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2022 NBA mock draft: Prospects on the rise after the NCAA tournament
The 2022 NCAA tournament concluded on Monday as Kansas rallied past North Carolina to capture its fourth men's basketball championship. With the college basketball season over, the attention now turns to the 2022 NBA draft on June 23. Duke freshman Paolo Banchero was the only projected top-3 draft pick that competed in the Final Four last weekend, finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds in what was likely his last game as a Blue Devil.
Did the extra games help Banchero's draft case with Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren and Auburn's Jabari Smith sitting at home? Or did it draw more attention to his weaknesses?
ESPN's NBA draft experts Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz followed the Final Four action and provide their latest prospect updates. Givony's updated mock draft is below along, along with recent observations on Duke's prospects (Banchero, AJ Griffin, Mark Williams, Trevor Keels), NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player Ochai Agbaji and North Carolina guard Caleb Love.
Jonathan Givony's NBA mock draft
1. Houston Rockets
Chet Holmgren | Gonzaga | 7-0 | PF | Age: 19.9
2. Orlando Magic
Jabari Smith | Auburn | 6-10 | SF/PF | Age: 18.8
3. Detroit Pistons
Paolo Banchero | Duke | 6-10 | PF/C | Age: 19.3
Banchero's outstanding freshman campaign came to end against North Carolina with the projected top-3 NBA pick turning in a 20-point, 10-rebound performance that was very representative of his clear strengths and glaring improvement areas.
On the offensive end, Banchero showed flashes of brilliance. He knocked down a pair of decisive trail 3s (one off the catch and one off the bounce), used his powerful 250-pound frame to attack the rim rather than settle for contested pull-ups, and finished post-ups over Brady Manek and Armando Bacot. Banchero scoring 20 points on 17 shots against a below average defender in Manek isn't going to convince NBA teams that he should be the No. 1 pick. The fact that he did struggle a bit to finish over length at times is noteworthy when you consider his good -- not great -- reach (he shot 49% from 2 in the NCAA tournament). Not scoring a bucket over the last 7:37 is also something naysayers will point to. The 19-year-old still showed yet again how much of a mismatch he is for opposing defenses, which should surely translate well with NBA spacing.
It was Banchero's spotty defensive effort that will likely stick with NBA scouts. UNC had a clear plan to bring Banchero into action to force a switch and attack him. Banchero held up OK in these situations despite getting caught a little flat-footed on a couple occasions, even blocking R.J. Davis at the rim after a switch. He also added some value as a defensive rover when he was defending Leaky Black as he started the game fairly disruptive, and altered a shot at the rim as the drop defender in the second half.
Overall, Banchero's NCAA tournament run should be considered a success, as he averaged 18.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 53% from 3 over five games. He's the most polished of the potential top-3 picks and a strong candidate to compete for Rookie of the Year pending his potential new team. But for the teams that were already concerned about Banchero's defensive impact -- preferring the two-way play of Jabari Smith and Chet Holmgren -- Saturday's heartbreaking loss to UNC likely didn't help change their mind. -- Mike Schmitz
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
Jaden Ivey | Purdue | 6-4 | PG/SG | Age: 20.1
5. Indiana Pacers
Keegan Murray | Iowa | 6-9 | PF/C | Age: 21.6
6. Portland Trail Blazers
Shaedon Sharpe | Kentucky | 6-6 | SG | Age: 18.8
7. Sacramento Kings
Johnny Davis | Wisconsin | 6-5 | PG/SG | Age: 20.1
8. New Orleans Pelicans (from Lakers)
AJ Griffin | Duke | 6-6 | SF/PF | Age: 18.6
Griffin capped off a freshman season that featured tremendous highs and head-scratching lows with a clunker in Duke's loss to UNC as he went just 1-for-7 from the field (0-for-4 from 3) for six points in 29 minutes. One of the youngest players in the country, Griffin has been feast or famine all season, either catching fire from beyond the arc and splashing tough step-back 3s or showing his youth and inexperience with inconsistent decision making on both ends. The UNC game was the ladder for the 18-year-old wing, as he looked relatively out of rhythm offensively, hoisting up a couple contested triples, failing to knock down the open ones, and appearing relatively limited in terms of burst and bounce when he tried to put pressure on the rim. Griffin did make a heady drop-off pass after collapsing the defense on penetration. He also had some solid defensive moments making it tough on Caleb Love in the first half while using his 7-foot wingspan on an energetic crack-down block. He still runs into screens too often, doesn't mix it up on the defensive like he could, and has his lapses off the ball defensively.
Griffin's Final Four performance feeds into the question that some of his naysayers have asked this season: What does he do in the NBA when he's not making shots? Aside from an 18-point performance in a win over Arkansas and a 21-point outing against Miami in the ACC tournament, Griffin had his fair share of ups and downs over the last 10 games as he failed to reach double-digits four times, shot 33% from 3 and registered just six assists. There's still a lot to like about Griffin. He's young, built like an NBA wing, has a strong basketball pedigree, shot 45% on the season, and had stretches during the year where he looked like Duke's best prospect, displaying better ball skills than most players with his body type while also finding ways to add value as a cutter. Last Saturday's tough showing is a perfect example of why Griffin is one of the more polarizing and often confusing prospects projected in the top-10. -- Schmitz
9. San Antonio Spurs
Jalen Duren | Memphis | 6-10 | C | Age: 18.3
10. Washington Wizards
Dyson Daniels | G League Ignite | 6-6 | PG/SG | Age: 19.0
11. Portland Trail Blazers (from Pelicans)
Mark Williams | Duke | 7-1 | C | Age: 20.3
Williams was unable to settle in and have his usual two-way impact as he picked up his second foul that forced him to sit the final 15 minutes of the first half. Williams was again forced to the bench in the second half as he collected his fourth foul with just over 10 minutes remaining. On top of that, Williams missed two huge free throws with 47 seconds remaining that would have put Duke up one. Williams never got in a true rhythm during his 16 minutes, finishing with eight points, four rebounds and zero blocks -- it was only the second time all season that Williams didn't record at least one block. Although not an elite defensive rebounder, Williams' 9-8 reach was sorely missed on the glass, as UNC chased down 17 offensive rebounds.
The 20-year-old sophomore did still have a couple highlights, hammering home four dunks off of putbacks and drop offs, bringing his NCAA total to 17 over five games. He was a mixed bag defending pick-and-roll, taking away passing angles for the ball handler several times, racking up a couple deflections in the process. It's hard to complain about his contest against Caleb Love in what proved to be a back-breaking pull-up 3 for the Blue Devils. But he was a bit too deep in drops on occasion and still gets too high in his stance from time to time.
Given the tough whistle along with his strong body of work as a lob-catching, shot-blocking, offensive rebounding center, Williams' up and down Final Four performance isn't likely to affect his draft stock as he's all but solidified his status as a top-20 prospect, with the potential to earn looks in the late lottery with a strong pre-draft process. With a reach bigger than Rudy Gobert and some stylistic similarities to centers ranging from Robert Williams to Mitchell Robinson to Clint Capela, there are no shortage of successful bigs in Williams' mold, which gives him one of the highest floors among big men prospects not named Chet Holmgren. -- Schmitz
12. New York Knicks
Bennedict Mathurin | Arizona | 6-6 | SF | Age: 19.7
13. Charlotte Hornets (Hawks if 19-30)
Jeremy Sochan | Baylor | 6-9 | PF | Age: 18.8
14. Houston Rockets (from Nets)
TyTy Washington Jr. | Kentucky | 6-4 | PG/SG | Age: 20.3
15. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Clippers)
Tari Eason | LSU | 6-8 | PF | Age: 20.9
16. Atlanta Hawks
Ochai Agbaji | Kansas | 6-6 | SF | Age: 21.9
Agbaji was named the NCAA tournament's Most Outstanding Player, largely on the back of two phenomenal performances in the Elite Eight and Final Four in which he scored 39 points on an efficient 14-for-20 shooting from the floor with excellent one-on-one defense.
His contributions were more muted in the four other tournament contests, scoring 43 points on 16-for-45 shooting, demonstrating his limitations as a ball handler and passer while having too many lapses with his off-ball awareness and rotations, showing his just-average feel for the game.
Agbaji looks like a plug-and-play 3-and-D NBA caliber wing with his strong 215-pound frame, 6-10 wingspan, 41% 3-point shooting, high-intensity level and ability to score in transition on straight line-drives, especially coming off screens. It was important for him to get back on track from beyond the arc as the tournament progressed as he was mired in a deep slump from the perimeter, hitting 26% for 3 in the 10 games prior to the Elite Eight. When Agbaji gets into rhythm and is playing with confidence, he looks like one of the most dynamic shot-makers in college basketball, rising up smoothly pulling up in transition, ducking behind handoffs and sprinting off pin downs or staggers with outstanding footwork.
The senior won the last 11 games of his college career, was named a First-Team All-American, and likely secured a spot for his jersey to hang in the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse in the process. That should also translate to a spot in the green room on draft night and potentially hearing his name called in the lottery by NBA commissioner Adam Silver. -- Jonathan Givony
17. Indiana Pacers (from Cavaliers)
Malaki Branham | Ohio St. | 6-5 | SG | Age: 18.8
18. Chicago Bulls
Ousmane Dieng | NZ Breakers | 6-10 | SF/PF | Age: 18.8
After watching a New Zealand Breakers practice, shootaround and NBL game in Cairns, Australia, Dieng reminded me exactly why he was once considered a top-10 prospect in this class and should earn late lottery consideration once NBA execs get eyes on the 18-year-old. Seeing him in live game action for the first time since the 2019 U16 European Championships, Dieng is now 6-10 in shoes with a 7-0 wingspan, has a thin yet developing frame, and guard-like agility that helps him on both ends of the floor. He was the best player on the court during the practice I evaluated, handling the ball with extreme fluidity while firing several one-handed passes you rarely see from players his height.
With the NBL season winding down, Dieng has put his forgettable start to the season behind him and is now playing the best basketball of his young career. After failing to reach double digits scoring the first 11 games of the season -- with two goose eggs sprinkled in -- Dieng has now scored at least 11 points in seven of his last nine games, capped off by 38 combined points in his last 47 minutes in back-to-back games against Cairns.
While he shows real promise as a ball handler, pick-and-roll creator, shooter and is incredibly smooth with everything he does, Dieng is still a ways away from being able to impact winning at the NBA level, at least with any type of consistency. Although greatly improved, his defensive toughness comes and goes. He's a poor rebounder who doesn't always box out or pursue the ball. He's a finesse over physicality finisher. And he thumbs the ball as a shooter, which plays a role in the fact that he's shooting 24% from 3 and 64% from the free-throw line. His success does come with a bit of a caveat, as the Breakers sit in last place of the NBL standings.
Whether it's as a Nicolas Batum type, Kyle Anderson or some leaner version of Boris Diaw, there's a clear pathway and role for Dieng in the NBA. Dieng has persevered through a brutal start to the season, all while playing zero true home games with the New Zealand borders still closed due to the pandemic. Expect to hear his name a lot more between now and draft night, as he's the type of tantalizing talent that tends to rise in the pre-draft process. -- Schmitz
19. Minnesota Timberwolves
Kennedy Chandler | Tennessee | 6-1 | PG | Age: 19.5
20. San Antonio Spurs (from Raptors)
Blake Wesley | Notre Dame | 6-5 | SG | Age: 19.0
21. Memphis Grizzlies (from Jazz)
MarJon Beauchamp | G League Ignite | 6-6 | SG/SF | Age: 21.4
22. Denver Nuggets
E.J. Liddell | Ohio St. | 6-7 | PF | Age: 21.2
23. Milwaukee Bucks
Walker Kessler | Auburn | 7-1 | C | Age: 20.6
24. Brooklyn Nets (from 76ers)
Nikola Jovic | Mega Mozzart | 6-10 | SF | Age: 18.8
25. San Antonio Spurs (from Celtics)
Kendall Brown | Baylor | 6-8 | SF | Age: 18.9
26. Dallas Mavericks
Trevor Keels | Duke | 6-5 | PG/SG | Age: 18.6
If this was the final game of Keels' career, he went out in style. The 18-year old freshman gave Duke a huge lift off the bench by scoring 19 points, the most production he's had against an NCAA tournament team since scoring 25 against Kentucky in November's Champions Classic.
Keels attacked the rim ferociously, throwing in six of his seven attempts from inside the arc, including several difficult finishes in traffic showing his high skill level. He also hit a pair of 3-pointers, highlighted by one especially memorable shot to put Duke ahead with two minutes left. Keels also showed his toughness and energy with several strong rebounds and defensive plays on and off the ball chasing North Carolina's guards around the perimeter.
Every time Duke needed someone to make a play, Keels looked happy to step up, never looking afraid of the moment. When the Blue Devils were starved for offense early in the game, he came in and went right to work to give them a boost and help change the momentum. Down three, Keels easily could have tied the game with 11 seconds left with an and-1 layup that was controversially called on the floor.
It wasn't enough to help Duke advance to the national championship game, but it's tough to argue with the contribution Keels made in the biggest game he's played in thus far.
What will Keels decide to do next? The word in NBA circles all season has been that he will likely consider returning for his sophomore season if he doesn't receive assurances he's a lock first-round pick, so how he performs in the NBA pre-draft process, provided he decides to declare, as expected, will go a long way in determining if we ever see him in a Duke uniform again. -- Givony
27. Golden State Warriors
Jaden Hardy | G League Ignite | 6-4 | SG | Age: 19.7
28. Miami Heat
Christian Braun | Kansas | 6-6 | SG/SF | Age: 20.9
Braun played an essential role throughout Kansas' national championship run, making several big second half plays on both ends of the floor to help bring the Jayhawks back from a 15-point halftime deficit versus North Carolina. He did the same against Villanova in the semifinals, hitting clutch shots down the stretch to recover from a poor first half and showing his winning character in the process.
Braun is a high-floor prospect, looking the part of an NBA wing with his excellent size, strong frame and solid explosiveness. He was a key cog in Kansas' half-court offense, as their designated post-entry passer and regularly creating open shots for teammates by attacking closeouts with his head up looking to collapse the defense and kick out to the perimeter, posting 22 assists in six NCAA tournament games.
While not the most consistent shooter or versatile shot-creator, Braun finds ways to score by pushing defensive rebounds aggressively in the open court and sprinting ahead for outlet passes. He took advantage of UNC's lack of perimeter size by punishing Caleb Love repeatedly with deep post catches and finishes in the championship game, and also grabbed 12 rebounds. Most important was the work he did defensively, helping force Love into a 5-for-24 shooting performance while seemingly being everywhere off the ball, making heady rotations out to shooters and constantly helping in the paint to erase several layup opportunities.
Braun's chances of being a first-round pick were certainly helped by the outstanding season he had and the significant contributions he made in securing a national championship, but question marks about the extent of his NBA upside persist. Despite being a career 38% 3-point shooter, he's a reluctant perimeter shooter with a slow, low release on his jumper, and isn't the most skillful or dynamic scorer inside the arc. Still, he's only 20 years old, offers a great deal of competitiveness and winning traits and should have a tailor-made role in the NBA if he can find more consistency and confidence in his outside shot.
All indications even prior to his excellent Final Four were that Braun is likely headed to the NBA after his All-Big 12 season, and nothing he showed in the NCAA tournament did anything to diminish his standing as a pro prospect. -- Givony
29. Memphis Grizzlies
Bryce McGowens | Nebraska | 6-6 | SG | Age: 19.4
30. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Suns)
Patrick Baldwin Jr. | Milwaukee | 6-9 | SF/PF | Age: 19.3
31. Indiana Pacers (from Cavaliers via Rockets)
Jean Montero | Overtime Elite | 6-2 | PG/SG | Age: 18.7
32. Orlando Magic
Hugo Besson | NZ Breakers | 6-5 | PG/SG | Age: 20.9
33. Toronto Raptors (from Pistons)
Ismael Kamagate | Paris | 6-11 | C | Age: 21.2
34. Oklahoma City Thunder
David Roddy | Colorado St. | 6-5 | PF | Age: 21.0
35. Orlando Magic (from Pacers)
Wendell Moore Jr. | Duke | 6-6 | SF | Age: 20.5
36. Portland Trail Blazers
Christian Koloko | Arizona | 7-1 | C | Age: 21.7
37. Sacramento Kings
Justin Lewis | Marquette | 6-7 | SF/PF | Age: 19.9
38. San Antonio Spurs (from Lakers)
JD Davison | Alabama | 6-3 | PG | Age: 19.5
39. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Spurs)
Terquavion Smith | N.C. State | 6-4 | SG | 19.2
40. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Cavaliers via Wizards)
Khalifa Diop | Gran Canaria | 7-0 | C | Age: 20.2
41. Charlotte Hornets (from Pelicans)
Jake LaRavia | Wake Forest | 6-8 | PF | Age: 20.4
42. New York Knicks
Max Christie | Michigan St. | 6-6 | SG | Age: 19.1
43. Charlotte Hornets
Dalen Terry | Arizona | 6-7 | PG/SG | Age: 19.7
44. Detroit Pistons (from Nets)
Oscar Tshiebwe | Kentucky | 6-9 | C | Age: 22.3
45. LA Clippers
Jaylin Williams | Arkansas | 6-10 | C | Age: 19.7
46. Atlanta Hawks
Yannick Nzosa | Unicaja Malaga | 6-11 | C | Age: 18.3
47. New Orleans Pelicans (from Cavaliers)
Josh Minott | Memphis | 6-8 | PF | Age: 19.3
48. Sacramento Kings (from Bulls)
Keon Ellis | Alabama | 6-6 | SG/SF | Age: 22.2
49. Minnesota Timberwolves
Trevion Williams | Purdue | 6-10 | C | Age: 21.5
50. Golden State Warriors (from Raptors)
Caleb Love | North Carolina | 6-4 | SG | Age: 20.5
Love put North Carolina fans on an absolute roller coaster ride in the NCAA tournament, alternating between looking like a lottery pick in some moments and being the clear-cut worst player on the floor in others.
The highs were incredibly high -- a 21 point first half (6-for-11 from 3) to blow out Marquette in the opening round, 30 points (6-for-13 from 3) against UCLA in the Sweet 16, and a 22-point (8-for-12 FG) second half in the Final Four against Duke. His shot-making ability pulling up off the dribble from incredible vantage points without a hint of daylight, and never-ending confidence helped No. 8 seed UNC nearly pull off the impossible and capture a national championship six weeks after many wondered if they'd make the NCAA tournament. Love looks the part and then some, standing 6-4 with a 6-10 wingspan, and most of his made baskets are exactly what you expect to see from an NBA guard in terms of the degree of difficulty and aesthetic quality.
https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/st...nba-mock-draft-prospects-rise-ncaa-tournament
If Love is drafted, he'll be one of the least efficient players to hear their name called in NBA draft history, after shooting just 35% from the field in his college career. Only one player in the past 40 years of college basketball (Kentucky's Andrew Harrison) has been drafted after posting a 2P% of 38% or lower like Love did as a sophomore, and that was actually a major improvement over his freshman year, where he shot 34.8% inside the arc.
Never were Love's struggles as a finisher and decision-maker and with his shot-selection more evident than in the national championship game, where he had the worst game of his college career, going 4-for-16 for 2 and 1-for-8 for 3 with four turnovers and two assists. He similarly struggled in a Round of 32 win over Baylor, scoring five points on 1-for-6 shooting with two assists and six turnovers before fouling out.
Love will surely get plenty of looks in the pre-draft process, likely getting an opportunity to recreate his NCAA tournament heroics in the NBA combine, where his game could translate very well if he wakes up on the right side of bed that morning. For now, Love has put himself firmly in second-round consideration, with plenty of room to move up or down depending on how he looks over the next few months. -- Givony
51. New Orleans Pelicans (from Jazz)
Andrew Nembhard | Gonzaga | 6-4 | PG | Age: 22.2
52. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Nuggets)
Jalen Williams | Santa Clara | 6-6 | SF | Age: 20.9
53. Boston Celtics
Matteo Spagnolo | Cremona | 6-5 | PG | Age: 19.2
54. Washington Wizards (from Mavericks)
Gabriele Procida | Fortitudo Bologna | 6-7 | SG | Age: 19.8
55. Golden State Warriors
Drew Timme | Gonzaga | 6-10 | PF/C | Age: 21.5
56. Portland Trail Blazers (from Grizzlies)
Alondes Williams | Wake Forest | 6-5 | PG/SG | Age: 22.7
57. Indiana Pacers (from Suns)
Michael Foster | G League Ignite | 6-9 | PF | Age: 19.2
58. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Heat)
Dominick Barlow | Overtime Elite | 6-9 | PF/C | Age: 18.8
The 2022 NCAA tournament concluded on Monday as Kansas rallied past North Carolina to capture its fourth men's basketball championship. With the college basketball season over, the attention now turns to the 2022 NBA draft on June 23. Duke freshman Paolo Banchero was the only projected top-3 draft pick that competed in the Final Four last weekend, finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds in what was likely his last game as a Blue Devil.
Did the extra games help Banchero's draft case with Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren and Auburn's Jabari Smith sitting at home? Or did it draw more attention to his weaknesses?
ESPN's NBA draft experts Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz followed the Final Four action and provide their latest prospect updates. Givony's updated mock draft is below along, along with recent observations on Duke's prospects (Banchero, AJ Griffin, Mark Williams, Trevor Keels), NCAA tournament Most Outstanding Player Ochai Agbaji and North Carolina guard Caleb Love.
Jonathan Givony's NBA mock draft
1. Houston Rockets
Chet Holmgren | Gonzaga | 7-0 | PF | Age: 19.9
2. Orlando Magic
Jabari Smith | Auburn | 6-10 | SF/PF | Age: 18.8
3. Detroit Pistons
Paolo Banchero | Duke | 6-10 | PF/C | Age: 19.3
Banchero's outstanding freshman campaign came to end against North Carolina with the projected top-3 NBA pick turning in a 20-point, 10-rebound performance that was very representative of his clear strengths and glaring improvement areas.
On the offensive end, Banchero showed flashes of brilliance. He knocked down a pair of decisive trail 3s (one off the catch and one off the bounce), used his powerful 250-pound frame to attack the rim rather than settle for contested pull-ups, and finished post-ups over Brady Manek and Armando Bacot. Banchero scoring 20 points on 17 shots against a below average defender in Manek isn't going to convince NBA teams that he should be the No. 1 pick. The fact that he did struggle a bit to finish over length at times is noteworthy when you consider his good -- not great -- reach (he shot 49% from 2 in the NCAA tournament). Not scoring a bucket over the last 7:37 is also something naysayers will point to. The 19-year-old still showed yet again how much of a mismatch he is for opposing defenses, which should surely translate well with NBA spacing.
It was Banchero's spotty defensive effort that will likely stick with NBA scouts. UNC had a clear plan to bring Banchero into action to force a switch and attack him. Banchero held up OK in these situations despite getting caught a little flat-footed on a couple occasions, even blocking R.J. Davis at the rim after a switch. He also added some value as a defensive rover when he was defending Leaky Black as he started the game fairly disruptive, and altered a shot at the rim as the drop defender in the second half.
Overall, Banchero's NCAA tournament run should be considered a success, as he averaged 18.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 53% from 3 over five games. He's the most polished of the potential top-3 picks and a strong candidate to compete for Rookie of the Year pending his potential new team. But for the teams that were already concerned about Banchero's defensive impact -- preferring the two-way play of Jabari Smith and Chet Holmgren -- Saturday's heartbreaking loss to UNC likely didn't help change their mind. -- Mike Schmitz
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
Jaden Ivey | Purdue | 6-4 | PG/SG | Age: 20.1
5. Indiana Pacers
Keegan Murray | Iowa | 6-9 | PF/C | Age: 21.6
6. Portland Trail Blazers
Shaedon Sharpe | Kentucky | 6-6 | SG | Age: 18.8
7. Sacramento Kings
Johnny Davis | Wisconsin | 6-5 | PG/SG | Age: 20.1
8. New Orleans Pelicans (from Lakers)
AJ Griffin | Duke | 6-6 | SF/PF | Age: 18.6
Griffin capped off a freshman season that featured tremendous highs and head-scratching lows with a clunker in Duke's loss to UNC as he went just 1-for-7 from the field (0-for-4 from 3) for six points in 29 minutes. One of the youngest players in the country, Griffin has been feast or famine all season, either catching fire from beyond the arc and splashing tough step-back 3s or showing his youth and inexperience with inconsistent decision making on both ends. The UNC game was the ladder for the 18-year-old wing, as he looked relatively out of rhythm offensively, hoisting up a couple contested triples, failing to knock down the open ones, and appearing relatively limited in terms of burst and bounce when he tried to put pressure on the rim. Griffin did make a heady drop-off pass after collapsing the defense on penetration. He also had some solid defensive moments making it tough on Caleb Love in the first half while using his 7-foot wingspan on an energetic crack-down block. He still runs into screens too often, doesn't mix it up on the defensive like he could, and has his lapses off the ball defensively.
Griffin's Final Four performance feeds into the question that some of his naysayers have asked this season: What does he do in the NBA when he's not making shots? Aside from an 18-point performance in a win over Arkansas and a 21-point outing against Miami in the ACC tournament, Griffin had his fair share of ups and downs over the last 10 games as he failed to reach double-digits four times, shot 33% from 3 and registered just six assists. There's still a lot to like about Griffin. He's young, built like an NBA wing, has a strong basketball pedigree, shot 45% on the season, and had stretches during the year where he looked like Duke's best prospect, displaying better ball skills than most players with his body type while also finding ways to add value as a cutter. Last Saturday's tough showing is a perfect example of why Griffin is one of the more polarizing and often confusing prospects projected in the top-10. -- Schmitz
9. San Antonio Spurs
Jalen Duren | Memphis | 6-10 | C | Age: 18.3
10. Washington Wizards
Dyson Daniels | G League Ignite | 6-6 | PG/SG | Age: 19.0
11. Portland Trail Blazers (from Pelicans)
Mark Williams | Duke | 7-1 | C | Age: 20.3
Williams was unable to settle in and have his usual two-way impact as he picked up his second foul that forced him to sit the final 15 minutes of the first half. Williams was again forced to the bench in the second half as he collected his fourth foul with just over 10 minutes remaining. On top of that, Williams missed two huge free throws with 47 seconds remaining that would have put Duke up one. Williams never got in a true rhythm during his 16 minutes, finishing with eight points, four rebounds and zero blocks -- it was only the second time all season that Williams didn't record at least one block. Although not an elite defensive rebounder, Williams' 9-8 reach was sorely missed on the glass, as UNC chased down 17 offensive rebounds.
The 20-year-old sophomore did still have a couple highlights, hammering home four dunks off of putbacks and drop offs, bringing his NCAA total to 17 over five games. He was a mixed bag defending pick-and-roll, taking away passing angles for the ball handler several times, racking up a couple deflections in the process. It's hard to complain about his contest against Caleb Love in what proved to be a back-breaking pull-up 3 for the Blue Devils. But he was a bit too deep in drops on occasion and still gets too high in his stance from time to time.
Given the tough whistle along with his strong body of work as a lob-catching, shot-blocking, offensive rebounding center, Williams' up and down Final Four performance isn't likely to affect his draft stock as he's all but solidified his status as a top-20 prospect, with the potential to earn looks in the late lottery with a strong pre-draft process. With a reach bigger than Rudy Gobert and some stylistic similarities to centers ranging from Robert Williams to Mitchell Robinson to Clint Capela, there are no shortage of successful bigs in Williams' mold, which gives him one of the highest floors among big men prospects not named Chet Holmgren. -- Schmitz
12. New York Knicks
Bennedict Mathurin | Arizona | 6-6 | SF | Age: 19.7
13. Charlotte Hornets (Hawks if 19-30)
Jeremy Sochan | Baylor | 6-9 | PF | Age: 18.8
14. Houston Rockets (from Nets)
TyTy Washington Jr. | Kentucky | 6-4 | PG/SG | Age: 20.3
15. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Clippers)
Tari Eason | LSU | 6-8 | PF | Age: 20.9
16. Atlanta Hawks
Ochai Agbaji | Kansas | 6-6 | SF | Age: 21.9
Agbaji was named the NCAA tournament's Most Outstanding Player, largely on the back of two phenomenal performances in the Elite Eight and Final Four in which he scored 39 points on an efficient 14-for-20 shooting from the floor with excellent one-on-one defense.
His contributions were more muted in the four other tournament contests, scoring 43 points on 16-for-45 shooting, demonstrating his limitations as a ball handler and passer while having too many lapses with his off-ball awareness and rotations, showing his just-average feel for the game.
Agbaji looks like a plug-and-play 3-and-D NBA caliber wing with his strong 215-pound frame, 6-10 wingspan, 41% 3-point shooting, high-intensity level and ability to score in transition on straight line-drives, especially coming off screens. It was important for him to get back on track from beyond the arc as the tournament progressed as he was mired in a deep slump from the perimeter, hitting 26% for 3 in the 10 games prior to the Elite Eight. When Agbaji gets into rhythm and is playing with confidence, he looks like one of the most dynamic shot-makers in college basketball, rising up smoothly pulling up in transition, ducking behind handoffs and sprinting off pin downs or staggers with outstanding footwork.
The senior won the last 11 games of his college career, was named a First-Team All-American, and likely secured a spot for his jersey to hang in the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse in the process. That should also translate to a spot in the green room on draft night and potentially hearing his name called in the lottery by NBA commissioner Adam Silver. -- Jonathan Givony
17. Indiana Pacers (from Cavaliers)
Malaki Branham | Ohio St. | 6-5 | SG | Age: 18.8
18. Chicago Bulls
Ousmane Dieng | NZ Breakers | 6-10 | SF/PF | Age: 18.8
After watching a New Zealand Breakers practice, shootaround and NBL game in Cairns, Australia, Dieng reminded me exactly why he was once considered a top-10 prospect in this class and should earn late lottery consideration once NBA execs get eyes on the 18-year-old. Seeing him in live game action for the first time since the 2019 U16 European Championships, Dieng is now 6-10 in shoes with a 7-0 wingspan, has a thin yet developing frame, and guard-like agility that helps him on both ends of the floor. He was the best player on the court during the practice I evaluated, handling the ball with extreme fluidity while firing several one-handed passes you rarely see from players his height.
With the NBL season winding down, Dieng has put his forgettable start to the season behind him and is now playing the best basketball of his young career. After failing to reach double digits scoring the first 11 games of the season -- with two goose eggs sprinkled in -- Dieng has now scored at least 11 points in seven of his last nine games, capped off by 38 combined points in his last 47 minutes in back-to-back games against Cairns.
While he shows real promise as a ball handler, pick-and-roll creator, shooter and is incredibly smooth with everything he does, Dieng is still a ways away from being able to impact winning at the NBA level, at least with any type of consistency. Although greatly improved, his defensive toughness comes and goes. He's a poor rebounder who doesn't always box out or pursue the ball. He's a finesse over physicality finisher. And he thumbs the ball as a shooter, which plays a role in the fact that he's shooting 24% from 3 and 64% from the free-throw line. His success does come with a bit of a caveat, as the Breakers sit in last place of the NBL standings.
Whether it's as a Nicolas Batum type, Kyle Anderson or some leaner version of Boris Diaw, there's a clear pathway and role for Dieng in the NBA. Dieng has persevered through a brutal start to the season, all while playing zero true home games with the New Zealand borders still closed due to the pandemic. Expect to hear his name a lot more between now and draft night, as he's the type of tantalizing talent that tends to rise in the pre-draft process. -- Schmitz
19. Minnesota Timberwolves
Kennedy Chandler | Tennessee | 6-1 | PG | Age: 19.5
20. San Antonio Spurs (from Raptors)
Blake Wesley | Notre Dame | 6-5 | SG | Age: 19.0
21. Memphis Grizzlies (from Jazz)
MarJon Beauchamp | G League Ignite | 6-6 | SG/SF | Age: 21.4
22. Denver Nuggets
E.J. Liddell | Ohio St. | 6-7 | PF | Age: 21.2
23. Milwaukee Bucks
Walker Kessler | Auburn | 7-1 | C | Age: 20.6
24. Brooklyn Nets (from 76ers)
Nikola Jovic | Mega Mozzart | 6-10 | SF | Age: 18.8
25. San Antonio Spurs (from Celtics)
Kendall Brown | Baylor | 6-8 | SF | Age: 18.9
26. Dallas Mavericks
Trevor Keels | Duke | 6-5 | PG/SG | Age: 18.6
If this was the final game of Keels' career, he went out in style. The 18-year old freshman gave Duke a huge lift off the bench by scoring 19 points, the most production he's had against an NCAA tournament team since scoring 25 against Kentucky in November's Champions Classic.
Keels attacked the rim ferociously, throwing in six of his seven attempts from inside the arc, including several difficult finishes in traffic showing his high skill level. He also hit a pair of 3-pointers, highlighted by one especially memorable shot to put Duke ahead with two minutes left. Keels also showed his toughness and energy with several strong rebounds and defensive plays on and off the ball chasing North Carolina's guards around the perimeter.
Every time Duke needed someone to make a play, Keels looked happy to step up, never looking afraid of the moment. When the Blue Devils were starved for offense early in the game, he came in and went right to work to give them a boost and help change the momentum. Down three, Keels easily could have tied the game with 11 seconds left with an and-1 layup that was controversially called on the floor.
It wasn't enough to help Duke advance to the national championship game, but it's tough to argue with the contribution Keels made in the biggest game he's played in thus far.
What will Keels decide to do next? The word in NBA circles all season has been that he will likely consider returning for his sophomore season if he doesn't receive assurances he's a lock first-round pick, so how he performs in the NBA pre-draft process, provided he decides to declare, as expected, will go a long way in determining if we ever see him in a Duke uniform again. -- Givony
27. Golden State Warriors
Jaden Hardy | G League Ignite | 6-4 | SG | Age: 19.7
28. Miami Heat
Christian Braun | Kansas | 6-6 | SG/SF | Age: 20.9
Braun played an essential role throughout Kansas' national championship run, making several big second half plays on both ends of the floor to help bring the Jayhawks back from a 15-point halftime deficit versus North Carolina. He did the same against Villanova in the semifinals, hitting clutch shots down the stretch to recover from a poor first half and showing his winning character in the process.
Braun is a high-floor prospect, looking the part of an NBA wing with his excellent size, strong frame and solid explosiveness. He was a key cog in Kansas' half-court offense, as their designated post-entry passer and regularly creating open shots for teammates by attacking closeouts with his head up looking to collapse the defense and kick out to the perimeter, posting 22 assists in six NCAA tournament games.
While not the most consistent shooter or versatile shot-creator, Braun finds ways to score by pushing defensive rebounds aggressively in the open court and sprinting ahead for outlet passes. He took advantage of UNC's lack of perimeter size by punishing Caleb Love repeatedly with deep post catches and finishes in the championship game, and also grabbed 12 rebounds. Most important was the work he did defensively, helping force Love into a 5-for-24 shooting performance while seemingly being everywhere off the ball, making heady rotations out to shooters and constantly helping in the paint to erase several layup opportunities.
Braun's chances of being a first-round pick were certainly helped by the outstanding season he had and the significant contributions he made in securing a national championship, but question marks about the extent of his NBA upside persist. Despite being a career 38% 3-point shooter, he's a reluctant perimeter shooter with a slow, low release on his jumper, and isn't the most skillful or dynamic scorer inside the arc. Still, he's only 20 years old, offers a great deal of competitiveness and winning traits and should have a tailor-made role in the NBA if he can find more consistency and confidence in his outside shot.
All indications even prior to his excellent Final Four were that Braun is likely headed to the NBA after his All-Big 12 season, and nothing he showed in the NCAA tournament did anything to diminish his standing as a pro prospect. -- Givony
29. Memphis Grizzlies
Bryce McGowens | Nebraska | 6-6 | SG | Age: 19.4
30. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Suns)
Patrick Baldwin Jr. | Milwaukee | 6-9 | SF/PF | Age: 19.3
31. Indiana Pacers (from Cavaliers via Rockets)
Jean Montero | Overtime Elite | 6-2 | PG/SG | Age: 18.7
32. Orlando Magic
Hugo Besson | NZ Breakers | 6-5 | PG/SG | Age: 20.9
33. Toronto Raptors (from Pistons)
Ismael Kamagate | Paris | 6-11 | C | Age: 21.2
34. Oklahoma City Thunder
David Roddy | Colorado St. | 6-5 | PF | Age: 21.0
35. Orlando Magic (from Pacers)
Wendell Moore Jr. | Duke | 6-6 | SF | Age: 20.5
36. Portland Trail Blazers
Christian Koloko | Arizona | 7-1 | C | Age: 21.7
37. Sacramento Kings
Justin Lewis | Marquette | 6-7 | SF/PF | Age: 19.9
38. San Antonio Spurs (from Lakers)
JD Davison | Alabama | 6-3 | PG | Age: 19.5
39. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Spurs)
Terquavion Smith | N.C. State | 6-4 | SG | 19.2
40. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Cavaliers via Wizards)
Khalifa Diop | Gran Canaria | 7-0 | C | Age: 20.2
41. Charlotte Hornets (from Pelicans)
Jake LaRavia | Wake Forest | 6-8 | PF | Age: 20.4
42. New York Knicks
Max Christie | Michigan St. | 6-6 | SG | Age: 19.1
43. Charlotte Hornets
Dalen Terry | Arizona | 6-7 | PG/SG | Age: 19.7
44. Detroit Pistons (from Nets)
Oscar Tshiebwe | Kentucky | 6-9 | C | Age: 22.3
45. LA Clippers
Jaylin Williams | Arkansas | 6-10 | C | Age: 19.7
46. Atlanta Hawks
Yannick Nzosa | Unicaja Malaga | 6-11 | C | Age: 18.3
47. New Orleans Pelicans (from Cavaliers)
Josh Minott | Memphis | 6-8 | PF | Age: 19.3
48. Sacramento Kings (from Bulls)
Keon Ellis | Alabama | 6-6 | SG/SF | Age: 22.2
49. Minnesota Timberwolves
Trevion Williams | Purdue | 6-10 | C | Age: 21.5
50. Golden State Warriors (from Raptors)
Caleb Love | North Carolina | 6-4 | SG | Age: 20.5
Love put North Carolina fans on an absolute roller coaster ride in the NCAA tournament, alternating between looking like a lottery pick in some moments and being the clear-cut worst player on the floor in others.
The highs were incredibly high -- a 21 point first half (6-for-11 from 3) to blow out Marquette in the opening round, 30 points (6-for-13 from 3) against UCLA in the Sweet 16, and a 22-point (8-for-12 FG) second half in the Final Four against Duke. His shot-making ability pulling up off the dribble from incredible vantage points without a hint of daylight, and never-ending confidence helped No. 8 seed UNC nearly pull off the impossible and capture a national championship six weeks after many wondered if they'd make the NCAA tournament. Love looks the part and then some, standing 6-4 with a 6-10 wingspan, and most of his made baskets are exactly what you expect to see from an NBA guard in terms of the degree of difficulty and aesthetic quality.
https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/st...nba-mock-draft-prospects-rise-ncaa-tournament
If Love is drafted, he'll be one of the least efficient players to hear their name called in NBA draft history, after shooting just 35% from the field in his college career. Only one player in the past 40 years of college basketball (Kentucky's Andrew Harrison) has been drafted after posting a 2P% of 38% or lower like Love did as a sophomore, and that was actually a major improvement over his freshman year, where he shot 34.8% inside the arc.
Never were Love's struggles as a finisher and decision-maker and with his shot-selection more evident than in the national championship game, where he had the worst game of his college career, going 4-for-16 for 2 and 1-for-8 for 3 with four turnovers and two assists. He similarly struggled in a Round of 32 win over Baylor, scoring five points on 1-for-6 shooting with two assists and six turnovers before fouling out.
Love will surely get plenty of looks in the pre-draft process, likely getting an opportunity to recreate his NCAA tournament heroics in the NBA combine, where his game could translate very well if he wakes up on the right side of bed that morning. For now, Love has put himself firmly in second-round consideration, with plenty of room to move up or down depending on how he looks over the next few months. -- Givony
51. New Orleans Pelicans (from Jazz)
Andrew Nembhard | Gonzaga | 6-4 | PG | Age: 22.2
52. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Nuggets)
Jalen Williams | Santa Clara | 6-6 | SF | Age: 20.9
53. Boston Celtics
Matteo Spagnolo | Cremona | 6-5 | PG | Age: 19.2
54. Washington Wizards (from Mavericks)
Gabriele Procida | Fortitudo Bologna | 6-7 | SG | Age: 19.8
55. Golden State Warriors
Drew Timme | Gonzaga | 6-10 | PF/C | Age: 21.5
56. Portland Trail Blazers (from Grizzlies)
Alondes Williams | Wake Forest | 6-5 | PG/SG | Age: 22.7
57. Indiana Pacers (from Suns)
Michael Foster | G League Ignite | 6-9 | PF | Age: 19.2
58. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Heat)
Dominick Barlow | Overtime Elite | 6-9 | PF/C | Age: 18.8
