBS
Can Syracuse's Buddy Boeheim continue his hot shooting against a Houston team that ranked 11th in the NCAA in defensive efficiency, led by 6-foot-5 guard and American Athletic Conference co-Player of the Year Quentin Grimes?
-- Schmitz
Sunday, March 28
(1) Gonzaga vs. (5) Creighton
2:10 p.m. ET on CBS
How will projected lottery picks Corey Kispert and Jalen Suggs handle the length and physicality of Creighton forwards Damien Jefferson and Denzel Mahoney? Will Gonzaga center Drew Timme have his way against the undersized Christian Bishop?
(1) Michigan vs. (4) Florida State
5 p.m. ET on CBS
Top-10 pick candidates Franz Wagner and Scottie Barnes go head to head in a matchup that could help determine where both players get selected. The two have some similarities in terms of their defensive versatility, passing and occasional scoring struggles. Forwards RaiQuan Gray and Chaundee Brown have both helped themselves in postseason play and will look to continue their momentum.
(2) Alabama vs. (11) UCLA
7:15 p.m. ET on TBS
UCLA's Johnny Juzang has scored 67 points in three games and will face his toughest matchup to date in Alabama's Herb Jones, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and a likely draft pick.
(6) USC vs. (7) Oregon
9:45 p.m. ET on TBS
USC rolled through the Sweet 16 by an average margin of 25 points despite potential No. 1 pick Evan Mobley being somewhat quiet at times offensively. The Trojans will likely need to look for him a lot more against an undersized Oregon team that got outstanding guard play from its NBA prospect backcourt of Chris Duarte and Will Richardson.
-- Givony
Multiple players in our top 100 NBA draft rankings played their final games of the season over the weekend in the men's NCAA tournament. The next time we see some of these players in action might be during the NBA's Las Vegas Summer League, or in preseason games ahead of the 2021-22 season.
So, after five days of games so far in the Indianapolis area, which prospects are rising and falling?
Here's the latest draft intel on Cade Cunningham, Max Abmas, Cam Thomas, Tre Mann, Buddy Boeheim and more.
We'll also look ahead to this weekend's Sweet 16 action, and who to keep an eye on as the field gets cut down to the Final Four.
What we saw last weekend
Cade Cunningham | PG | Oklahoma State
Top 100 ranking: 1
Cunningham did not have a great weekend by his standards. Oklahoma State was upset in the round of 32 by 12-seed Oregon State after squeaking past Liberty in the opening round. Cunningham needed 34 shots to score 39 points overall and was unable to provide his typical late-game heroics against Oregon State, being frozen out by his teammates at times while dealing with two or three players sent his way on every ball screen. Cunningham made the right basketball play more often than not but played into Oregon State's game plan. The Beavers wanted the ball in anyone else's hands and saw Cunningham's teammates go 4-for-18 from beyond the arc and 8-for-27 from inside it. It was a disappointing outcome for NBA executives and fans who saw a significant amount of intrigue dissipate from the tournament.
It was somewhat of a miracle that Oklahoma State was able to put together the season it did considering how little offensive talent the Cowboys had on the roster outside of Cunningham. They had zero consensus top-100 high school recruits, very little in the way of veteran experience and almost no outside shooting surrounding him, allowing teams to load up on the No. 1 pick with impunity on every ball screen. As a result, his assist numbers were not remotely indicative of the type of passer he is.
Only 24% of Cunningham's jump shots came on catch-and-shoot attempts, per Synergy Sports Technology, a testament to the extraordinary load he was forced to shoulder all season as the be-all, do-all creator for Oklahoma State. To Cunningham's credit, he was a classy teammate throughout and handled this burden far better than other recent No. 1 picks such as LSU's Ben Simmons or Georgia's Anthony Edwards.
So while it's fair to be disappointed in how Cunningham's season ended, it was far from a surprising outcome considering how many of Oklahoma State's games came down to the wire. The magic was bound to run out at some point.
-- Jonathan Givony
Cameron Thomas | SG | LSU
Top 100 ranking: 14
Capping one of the most productive freshman seasons in NCAA history, Thomas proved he's a lottery-caliber prospect, averaging 28.5 points on 20.5 shots against St. Bonaventure and Michigan and resting just 90 seconds total during LSU's final four games of the season.
The ever-confident scorer splashed step-back 3s from NBA range, put consistent pressure on the rim to the tune of 20 total free throws, and showed glimpses of progress as a facilitator and defender. Thomas' ability to space the floor off the catch, rise into jumpers out of handoffs, create space and draw fouls should translate immediately to the NBA.
Thomas is still a low-motor defender, poor rebounder and erratic decision-maker, but he flashed enough potential in those areas to suggest future improvement with NBA coaching. As a scorer, the 19-year-old was the model of consistency all season, reaching 16 points or more in every game and averaging 23.0 points on 46% from 2 and 33% from 3. Since 2000, only four other power-conference players have averaged at least 23 points before turning 20: Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley, Markelle Fultz and Trae Young. Even if he's best suited for a microwave scorer role in the NBA, Thomas is the most prolific bucket-getter in the draft, with the type of shooting versatility NBA teams covet.
-- Mike Schmitz
James Bouknight | SG | UConn
Top 100 ranking: 18
Bouknight's college career likely ended on a disappointing note, with two of his worst games of the season coming in UConn's losses in the Big East and NCAA tournaments against Creighton and Maryland. He was 10-for-30 from the field with three turnovers and seven assists in those two games. That's particularly discouraging considering Bouknight was limited to 15 games due to an injury and finished the season shooting 29% from beyond the arc while posting a 1.8 to 2.8 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Nevertheless, there's a lot to like about Bouknight's talent as a shot-creator. He handles the ball on a string and has real shot-making prowess from all over the floor. His body will likely continue to fill out, which should help him on the defensive end, where he struggles at the moment, as well as when taking contact around the basket.
Bucket-getters in the Jordan Clarkson mold are easy fits in today's NBA, making Bouknight a strong candidate to hear his name called somewhere in the 10-20 range, even if he'll need to have a strong pre-draft process after the uneven end to his season.
-- Givony
Tre Mann | PG | Florida
Top 100 ranking: 15
Mann made a strong case for himself as the most talented guard projected outside the top 10 with his play against Virginia Tech and Oral Roberts, averaging 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists on 7-for-11 shooting from 2 and 6-for-14 from 3. Over his final five games, Mann averaged 21.2 points, shooting 66% from 2 and 41% from 3. He finished the year as the most efficient pick-and-roll scorer among high-major guards to use at least 160 possessions.
Mann hit a pair of clutch step-backs to help lift Florida over the Hokies and splashed deep pull-up triples when Oral Roberts ducked under screens. With that said, Mann struggled to put two halves together against Oral Roberts, going 0-for-4 from the field with two turnovers over the last 10 minutes of the game. While making a few impressive reads, Mann ultimately committed eight turnovers over the course of the two contests, often missing the roll man or crumbling against aggressive blitzes.
But Mann is an NBA-caliber ball-screen scorer with deep range, Darius Garland-like shiftiness and touch from all over the floor. He has similar measurements and collegiate production to Coby White in his freshman season at UNC. Don't be surprised if Mann rises into the lottery conversation as teams continue to study his film and body of work.
-- Schmitz
Ayo Dosunmu | SG | Illinois
Top 100 ranking: 22
A likely first-team All-American, Dosunmu had 9 points, 2 assists and 6 turnovers on 10 field goal attempts in a double-digit loss to No. 8 seed Loyola Chicago. It was by far the worst game of an otherwise brilliant season, and perhaps his college career.
Dosunmu's lack of strength and high-end explosiveness were on full display as Loyola blitzed him on every ball screen and forced the ball out of his hands. The Ramblers made him look passive and limited as a shot-creator. He forced some difficult passes in traffic for turnovers, and his made baskets came on shots with a very high degree of difficulty. He has very little room for error against elite defenses due to his average tools.
With a game built mostly around skill, timing and smarts rather than elite explosiveness or deep shooting range, Dosunmu is usually at his best picking his spots and taking what the defense gives him. He's highly reliant on teammates providing the proper spacing and his normally calm demeanor -- things that didn't happen Sunday because of Loyola's outstanding game plan and half-court defense.
While Dosunmu's performance was disappointing, it would be foolish to throw away an entire season of outstanding play based on one bad game (playing with a broken nose and a mask) against the No. 1 ranked defense in college basketball, per Ken Pomeroy. He was brilliant in the open floor all year, had plenty of success making strong decisions in pick and roll with his reliable pull-up jumper and creative passing ability, and was clutch in late-game situations on both ends of the floor in Big Ten play. A role playing off a star ball handler will benefit him, as will NBA spacing, though he'll need to become a knockdown shooter from the 3-point line to maximize his potential.
Dosunmu's chances of being a top-20 pick likely took a hit due to Illinois' shortened NCAA tournament run, but he still has a strong case to hear his name called in the first round.
-- Givony
Max Abmas | PG | Oral Roberts
Top 100 ranking: 30
Abmas introduced himself to a national audience and emerged as a legitimate NBA prospect by averaging 27.5 points and 5.0 assists during upset wins over Ohio State and Florida.
With the majority of NBA execs off the road this season, it's likely few made it out to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to see the nation's leading scorer, a slight, 6-foot-1, 165-pound scoring machine who had already put up 36 points and nine assists on Cade Cunningham and Oklahoma State. He was the most efficient high-volume, half-court scorer in the NCAA.
Abmas looked the part of a four-year player who could have an outside chance at the highest level after his senior season. That's no longer the case for the 19-year-old. His shooting touch, feel for the game and unshakeable demeanor caught the NBA's attention in a big way in Indianapolis. Although likely not as big as his listed height, Abmas gets wherever he wants on the floor thanks to the threat of his 30-foot pull-up, his effortless change of pace, slick handle and low-to-the-ground attacks.
What surprised the most was his style of play, which is far different from what you'd expect from a mid-major scoring champion. Abmas plays with tremendous poise and patience and is incredibly difficult to speed up. If you play off him, he splashes a long 3. If you crowd him, he's quick enough to shift gears, get a piece of the paint and find an open teammate. If you blitz him in pick-and-roll, he unselfishly makes the right play. His overall court sense is far better than his numbers indicate, and he has an excellent feel for when to get his own and when to defer.
It was hard not to think of a smaller Trae Young at times when watching Abmas' deep-strike 3s, change of pace and kick-outs, though he's not as gifted as a facilitator. He has a lot of room to improve as a finisher in a crowd, he struggles to make plays in traffic at times, he's incredibly undersized defensively and NBA teams aren't exactly yearning for 165-pound guards who get hunted on switches. Oral Roberts ranked 239th in defensive efficiency this season, and Abmas doesn't project well on that end at the highest level. But he has some special qualities offensively, his feel for the game shines through at times defensively, and he plays with a little more toughness than most high-volume scorers, even sprinting back in transition for blocks.
You never want to overreact to a couple big games in March, but his combination of production, age and NBA skill makes him highly intriguing, potentially even in a 2021 draft that doesn't have many elite point guards.
-- Schmitz
Miles McBride | PG | West Virginia
Top 100 ranking: 35
West Virginia was upset in the second round by No. 11 Syracuse, but McBride had a good weekend overall, scoring 41 points on 27 field goal attempts while dishing out 13 assists compared with 4 turnovers.
Somewhat sped up and out of control early in the season, McBride showed improved decision-making in Big 12 play and made the right, unselfish reads against Syracuse's 2-3 zone. He shot the ball very well in the NCAA tournament (6-for-9 from 3) like he has all season long (41% 3-point FG, 81% FT). He played his typical outstanding one-on-one defense, disrupting passing lanes, heating up ball handlers in the backcourt and generating plenty of turnovers with six steals.
McBride still leaves something to be desired as a shot-creator inside the arc. He isn't the most advanced ball handler and relies heavily on his pull-up jumper, but he will likely be better with more talent around him in a smaller role. There's a market for aggressive combo guards in his mold who can hound the opposing team's best player, make an outside shot and disrupt the game with the energy he brings off the bench.
Only a sophomore, McBride has a big decision in front of him. He has room to improve his offensive polish, but he has made a strong case to hear his name called on draft night if he decides to enter and keep his name in. He could possibly get into the late first round, depending on how his pre-draft process goes.
-- Givony
Austin Reaves | PG | Oklahoma
Top 100 ranking: 40
Reaves helped himself more than any senior in the country, jumping from fringe draft pick into our top 40 thanks to a signature performance against Gonzaga. The 22-year-old followed up his 23-point, six-assist outing versus Missouri with a masterpiece against the Bulldogs that showed scouts his skill level, creativity, fiery nature and gamer mentality.
Gonzaga threw everything at Reaves -- hard hedges, blitzes, switches, elite on-ball defender Jalen Suggs -- and he was still able to generate 27 points on 17 shots against a top-10 defense. Reaves attacked Drew Timme in switches time and time again, playing off hesitations, using sweeping crossovers and step-backs to create space into pull-ups or to get downhill to the rim where he regularly finished through contact. Blowing by a slower-footed center like Timme won't lead NBA teams to crown Reaves a lottery pick, but he also beat Suggs off the line a couple times thanks to his footwork and change of pace.
He dropped in a high-arcing tear drop over the projected top-five pick and showed a great feel for drawing fouls. A 31% 3-point shooter who likes to operate in the midrange, Reaves still has room to improve his pull-up 3. His proven catch-and-shoot during his two seasons at Wichita State bodes well for his ability to play in multiguard lineups. While playing as more of a score-first guard against Gonzaga, Reaves showcased his playmaking chops against Missouri, even whipping a left-handed scoop pass from 30 feet away to a cutter in one sweeping motion. He's a confident, creative facilitator who isn't immune to telegraphing a pass or two per game but should look better when surrounded by NBA talent.
Maybe most impressive of all, Reaves showed the kind of defensive toughness against Gonzaga that NBA teams covet. He'll talk trash to opponents after big plays and compete in one-on-one situations defensively. We wrote about Reaves' big senior season in early February, but he has improved his stock even more since and looks the part of a second-unit guard at the next level.
-- Schmitz
Luka Garza | C | Iowa
Top 100 ranking: 52
Iowa was upset by Oregon in the second round behind a fairly typical performance from Garza, the presumptive national player of the year, who posted 36 points on 20 field goal attempts to go along with 9 rebounds. Garza showed what makes him such an outstanding college player, stepping into several effortless 3-pointers, having his way with Oregon's undersized frontcourt around the basket and doing plenty of damage running the floor in transition and crashing the offensive glass.
He also showed why he's such a flawed NBA prospect at the same time, looking very slow covering ground on the perimeter, having no length to contest shots around the basket and missing several point-blank layups due to his inability to get off the ground. Garza has a good chance to hear his name called on draft night thanks to his tremendous productivity, skill, motor and feel for the game, but he did little to discourage the notion the notion that he's going to be a liability defensively due to his poor physical tools, leaving him in a similar situation to where he entered.
-- Givony
Buddy Boeheim | SG/SF | Syracuse
Top 100 ranking: 84
Not only has Buddy Boeheim captured the hearts of college basketball fans nationwide, he thrust himself onto the NBA radar with his incredible shot-making as the catalyst of Syracuse's Sweet 16 run. Boeheim averaged 27.5 points in wins over San Diego State and West Virginia, making 13-of-23 3s in 71 minutes.
We've seen shooters get hot in the NCAA tournament before and never sniff the NBA. This one feels different. Boeheim is far from an out-of-nowhere story. He shot over 45% from 3 as a key piece of an Albany City Rocks AAU team that was led by Isaiah Stewart, now with the Detroit Pistons. He knocked down three triples per game last year at 37% and is averaging 23 points on 58% from 2 and 48% from 3 over his past 10 games. At 6-foot-6 with a versatile shooting stroke, Boeheim is a candidate to hear his name called in 2022 should he opt not to use his fifth year of eligibility.
What separates Boeheim is his ability to shoot the ball on the move, sprinting around screens and getting square in the air in either direction like we've seen from great shooters such as Joe Harris, Kyle Korver, JJ Redick and Duncan Robinson. Although he doesn't have quite as quick of a release as some of those players, he's a threat when he crosses half court, is dangerous out of handoffs, can make a pull-up 3 if you give him space and clearly has the confidence necessary to make it in the NBA. The questions for Boeheim come on the defensive end. While it's tough to evaluate him in Syracuse's zone, watching a quick guard like Miles McBride or a physical wing like Matt Mitchell completely dismiss him in 1-on-1 transition situations was telling.
Boeheim is 6-foot-6, 195 pounds with short arms and a narrow frame, so he doesn't have the size of a Robinson or the strength of a Corey Kispert, Max Strus or Desmond Bane. Boeheim can also continue improving his passing out of quick-hitting actions, even if he is fairly comfortable in pick-and-roll. Studying the trajectory of a player like Garrison Mathews could be beneficial.
We'll learn a lot more about Boeheim against Quentin Grimes and a top-10 defense in Houston next weekend. But at the very least, he has the attention of NBA scouts thanks to his flamethrower jumper and ability to raise his level of play in big moments.
-- Schmitz
Jaden Ivey | PG/SG | Purdue
Top 100 ranking: N/A
Purdue was upset in the first round by 13-seed North Texas, but Ivey scored a career-high 26 points on 24 field goal attempts, showing some of the scoring and physical talent that could make him a breakout prospect in the 2022 NBA Draft.
After playing a relatively minor role to start the season, Ivey got his first career start in late January and was outstanding down the stretch for Purdue. He showed major progress with his outside shot in particular, one of the weakest parts of his game.
The son of former WNBA player and current Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey, Jaden stands 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan and a frame that should fill out impressively in time. Ivey gets anywhere he wants on the floor thanks to his long strides operating out of crossovers and hesitation moves driving in both directions. He doesn't always have the strength or craft to finish everything he creates around the basket, and has a ways to go both with his pull-up game and decision-making, but when operating at his best, Ivey's highlights are impressive and suggest a very high floor that he can grow into over time.
Defensively, Ivey is inconsistent, showing flashes of being able to get in a deep stance, heat up the ball, get in passing lanes and block shots far more frequently than your average guard. His intensity level comes and goes, though, especially off the ball. He can be casual with his approach and doesn't always make the right rotations and stay engaged in plays or show great nuance with the way he navigates ball screens.
A candidate to represent the United States at the FIBA U19 World Championship, having just turned 19 last month, time is on Ivey's side. He has a big summer ahead of him, working on adding the type of polish that would allow him to shoulder significant shot-creation duties for Purdue next year and possibly make a run at being a first-round pick.
-- Givony
Looking ahead to the Sweet 16
Saturday, March 27
(1) Baylor vs. (5) Villanova
5:15 p.m. ET on CBS
Villanova's Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is averaging 20.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.0 blocks through two tournament games against Winthrop and North Texas, showcasing a fairly modern skill set in the process. Can he help slow down Baylor guards Jared Butler, Davion Mitchell and aggressive wing scorer Matthew Mayer?
(3) Arkansas vs. (15) Oral Roberts
7:25 p.m. ET on TBS
Tournament darling Max Abmas clashes with Arkansas' top-10 defense and one of the most impressive on-ball defenders in the tournament: quick, long-armed, 6-foot-3 freshman guard Davonte Davis. Can he keep up his stellar play against the high-motor guard?
(2) Houston vs. (11) Syracuse
9:55 p.m. ET on TBS
Can Syracuse's Buddy Boeheim continue his hot shooting against a Houston team that ranked 11th in the NCAA in defensive efficiency, led by 6-foot-5 guard and American Athletic Conference co-Player of the Year Quentin Grimes?
-- Schmitz
Sunday, March 28
(1) Gonzaga vs. (5) Creighton
2:10 p.m. ET on CBS
How will projected lottery picks Corey Kispert and Jalen Suggs handle the length and physicality of Creighton forwards Damien Jefferson and Denzel Mahoney? Will Gonzaga center Drew Timme have his way against the undersized Christian Bishop?
(1) Michigan vs. (4) Florida State
5 p.m. ET on CBS
Top-10 pick candidates Franz Wagner and Scottie Barnes go head to head in a matchup that could help determine where both players get selected. The two have some similarities in terms of their defensive versatility, passing and occasional scoring struggles. Forwards RaiQuan Gray and Chaundee Brown have both helped themselves in postseason play and will look to continue their momentum.
(2) Alabama vs. (11) UCLA
7:15 p.m. ET on TBS
UCLA's Johnny Juzang has scored 67 points in three games and will face his toughest matchup to date in Alabama's Herb Jones, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and a likely draft pick.
(6) USC vs. (7) Oregon
9:45 p.m. ET on TBS
USC rolled through the Sweet 16 by an average margin of 25 points despite potential No. 1 pick Evan Mobley being somewhat quiet at times offensively. The Trojans will likely need to look for him a lot more against an undersized Oregon team that got outstanding guard play from its NBA prospect backcourt of Chris Duarte and Will Richardson.
-- Givony
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Cam Thomas gives me big malik monk vibes
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Is that a good thing?
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I honestly don’t know
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Cade couldn't beat Or State though
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did you see how they were defending him?
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Moms is OD
storm2006
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Moms is OD
My initial reaction to your post is “That’s his mother?!?!”
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