- Sep 18, 2003
- 61,922
- 134,298
Can’t get down with these MKG comparisons. Castle going to be able to handle the ball in PNR from day one.
2025 NBA Draft Thread
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by addict4sneakers,
- Start date
- Mar 31, 2011
- 73,076
- 117,392
Yeah the MKG floor seems way too low. Castle doesn’t have THAT mechanics issue and can do much more on ball.
- Sep 5, 2010
- 93,190
- 129,765
- Sep 18, 2003
- 61,922
- 134,298
- Sep 18, 2003
- 61,922
- 134,298
pmatic
what in gods name do the lakers do at 17?
- Sep 5, 2010
- 93,190
- 129,765
I think it will be up for trade. But if it isn't, I think one of the centers like Flip, Edey, Ware, etc. is a viable candidate. Don't think the team needs any more guards and not sure there's a forward worth it.
I saw DX and Vecenie mocked da Silva to the Lakers in their latest mocks, but I don't know if he's the right fit other than being older and thus "ready to contribute".
- Sep 18, 2003
- 61,922
- 134,298
I have a big there right now. They are in a bad spot with that timeline.
- Nov 15, 2007
- 7,918
- 2,192
Ware would make sense if he's available but seems like he's increasingly seen as a late lottery guy.
- May 31, 2013
- 1,076
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- Mar 14, 2010
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I love the uncertainty of this draft. This really will highlight who has a good scouting and player development department.
No clear cut elite guys. We really get to see who’s good at recognizing talent
No clear cut elite guys. We really get to see who’s good at recognizing talent
- Sep 5, 2010
- 93,190
- 129,765
I know a lot of draftniks don't like him. I see the talent, but something seems off. I know he had the low motor tag coming from HS/Oregon.
Seems like he could be a Bobby Portis/Naz Reid or a Christian Wood.
- Mar 16, 2010
- 147,591
- 180,575
- Sep 5, 2010
- 93,190
- 129,765
- Sep 5, 2010
- 93,190
- 129,765
- May 31, 2013
- 1,076
- 1,646
- Sep 5, 2010
- 93,190
- 129,765
2024 NBA draft rankings: Jonathan Givony's top 100 prospects
With less than three weeks until the start of the 2024 NBA draft, players are going through private and group workouts while teams are doing their due diligence to narrow down their draft boards.
Throughout the pre-draft process leading up to the two-day draft (June 26-27) in Brooklyn, New York, most teams and executives have considerable work in front of them, and the news of this week hasn't exactly solidified many draft boards, either.
On Wednesday, ESPN reported that projected top-10 pick Nikola Topic has a partially torn ACL. Topic will soon be evaluated by NBA team doctors, who will decide on the next course of action regarding surgery and a plan moving forward.
And on Thursday, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that the Los Angeles Lakers are targeting UConn men's basketball coach Dan Hurley as the franchise's next coach -- a move that could impact the Lakers' draft decisions in the first and second rounds. (Bronny James, perhaps?)
Draft experts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo have taken into account the recent news, as well as their intel from teams and players who are evaluating those all-important workouts, to inform ESPN's Top 100 Big Board.
1. Zaccharie Risacher | SF | Bourg (France)
6-foot-10 | Age: 19.1 | Previously ranked: 1
Risacher's 75-game season ended May 30, giving him a few days off before the start of the NBA Global Camp on June 4. There he was measured and conducted interviews, a medical examination, athletic testing and drills. Risacher will depart for Atlanta next week -- his home base for the remainder of the pre-draft process, a city he is familiar with after training there in previous summers. Before leaving for the United States, he has some loose ends to tie up in France, sources say, including passing his driver's license test, a farewell news conference at his club, JL Bourg, and a suit-fitting in Paris with Armani for draft night on June 26.
We'll see how wide of a net Risacher elects to cast in NBA team workouts with fairly limited time at his disposal and coming off a long season. Most teams don't expect him to be available in the draft past No. 4, when the San Antonio Spurs pick, so the Atlanta Hawks (No. 1 pick) and Washington (No. 2 pick) are looking like increasingly strong options. -- Givony
2. Alex Sarr | PF/C | Perth (Australia)
7-1 | Age: 19.0 | Previously ranked: 2
Sarr will be one of the first names off the board on June 26, but the situation at the top of the draft has yet to fully play out. He is firmly in the mix as an option for Atlanta at No. 1, but the Hawks are being thorough in gathering information as they move toward their decision. If Atlanta passes on Sarr, Washington is strongly shaping up as a landing spot, with rival teams believing the Wizards at No. 2 to be his floor.
As a mobile 7-footer with skill potential and elite physical tools, Sarr has obvious long-term appeal as he gains experience and matures, and he should be able to make an impact defensively right away. He made big strides this season in Perth, and if he can protect the rim and space the floor at a high level at both the 4 and 5 spots, he'll be the type of player teams find challenging to acquire in any draft, no matter the depth of the class. Those potential high-end outcomes are worth a swing at the top of the draft. -- Woo
3. Donovan Clingan | C | UConn
7-3 | Age: 20.2 | Previously ranked: 3
Clingan is a top-three prospect who might experience a minor drop on draft night because teams that are in the Nos. 3-6 range already have starting centers in place. He's in conversation at No. 1 after working out in Atlanta (which is exploring trade-down scenarios). He is also spending time in Washington, which has the No. 2 pick. Clingan isn't expected to drop past the Portland Trail Blazers at No. 7, whom he just visited for a private workout as well. He is being discussed among teams as a possible target for the likes of Chicago, Memphis, Oklahoma City or Utah, who all might explore trading up for a player in his mold.
Clingan's appeal is evident at 7-foot-3 with a 7-7 wingspan and 9-7 standing reach, and he's viewed by many as the draft's most impactful defensive prospect with the timing he shows as a rim-protector and the improvement he has made guarding the pick-and-roll. His youth, productivity, touch and instincts on both ends of the court give him a high floor and make him a sleeper candidate to hear his name called at No. 1. -- Givony
4. Reed Sheppard | PG/SG | Kentucky
6-3 | Age: 19.9 | Previously ranked: 4
Sheppard's range appears somewhat narrow at this stage, and his draft positioning likely begins at No. 3, with the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets all viable landing spots early on. His impressive freshman season and elite shooting numbers have helped him to break the mold for a guard his size and put him at or near the top of many analytics models, helping to frame the conversation around his upside.
The fact he can play on and off the ball -- and makes the most of his limitations defensively -- also helps envision a valuable floor. If Sheppard falls out of the top five, which might hinge to an extent on potential teams trading picks -- he'd be a strong fit with the Hornets at No. 6 as a complement to their young core. -- Woo
5. Matas Buzelis | SF/PF | G League Ignite
6-10 | Age: 19.6 | Previously ranked: 5
Buzelis will work out for almost every team in the top five, sources say, as many around the NBA are intrigued by the idea of an explosive 6-10 wing who has playmaking ability, defensive versatility and flashes of shot-making prowess. The fact he doesn't need the ball in his hands to be successful but has significant upside to grow into at 19 years old with a developing frame, could be attractive for teams.
Sources say Buzelis' hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, watched him work out privately in Los Angeles early in the pre-draft process. Chicago has shown a willingness to explore moving up in the draft for the right price. The Bulls' Lithuanian president, Arturas Karnisovas, has extensive knowledge of Buzelis, who is also Lithuanian. -- Givony
6. Stephon Castle | PG/SG | UConn
6-7 | Age: 19.5 | Previously ranked: 6
It has been difficult for NBA teams to schedule Castle on the workout circuit, so it remains to be seen exactly where that will land him on draft night. Teams on his trail will be closely monitoring whether he decides to open up his availability in the coming weeks. He has been most strongly connected to San Antonio, but if the Spurs go a different direction with their two first-round picks, there will be suitors elsewhere in the top 10, with a potentially strong fit in the Utah Jazz.
There's quite a bit of interest in Castle's versatility, perimeter defense and playmaking potential long-term. There are also some questions about the state of his jump shot, and to a lesser extent, whether he can play point guard in a full-time capacity. His role in UConn's title run has certainly helped bolster his draft stock to this point. -- Woo
7. Rob Dillingham | PG | Kentucky
6-2 | Age: 19.4 | Previously ranked: 7
Dillingham is nearing a mid-month return from the ankle injury that has disrupted his pre-draft process, sources say, likely leaving him time for only a handful of workouts before June 26. While somewhat polarizing among teams because of his size, Dillingham is one of the rare prospects in this class who could potentially anchor a team's offense with his dynamic shot creation and shot-making prowess, giving him rare star power in a class sorely lacking in that department.
He's in the conversation for every team drafting in the top 10 that is in the market for a point guard, but he might need some trade scenarios to come to fruition to aid his cause on draft night. -- Givony
8. Dalton Knecht | SF | Tennessee
6-6 | Age: 23.1 | Previously ranked: 8
Knecht has positioned himself pretty firmly as a mid-lottery pick, drawing strong interest from Charlotte, Portland, San Antonio, Memphis and Utah in the Nos. 6-10 range. The reliability of his skill set as a legitimate scorer with positional size coming off an efficient season bodes well in the long run, dispelling most of the concerns about his advanced age for a lottery pick. He has the size, instincts and shooting ability that should translate effectively in an offense-driven NBA.
He can feasibly step into minutes and help a team improve next season and comes with some perception of untapped upside as a late-blooming prospect. -- Woo
9. Tidjane Salaun | PF | Cholet
6-10 | Age: 18.8 | Previously ranked: 10
Salaun spent several days in the United States following the conclusion of his team's season in the French playoffs, but he was compelled to return to Europe to attend the NBA draft combine in Treviso, Italy, where he interviewed and conducted medical examinations, athletic testing and drills. Salaun's measurements -- 6-10 in shoes, 217 pounds with a near 7-2 wingspan and 9-2 standing reach, indicate he has the potential to play some small-ball 5 down the road as his frame fills out, with comparable dimensions to NBA players such as Daniel Gafford or Kevon Looney at the same age.
But Salaun shows real shot-making prowess pulling up off the dribble or running off movement, which is intriguing to scouts considering his size and the fact he turns 19 on Aug. 10. He's also a competitive defender who gets in passing lanes energetically and shows versatility by covering ground and contesting shots all over the floor. He is expected to be targeted by many of the teams picking in the Nos. 4-14 range, with workouts ultimately determining where he lands. -- Givony
10. Nikola Topic | PG | Red Star (Adriatic League)
6-7 | Age: 18.8 | Previously ranked: 9
NBA teams' fears were realized when it was revealed at the draft combine medicals this week that Topic has a partially torn ACL that will require surgery. The extent of Topic's recovery process will be determined by specialists in the U.S., but it will not be surprising if he will require a redshirt season -- similar to how Chet Holmgren, Joel Embiid, Michael Porter Jr. or Blake Griffin started their NBA careers.
The fact Topic is only 18 -- younger than six of the 24 McDonald's All Americans entering college this season -- and was at one point in consideration as a potential No. 1 pick prospect early in the season, means he is unlikely to fall very far down the board on draft night. San Antonio (No.
, Utah (No. 10), Oklahoma City (No. 12) and Portland (No. 14) are viewed by teams as potential landing spots depending on team doctors' full assessments of his medicals, which have yet to be distributed. Only teams picking in the top 15 will have access to those, per new CBA rules. -- Givony
11. Ron Holland | SF | G League Ignite
6-8 | Age: 18.9 | Previously ranked: 11
Holland's range appears to be a little wider than initially thought. He has fans among teams drafting in the top 10 but is casting a fairly wide net in workouts, including teams such as the Miami Heat at No. 15 and the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 17, in part because of his strong positional fit in those attractive markets. Holland's game might not be best-suited for a workout setting with his streaky jumper, especially with many lottery candidates opting for one-on-zeros, which means he'll have to find other ways to impress NBA teams with his toughness and aggressiveness.
He's among the youngest players in this class, while boasting outstanding measurements with real scoring productivity in the G League, but teams say they are having a somewhat difficult time pegging his floor. -- Givony
12. Cody Williams | SG/SF | Colorado
6-8 | Age: 19.5 | Previously ranked: 12
At this stage, Williams' range would appear to be among the widest of our projected lottery prospects. He has interest from teams in the top 10, including Detroit, Charlotte, Portland, San Antonio and Utah, but there are also teams picking outside the lottery that remain curious whether he might fall to them. Where he decides to work out in the next couple of weeks, and how those workouts go for him, will play a big determinant in the outcome of his draft selection.
Williams' combination of positional size, defensive upside and relatively untapped offensive game makes him an intriguing developmental investment for teams. His best flashes during the season have helped keep him front of mind for teams as a lottery option. -- Woo
13. Devin Carter | PG/SG | Providence
6-3 | Age: 22.2 | Previously ranked: 13
Carter has built up buzz throughout the pre-draft process and has worked himself comfortably into the Nos. 8-15 pick range. He worked out for the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 17 this week and has multiple workouts in the lottery still scheduled. While he has not accepted any type of promise from a team, he is trending in a positive direction, with front offices intrigued by his motor, scoring ability and defensive toughness. The San Antonio Spurs (No., who have a need at guard, and the Memphis Grizzlies (No. 9), where his father, Anthony Carter, serves as an assistant coach, are viewed as the high end of his range.
Another interesting landing spot would be the Miami Heat at No. 15, where his father played from 1999 to 2003 and coached from 2018 to '23, creating a level of familiarity. Carter will also be of interest to playoff-caliber teams that are considering moving up in the draft. -- Woo
14. Ja'Kobe Walter | SG/SF | Baylor
6-5 | Age: 19.7 | Previously ranked: 14
Walter has interest from teams drafting in the lottery and shouldn't fall too far out of it if he slips, bringing a 3-and-D skill set that's widely in demand. He is viewed as a safe option because of his shooting ability, length and intangibles that should help him become a valuable contributor at the 2-spot.
He doesn't have a flashy set of skills or elite size for a wing and plays primarily off the ball, which puts a bit of a damper on starry upside projections. Still, teams feel comfortable with what he brings to the court, and strong workouts could solidify his standing in the top 14 picks. -- Woo
15. Jared McCain | PG | Duke
6-3 | Age: 20.2 | Previously ranked: 15
Teams say McCain is taking a different strategy than most players who are in his draft range, which is believed to be around Nos. 9 to 20. He is refusing one-on-zero workouts in favor of competitive 3-on-3 group settings. Even though he is viewed as one of the best shooters in this draft, the opportunity to showcase his toughness and mentality could be beneficial, even working out mostly against projected second-round picks.
With most of the teams in his range also looking for shooting finesse, including Memphis, Oklahoma City, Sacramento, Miami, Los Angeles, Orlando and Toronto, McCain likely won't have a very long wait to hear his name called on draft night. -- Givony
16. Zach Edey | C | Purdue
7-5 | Age: 22.0 | Previously ranked: 16
Teams say Edey's range appears to be in the Nos. 9-19 range based on the workouts he has conducted and scheduled. He was with the Toronto Raptors this past week, will visit the Los Angeles Lakers, and is in the conversation at Memphis (9), Utah (10), Chicago (11), Oklahoma City (12), Portland (14) and Miami (15).
Several teams say Edey's productivity ranks him as a top-three prospect in this class according to their draft models -- ESPN's Kevin Pelton had him ranked No. 2 in his stats-only draft projections. He proved nearly unstoppable in the paint at the college level, drawing fouls, crashing the offensive glass and dismantling defenses with his screening and the incredible gravity he offers diving to the rim in pick-and-roll, helping Purdue shoot 40% from the 3-point line. -- Givony
17. Tristan Da Silva | SF/PF | Colorado
6-9 | Age: 23.0 | Previously ranked: 17
Da Silva's versatility makes him a fit on most rosters, with many teams in the mid-first round willing to take a more experienced prospect they can pencil in for minutes next season. He has interest from lottery teams, including the Memphis Grizzlies (No. 9) and Sacramento Kings (No. 13), and has scheduled workouts with teams drafting down into the teens, with the expectation being he'll come off the board somewhere in that part of the draft.
While limited playing off the bounce and creating shots for himself, Da Silva plays a useful role as a willing ball mover and floor spacer with size and defensive versatility at either forward spot. -- Woo
18. Johnny Furphy | SG/SF | Kansas
6-9 | Age: 19.4 | Previously ranked: 28
Furphy faced a difficult decision whether to return to Kansas but elected to remain in the draft, feeling comfortable with his projected draft range. He should be off the draft board within the top 20 and has interest from the late lottery teams, including Memphis, Chicago, Oklahoma City and Sacramento. He offers a valid upside swing as an athletic wing who can shoot it comfortably from distance.
His youth and considerable room for development both physically and skillwise should make him an attractive option for teams willing to be patient with his development. -- Woo
19. Kyshawn George | SG/SF | Miami
6-8 | Age: 20.4 | Previously ranked: 24
George will be getting looks from many of the teams looking for wing shooting from the late lottery through the early 20s, including Oklahoma City, Sacramento, Portland, Orlando and Toronto. The fact that he stands over 6-foot-8 but has guard skills, fluidity changing speeds and strong instincts on both ends of the floor helps his appeal with multipositional versatility.
George is a late bloomer who grew 9 inches over the past four years and wasn't expected to emerge as a one-and-done prospect upon enrolling at Miami. NBA teams are hoping to get a closer look at him in the pre-draft process to get a better feel for what his long-term trajectory might look like. -- Givony
20. Carlton Carrington | PG | Pittsburgh
6-5 | Age: 18.8 | Previously ranked: 22
Carrington's youth, rapid improvement, and late physical development (he shot up by nearly a foot during his high school years) makes him an intriguing upside play, with interest in the late lottery. How teams value him relative to some of the other young guards will be a determinant here, with several picks in the teens belonging to organizations that might want a more NBA-ready prospect, which may ultimately widen his range down to around No. 20 or so.
His impressive year at Pitt, after entering the season relatively off the radar, gives him a compelling long-term case. -- Woo
21. Kyle Filipowski | PF/C | Duke
7-0 | Age: 20.5 | Previously ranked: 20
Filipowski is shaping up to have a pretty wide range, with interest from teams in the late lottery but also feasible scenarios where he could fall into the 20s. His skill level at 7 feet sets him apart from the other bigs in this draft, but his skills are also somewhat fit-specific to teams willing to utilize him creatively.
He began working out for teams this week and has a lot left to play out in that respect, with his draft range still fluid. -- Woo
22. Isaiah Collier | PG | USC
6-4 | Age: 19.6 | Previously ranked: 21
Collier has one of the widest draft ranges of any prospect in this draft, starting in the late lottery and extending through the 20s and perhaps beyond. He has been a hard player for teams to peg for his floor, as he's not the easiest player to slot positionally as a young, ball-dominant guard with streaky perimeter shooting.
Few prospects share the size, strength, shot-creation prowess, scoring instincts, and star power Collier boasts, but he'll have to find the right team willing to live through the growing pains that come with empowering him with significant ballhandling responsibility after his uneven freshman campaign. -- Givony
23. Yves Missi | C | Baylor
7-0 | Age: 20.0 | Previously ranked: 23
Missi is hoping to entice lottery teams in workouts with his elite physical tools, standing 7 feet with a 9-1½ standing reach and impressive mobility and explosiveness. Every team in the range from No. 9 to 20 wants to gauge his skill level and readiness for helping a team in the short term.
He is competing for draft position with the likes of Edey, Kel'el Ware and, to an extent, Kyle Filipowski, with workouts likely going a long way in determining what order teams land on Missi. The fact he didn't start playing organized basketball until he was 16 gives him significant long-term upside to tap into. -- Givony
24. Kel'el Ware | C | Indiana
7-0 | Age: 20.0 | Previously ranked: 25
In a draft somewhat light on bigs, Ware has helped himself in the pre-draft process after closing his sophomore season in positive fashion. His interviews with teams have been largely positive in reframing some of the narratives around his career thus far, and he looks ticketed for the first round due to his shot-blocking, touch around the rim, floor-spacing potential and uptick in productivity at Indiana.
While motor questions have followed him for the past few years, there's upside as a legitimate starter if Ware's game fully clicks, which has pretty much every first-round team in need of help at center at least considering his candidacy. -- Woo
25. Baylor Scheierman | SG | Creighton
6-7 | Age: 23.6 | Previously ranked: 26
Scheierman has drawn strong reviews throughout the pre-draft process, most notably at the NBA draft combine and then continuing in workouts, where he has excelled. The 23-year-old has good size for the wing, sharp basketball instincts and a plug-and-play NBA skill already with his dynamic shooting ability.
He's an easy fit for most of the teams drafting in the 20s and isn't expected to drop past Boston with the No. 30 pick. -- Givony
Nos. 26-100
26. Tyler Kolek, PG, Marquette
27. Bobi Klintman, SF/PF, Cairns
28. Jaylon Tyson, SG/SF, California
29. Pacome Dadiet, SG/SF, Ratiopharm Ulm
30. Tyler Smith, SF/PF, G League Ignite
31. Justin Edwards, SG/SF, Kentucky
32. Cameron Christie, SG, Minnesota
33. Terrence Shannon, SG/SF, Illinois
34. Ryan Dunn, SF/PF, Virginia
35. AJ Johnson, SG, Illawarra
36. Juan Nunez, PG, Ratiopharm Ulm
37. Adem Bona, C, UCLA
38. Kevin McCullar, SF, Kansas
39. DaRon Holmes II, PF/C, Dayton
40. Nikola Djurisic, SG/SF, Mega MIS
41. Jonathan Mogbo, PF/C, San Francisco
42. Ulrich Chomche, PF/C, NBA Academy Africa
43. Harrison Ingram, SF/PF, North Carolina
44. Ajay Mitchell, PG, UC Santa Barbara
45. Pelle Larsson, SG, Arizona
46. Jaylen Wells, SG/SF, Washington St
47. Melvin Ajinca, SG/SF, Saint Quentin
48. Dillon Jones, SF/PF, Weber St
49. Izan Almansa, PF/C, G League Ignite
50. Keshad Johnson, PF, Arizona
51. Jamal Shead, PG, Houston
52. Cam Spencer, SG, Connecticut
53. KJ Simpson, PG, Colorado
54. Bronny James, PG/SG, USC
55. Jalen Bridges, SF, Baylor
56. Trentyn Flowers, SG/SF, Adelaide
57. Oso Ighodaro, PF/C, Marquette
58. Isaac Jones, PF/C, Washington St
59. Enrique Freeman, PF/C, Akron
60. Antonio Reeves, SG/SF, Kentucky
61. Quinten Post, C, Boston College
62. PJ Hall, PF/C, Clemson
63. Trey Alexander, PG/SG, Creighton
64. Ariel Hukporti, C, Ludwigsburg
65. Bogoljub Markovic, PF/C, Mega MIS
66. Mantas Rubstavicius, SF, NZ Breakers
67. Armel Traore, PF, Blois
68. Tristen Newton, PG/SG, Connecticut
69. Zacharie Perrin, PF/C, Antibes
70. Isaiah Crawford, SF/PF, Louisiana Tech
71. Jesse Edwards, C, West Virginia
72. Nae'Qwan Tomlin, PF/C, Memphis
73. Reece Beekman, PG, Virginia
74. Riley Minix, SF/PF, Morehead St
75. N'Faly Dante, C, Oregon
76. Malique Lewis, SF/PF, Mexico City
77. Andrija Jelavic, PF/C, Mega MIS
78. Judah Mintz, PG/SG, Syracuse
79. Noah Penda, SF/PF, Vichy-Clermont
80. Yannick Kraag, SG/SF, Joventut
81. Ilias Kamardine, PG/SG, Vichy-Clermont
82. Dylan Disu, PF, Texas
83. Tre Mitchell, PF/C, Kentucky
84. Boogie Ellis, PG/SG, USC
85. Thierry Darlan, SG/SF, Bangui SC
86. Emanuel Miller, SF/PF, TCU
87. Anton Watson, PF, Gonzaga
88. Quinn Ellis, PG, Trento
89. David Jones, SF, Memphis
90. Zyon Pullin, PG, Florida
91. Marcus Domask, PG/SG, Illinois
92. Jaylin Williams, PF, Auburn
93. Isaiah Stevens, PG, Colorado St
94. Eli John Ndiaye, PF/C, Real Madrid
95. Jamison Battle, SF/PF, Ohio St
96. Jaedon LeDee, PF/C, San Diego St
97. Spencer Jones, SF/PF, Stanford
98. Babacar Sane, SF/PF, G League Ignite
99. Mouhamed Faye, C, Reggio Emilia
100. Blake Hinson, PF, Pittsburgh
With less than three weeks until the start of the 2024 NBA draft, players are going through private and group workouts while teams are doing their due diligence to narrow down their draft boards.
Throughout the pre-draft process leading up to the two-day draft (June 26-27) in Brooklyn, New York, most teams and executives have considerable work in front of them, and the news of this week hasn't exactly solidified many draft boards, either.
On Wednesday, ESPN reported that projected top-10 pick Nikola Topic has a partially torn ACL. Topic will soon be evaluated by NBA team doctors, who will decide on the next course of action regarding surgery and a plan moving forward.
And on Thursday, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that the Los Angeles Lakers are targeting UConn men's basketball coach Dan Hurley as the franchise's next coach -- a move that could impact the Lakers' draft decisions in the first and second rounds. (Bronny James, perhaps?)
Draft experts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo have taken into account the recent news, as well as their intel from teams and players who are evaluating those all-important workouts, to inform ESPN's Top 100 Big Board.
1. Zaccharie Risacher | SF | Bourg (France)
6-foot-10 | Age: 19.1 | Previously ranked: 1
Risacher's 75-game season ended May 30, giving him a few days off before the start of the NBA Global Camp on June 4. There he was measured and conducted interviews, a medical examination, athletic testing and drills. Risacher will depart for Atlanta next week -- his home base for the remainder of the pre-draft process, a city he is familiar with after training there in previous summers. Before leaving for the United States, he has some loose ends to tie up in France, sources say, including passing his driver's license test, a farewell news conference at his club, JL Bourg, and a suit-fitting in Paris with Armani for draft night on June 26.
We'll see how wide of a net Risacher elects to cast in NBA team workouts with fairly limited time at his disposal and coming off a long season. Most teams don't expect him to be available in the draft past No. 4, when the San Antonio Spurs pick, so the Atlanta Hawks (No. 1 pick) and Washington (No. 2 pick) are looking like increasingly strong options. -- Givony
2. Alex Sarr | PF/C | Perth (Australia)
7-1 | Age: 19.0 | Previously ranked: 2
Sarr will be one of the first names off the board on June 26, but the situation at the top of the draft has yet to fully play out. He is firmly in the mix as an option for Atlanta at No. 1, but the Hawks are being thorough in gathering information as they move toward their decision. If Atlanta passes on Sarr, Washington is strongly shaping up as a landing spot, with rival teams believing the Wizards at No. 2 to be his floor.
As a mobile 7-footer with skill potential and elite physical tools, Sarr has obvious long-term appeal as he gains experience and matures, and he should be able to make an impact defensively right away. He made big strides this season in Perth, and if he can protect the rim and space the floor at a high level at both the 4 and 5 spots, he'll be the type of player teams find challenging to acquire in any draft, no matter the depth of the class. Those potential high-end outcomes are worth a swing at the top of the draft. -- Woo
3. Donovan Clingan | C | UConn
7-3 | Age: 20.2 | Previously ranked: 3
Clingan is a top-three prospect who might experience a minor drop on draft night because teams that are in the Nos. 3-6 range already have starting centers in place. He's in conversation at No. 1 after working out in Atlanta (which is exploring trade-down scenarios). He is also spending time in Washington, which has the No. 2 pick. Clingan isn't expected to drop past the Portland Trail Blazers at No. 7, whom he just visited for a private workout as well. He is being discussed among teams as a possible target for the likes of Chicago, Memphis, Oklahoma City or Utah, who all might explore trading up for a player in his mold.
Clingan's appeal is evident at 7-foot-3 with a 7-7 wingspan and 9-7 standing reach, and he's viewed by many as the draft's most impactful defensive prospect with the timing he shows as a rim-protector and the improvement he has made guarding the pick-and-roll. His youth, productivity, touch and instincts on both ends of the court give him a high floor and make him a sleeper candidate to hear his name called at No. 1. -- Givony
4. Reed Sheppard | PG/SG | Kentucky
6-3 | Age: 19.9 | Previously ranked: 4
Sheppard's range appears somewhat narrow at this stage, and his draft positioning likely begins at No. 3, with the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets all viable landing spots early on. His impressive freshman season and elite shooting numbers have helped him to break the mold for a guard his size and put him at or near the top of many analytics models, helping to frame the conversation around his upside.
The fact he can play on and off the ball -- and makes the most of his limitations defensively -- also helps envision a valuable floor. If Sheppard falls out of the top five, which might hinge to an extent on potential teams trading picks -- he'd be a strong fit with the Hornets at No. 6 as a complement to their young core. -- Woo
5. Matas Buzelis | SF/PF | G League Ignite
6-10 | Age: 19.6 | Previously ranked: 5
Buzelis will work out for almost every team in the top five, sources say, as many around the NBA are intrigued by the idea of an explosive 6-10 wing who has playmaking ability, defensive versatility and flashes of shot-making prowess. The fact he doesn't need the ball in his hands to be successful but has significant upside to grow into at 19 years old with a developing frame, could be attractive for teams.
Sources say Buzelis' hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, watched him work out privately in Los Angeles early in the pre-draft process. Chicago has shown a willingness to explore moving up in the draft for the right price. The Bulls' Lithuanian president, Arturas Karnisovas, has extensive knowledge of Buzelis, who is also Lithuanian. -- Givony
6. Stephon Castle | PG/SG | UConn
6-7 | Age: 19.5 | Previously ranked: 6
It has been difficult for NBA teams to schedule Castle on the workout circuit, so it remains to be seen exactly where that will land him on draft night. Teams on his trail will be closely monitoring whether he decides to open up his availability in the coming weeks. He has been most strongly connected to San Antonio, but if the Spurs go a different direction with their two first-round picks, there will be suitors elsewhere in the top 10, with a potentially strong fit in the Utah Jazz.
There's quite a bit of interest in Castle's versatility, perimeter defense and playmaking potential long-term. There are also some questions about the state of his jump shot, and to a lesser extent, whether he can play point guard in a full-time capacity. His role in UConn's title run has certainly helped bolster his draft stock to this point. -- Woo
7. Rob Dillingham | PG | Kentucky
6-2 | Age: 19.4 | Previously ranked: 7
Dillingham is nearing a mid-month return from the ankle injury that has disrupted his pre-draft process, sources say, likely leaving him time for only a handful of workouts before June 26. While somewhat polarizing among teams because of his size, Dillingham is one of the rare prospects in this class who could potentially anchor a team's offense with his dynamic shot creation and shot-making prowess, giving him rare star power in a class sorely lacking in that department.
He's in the conversation for every team drafting in the top 10 that is in the market for a point guard, but he might need some trade scenarios to come to fruition to aid his cause on draft night. -- Givony
8. Dalton Knecht | SF | Tennessee
6-6 | Age: 23.1 | Previously ranked: 8
Knecht has positioned himself pretty firmly as a mid-lottery pick, drawing strong interest from Charlotte, Portland, San Antonio, Memphis and Utah in the Nos. 6-10 range. The reliability of his skill set as a legitimate scorer with positional size coming off an efficient season bodes well in the long run, dispelling most of the concerns about his advanced age for a lottery pick. He has the size, instincts and shooting ability that should translate effectively in an offense-driven NBA.
He can feasibly step into minutes and help a team improve next season and comes with some perception of untapped upside as a late-blooming prospect. -- Woo
9. Tidjane Salaun | PF | Cholet
6-10 | Age: 18.8 | Previously ranked: 10
Salaun spent several days in the United States following the conclusion of his team's season in the French playoffs, but he was compelled to return to Europe to attend the NBA draft combine in Treviso, Italy, where he interviewed and conducted medical examinations, athletic testing and drills. Salaun's measurements -- 6-10 in shoes, 217 pounds with a near 7-2 wingspan and 9-2 standing reach, indicate he has the potential to play some small-ball 5 down the road as his frame fills out, with comparable dimensions to NBA players such as Daniel Gafford or Kevon Looney at the same age.
But Salaun shows real shot-making prowess pulling up off the dribble or running off movement, which is intriguing to scouts considering his size and the fact he turns 19 on Aug. 10. He's also a competitive defender who gets in passing lanes energetically and shows versatility by covering ground and contesting shots all over the floor. He is expected to be targeted by many of the teams picking in the Nos. 4-14 range, with workouts ultimately determining where he lands. -- Givony
10. Nikola Topic | PG | Red Star (Adriatic League)
6-7 | Age: 18.8 | Previously ranked: 9
NBA teams' fears were realized when it was revealed at the draft combine medicals this week that Topic has a partially torn ACL that will require surgery. The extent of Topic's recovery process will be determined by specialists in the U.S., but it will not be surprising if he will require a redshirt season -- similar to how Chet Holmgren, Joel Embiid, Michael Porter Jr. or Blake Griffin started their NBA careers.
The fact Topic is only 18 -- younger than six of the 24 McDonald's All Americans entering college this season -- and was at one point in consideration as a potential No. 1 pick prospect early in the season, means he is unlikely to fall very far down the board on draft night. San Antonio (No.
, Utah (No. 10), Oklahoma City (No. 12) and Portland (No. 14) are viewed by teams as potential landing spots depending on team doctors' full assessments of his medicals, which have yet to be distributed. Only teams picking in the top 15 will have access to those, per new CBA rules. -- Givony11. Ron Holland | SF | G League Ignite
6-8 | Age: 18.9 | Previously ranked: 11
Holland's range appears to be a little wider than initially thought. He has fans among teams drafting in the top 10 but is casting a fairly wide net in workouts, including teams such as the Miami Heat at No. 15 and the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 17, in part because of his strong positional fit in those attractive markets. Holland's game might not be best-suited for a workout setting with his streaky jumper, especially with many lottery candidates opting for one-on-zeros, which means he'll have to find other ways to impress NBA teams with his toughness and aggressiveness.
He's among the youngest players in this class, while boasting outstanding measurements with real scoring productivity in the G League, but teams say they are having a somewhat difficult time pegging his floor. -- Givony
12. Cody Williams | SG/SF | Colorado
6-8 | Age: 19.5 | Previously ranked: 12
At this stage, Williams' range would appear to be among the widest of our projected lottery prospects. He has interest from teams in the top 10, including Detroit, Charlotte, Portland, San Antonio and Utah, but there are also teams picking outside the lottery that remain curious whether he might fall to them. Where he decides to work out in the next couple of weeks, and how those workouts go for him, will play a big determinant in the outcome of his draft selection.
Williams' combination of positional size, defensive upside and relatively untapped offensive game makes him an intriguing developmental investment for teams. His best flashes during the season have helped keep him front of mind for teams as a lottery option. -- Woo
13. Devin Carter | PG/SG | Providence
6-3 | Age: 22.2 | Previously ranked: 13
Carter has built up buzz throughout the pre-draft process and has worked himself comfortably into the Nos. 8-15 pick range. He worked out for the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 17 this week and has multiple workouts in the lottery still scheduled. While he has not accepted any type of promise from a team, he is trending in a positive direction, with front offices intrigued by his motor, scoring ability and defensive toughness. The San Antonio Spurs (No.
, who have a need at guard, and the Memphis Grizzlies (No. 9), where his father, Anthony Carter, serves as an assistant coach, are viewed as the high end of his range.Another interesting landing spot would be the Miami Heat at No. 15, where his father played from 1999 to 2003 and coached from 2018 to '23, creating a level of familiarity. Carter will also be of interest to playoff-caliber teams that are considering moving up in the draft. -- Woo
14. Ja'Kobe Walter | SG/SF | Baylor
6-5 | Age: 19.7 | Previously ranked: 14
Walter has interest from teams drafting in the lottery and shouldn't fall too far out of it if he slips, bringing a 3-and-D skill set that's widely in demand. He is viewed as a safe option because of his shooting ability, length and intangibles that should help him become a valuable contributor at the 2-spot.
He doesn't have a flashy set of skills or elite size for a wing and plays primarily off the ball, which puts a bit of a damper on starry upside projections. Still, teams feel comfortable with what he brings to the court, and strong workouts could solidify his standing in the top 14 picks. -- Woo
15. Jared McCain | PG | Duke
6-3 | Age: 20.2 | Previously ranked: 15
Teams say McCain is taking a different strategy than most players who are in his draft range, which is believed to be around Nos. 9 to 20. He is refusing one-on-zero workouts in favor of competitive 3-on-3 group settings. Even though he is viewed as one of the best shooters in this draft, the opportunity to showcase his toughness and mentality could be beneficial, even working out mostly against projected second-round picks.
With most of the teams in his range also looking for shooting finesse, including Memphis, Oklahoma City, Sacramento, Miami, Los Angeles, Orlando and Toronto, McCain likely won't have a very long wait to hear his name called on draft night. -- Givony
16. Zach Edey | C | Purdue
7-5 | Age: 22.0 | Previously ranked: 16
Teams say Edey's range appears to be in the Nos. 9-19 range based on the workouts he has conducted and scheduled. He was with the Toronto Raptors this past week, will visit the Los Angeles Lakers, and is in the conversation at Memphis (9), Utah (10), Chicago (11), Oklahoma City (12), Portland (14) and Miami (15).
Several teams say Edey's productivity ranks him as a top-three prospect in this class according to their draft models -- ESPN's Kevin Pelton had him ranked No. 2 in his stats-only draft projections. He proved nearly unstoppable in the paint at the college level, drawing fouls, crashing the offensive glass and dismantling defenses with his screening and the incredible gravity he offers diving to the rim in pick-and-roll, helping Purdue shoot 40% from the 3-point line. -- Givony
17. Tristan Da Silva | SF/PF | Colorado
6-9 | Age: 23.0 | Previously ranked: 17
Da Silva's versatility makes him a fit on most rosters, with many teams in the mid-first round willing to take a more experienced prospect they can pencil in for minutes next season. He has interest from lottery teams, including the Memphis Grizzlies (No. 9) and Sacramento Kings (No. 13), and has scheduled workouts with teams drafting down into the teens, with the expectation being he'll come off the board somewhere in that part of the draft.
While limited playing off the bounce and creating shots for himself, Da Silva plays a useful role as a willing ball mover and floor spacer with size and defensive versatility at either forward spot. -- Woo
18. Johnny Furphy | SG/SF | Kansas
6-9 | Age: 19.4 | Previously ranked: 28
Furphy faced a difficult decision whether to return to Kansas but elected to remain in the draft, feeling comfortable with his projected draft range. He should be off the draft board within the top 20 and has interest from the late lottery teams, including Memphis, Chicago, Oklahoma City and Sacramento. He offers a valid upside swing as an athletic wing who can shoot it comfortably from distance.
His youth and considerable room for development both physically and skillwise should make him an attractive option for teams willing to be patient with his development. -- Woo
19. Kyshawn George | SG/SF | Miami
6-8 | Age: 20.4 | Previously ranked: 24
George will be getting looks from many of the teams looking for wing shooting from the late lottery through the early 20s, including Oklahoma City, Sacramento, Portland, Orlando and Toronto. The fact that he stands over 6-foot-8 but has guard skills, fluidity changing speeds and strong instincts on both ends of the floor helps his appeal with multipositional versatility.
George is a late bloomer who grew 9 inches over the past four years and wasn't expected to emerge as a one-and-done prospect upon enrolling at Miami. NBA teams are hoping to get a closer look at him in the pre-draft process to get a better feel for what his long-term trajectory might look like. -- Givony
20. Carlton Carrington | PG | Pittsburgh
6-5 | Age: 18.8 | Previously ranked: 22
Carrington's youth, rapid improvement, and late physical development (he shot up by nearly a foot during his high school years) makes him an intriguing upside play, with interest in the late lottery. How teams value him relative to some of the other young guards will be a determinant here, with several picks in the teens belonging to organizations that might want a more NBA-ready prospect, which may ultimately widen his range down to around No. 20 or so.
His impressive year at Pitt, after entering the season relatively off the radar, gives him a compelling long-term case. -- Woo
21. Kyle Filipowski | PF/C | Duke
7-0 | Age: 20.5 | Previously ranked: 20
Filipowski is shaping up to have a pretty wide range, with interest from teams in the late lottery but also feasible scenarios where he could fall into the 20s. His skill level at 7 feet sets him apart from the other bigs in this draft, but his skills are also somewhat fit-specific to teams willing to utilize him creatively.
He began working out for teams this week and has a lot left to play out in that respect, with his draft range still fluid. -- Woo
22. Isaiah Collier | PG | USC
6-4 | Age: 19.6 | Previously ranked: 21
Collier has one of the widest draft ranges of any prospect in this draft, starting in the late lottery and extending through the 20s and perhaps beyond. He has been a hard player for teams to peg for his floor, as he's not the easiest player to slot positionally as a young, ball-dominant guard with streaky perimeter shooting.
Few prospects share the size, strength, shot-creation prowess, scoring instincts, and star power Collier boasts, but he'll have to find the right team willing to live through the growing pains that come with empowering him with significant ballhandling responsibility after his uneven freshman campaign. -- Givony
23. Yves Missi | C | Baylor
7-0 | Age: 20.0 | Previously ranked: 23
Missi is hoping to entice lottery teams in workouts with his elite physical tools, standing 7 feet with a 9-1½ standing reach and impressive mobility and explosiveness. Every team in the range from No. 9 to 20 wants to gauge his skill level and readiness for helping a team in the short term.
He is competing for draft position with the likes of Edey, Kel'el Ware and, to an extent, Kyle Filipowski, with workouts likely going a long way in determining what order teams land on Missi. The fact he didn't start playing organized basketball until he was 16 gives him significant long-term upside to tap into. -- Givony
24. Kel'el Ware | C | Indiana
7-0 | Age: 20.0 | Previously ranked: 25
In a draft somewhat light on bigs, Ware has helped himself in the pre-draft process after closing his sophomore season in positive fashion. His interviews with teams have been largely positive in reframing some of the narratives around his career thus far, and he looks ticketed for the first round due to his shot-blocking, touch around the rim, floor-spacing potential and uptick in productivity at Indiana.
While motor questions have followed him for the past few years, there's upside as a legitimate starter if Ware's game fully clicks, which has pretty much every first-round team in need of help at center at least considering his candidacy. -- Woo
25. Baylor Scheierman | SG | Creighton
6-7 | Age: 23.6 | Previously ranked: 26
Scheierman has drawn strong reviews throughout the pre-draft process, most notably at the NBA draft combine and then continuing in workouts, where he has excelled. The 23-year-old has good size for the wing, sharp basketball instincts and a plug-and-play NBA skill already with his dynamic shooting ability.
He's an easy fit for most of the teams drafting in the 20s and isn't expected to drop past Boston with the No. 30 pick. -- Givony
Nos. 26-100
26. Tyler Kolek, PG, Marquette
27. Bobi Klintman, SF/PF, Cairns
28. Jaylon Tyson, SG/SF, California
29. Pacome Dadiet, SG/SF, Ratiopharm Ulm
30. Tyler Smith, SF/PF, G League Ignite
31. Justin Edwards, SG/SF, Kentucky
32. Cameron Christie, SG, Minnesota
33. Terrence Shannon, SG/SF, Illinois
34. Ryan Dunn, SF/PF, Virginia
35. AJ Johnson, SG, Illawarra
36. Juan Nunez, PG, Ratiopharm Ulm
37. Adem Bona, C, UCLA
38. Kevin McCullar, SF, Kansas
39. DaRon Holmes II, PF/C, Dayton
40. Nikola Djurisic, SG/SF, Mega MIS
41. Jonathan Mogbo, PF/C, San Francisco
42. Ulrich Chomche, PF/C, NBA Academy Africa
43. Harrison Ingram, SF/PF, North Carolina
44. Ajay Mitchell, PG, UC Santa Barbara
45. Pelle Larsson, SG, Arizona
46. Jaylen Wells, SG/SF, Washington St
47. Melvin Ajinca, SG/SF, Saint Quentin
48. Dillon Jones, SF/PF, Weber St
49. Izan Almansa, PF/C, G League Ignite
50. Keshad Johnson, PF, Arizona
51. Jamal Shead, PG, Houston
52. Cam Spencer, SG, Connecticut
53. KJ Simpson, PG, Colorado
54. Bronny James, PG/SG, USC
55. Jalen Bridges, SF, Baylor
56. Trentyn Flowers, SG/SF, Adelaide
57. Oso Ighodaro, PF/C, Marquette
58. Isaac Jones, PF/C, Washington St
59. Enrique Freeman, PF/C, Akron
60. Antonio Reeves, SG/SF, Kentucky
61. Quinten Post, C, Boston College
62. PJ Hall, PF/C, Clemson
63. Trey Alexander, PG/SG, Creighton
64. Ariel Hukporti, C, Ludwigsburg
65. Bogoljub Markovic, PF/C, Mega MIS
66. Mantas Rubstavicius, SF, NZ Breakers
67. Armel Traore, PF, Blois
68. Tristen Newton, PG/SG, Connecticut
69. Zacharie Perrin, PF/C, Antibes
70. Isaiah Crawford, SF/PF, Louisiana Tech
71. Jesse Edwards, C, West Virginia
72. Nae'Qwan Tomlin, PF/C, Memphis
73. Reece Beekman, PG, Virginia
74. Riley Minix, SF/PF, Morehead St
75. N'Faly Dante, C, Oregon
76. Malique Lewis, SF/PF, Mexico City
77. Andrija Jelavic, PF/C, Mega MIS
78. Judah Mintz, PG/SG, Syracuse
79. Noah Penda, SF/PF, Vichy-Clermont
80. Yannick Kraag, SG/SF, Joventut
81. Ilias Kamardine, PG/SG, Vichy-Clermont
82. Dylan Disu, PF, Texas
83. Tre Mitchell, PF/C, Kentucky
84. Boogie Ellis, PG/SG, USC
85. Thierry Darlan, SG/SF, Bangui SC
86. Emanuel Miller, SF/PF, TCU
87. Anton Watson, PF, Gonzaga
88. Quinn Ellis, PG, Trento
89. David Jones, SF, Memphis
90. Zyon Pullin, PG, Florida
91. Marcus Domask, PG/SG, Illinois
92. Jaylin Williams, PF, Auburn
93. Isaiah Stevens, PG, Colorado St
94. Eli John Ndiaye, PF/C, Real Madrid
95. Jamison Battle, SF/PF, Ohio St
96. Jaedon LeDee, PF/C, San Diego St
97. Spencer Jones, SF/PF, Stanford
98. Babacar Sane, SF/PF, G League Ignite
99. Mouhamed Faye, C, Reggio Emilia
100. Blake Hinson, PF, Pittsburgh
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Mocks seem to be all over the place. To me Clingan's a reach at 3 so is Buzelis at 4
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Topic with the long neck and Sarr with the small head are red flags for men
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NBA draft 2024: Best players at shooting, defense, more
Thirty teams have spent the past year canvassing the globe to make sense of the 2024 NBA draft class, identifying the top prospects and what makes them intriguing.
Scouting reports are filled with details and descriptors to better distinguish one player from another. Evaluation encompasses myriad factors, of course -- but which prospects have earned superlatives? Which players come to mind as the best playmakers, shooters and defenders?
As draft night approaches less than three weeks from now (June 26-27 in Brooklyn, New York, on ABC/ESPN/ESPN+), who is truly the best in the class at each individual skill?
ESPN draft analysts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo put together their list of the leading prospects, assessing traits in 20 categories.
Best pick-and-roll finisher: Zach Edey, C, Purdue
Edey, ranked No. 16 in ESPN's Top 100, is a dream target for playmaking guards to pair with in pick-and-roll actions. He sets wide, bruising screens at 7-foot-5, 298 pounds and is an outstanding mark rolling to the paint and catching everything thrown his way with his huge, magnetic hands and 7-foot-11 wingspan. Purdue's small guards would often throw the ball up in the general vicinity of the rim under duress and let Edey go catch it.
He understands the art of rescreening if his initial pick doesn't achieve the desired outcome, and has improved his ability to operate out of zoom actions/dribble-handoffs, catch-and-make decisions out of short rolls, or mix-in slips to keep defenses off-balance. Even if he doesn't catch the ball rolling to the basket (where he is absolutely devastating), the amount of gravity he attracts sucking in off-ball defenders tagging off shooters often creates wide-open corner 3s for teammates -- a big reason the Boilermakers shot 40% for 3 this season, the second-best rate in college basketball. -- Givony
Best pick-and-roll playmaker: Nikola Topic, PG, Red Star Belgrade (Serbia)
Topic ranked as one of the best pick-and-roll players in European basketball already as an 18-year-old, which is scary considering how point guards typically improve in this area with age and experience. His ability to make instantaneous reads mapping out the court and processing the game with precision is a rare and coveted commodity in today's NBA. Pocket passes, skips, lobs, using the strong or weak side -- he sprays the ball all over the floor with incredible timing and accuracy. He is also patient while probing and putting defenders in a hostage dribble by using or rejecting screens and adjusting on the fly to every coverage.
Topic, ranked No. 10 in ESPN's Top 100, uses his unique, unflappable demeanor no matter how defenses try to slow him down. The fact that he's not only an outstanding passer, but also an absolute force as a driver getting into the paint and finishing aggressively through contact (60% 2P% in 23 games this season) at 6-foot-7 should allow him to shoulder significant usage in the fast-paced NBA, especially as his jump shot continues to improve. -- Givony
Best ball handler: Rob Dillingham, PG, Kentucky
Dillingham's jittery handle, burst and explosive change of gear makes it difficult for opponents to stay in front of him. He has a wide array of elusive moves at his disposal, including herky-jerky crossovers, double crossovers, in-and-out dribbles, behind-the-back dribbles and more, which he combines with sharp changes of speed, accelerating from slow to fast with either hand to take the paint and finish with touch around the rim.
The threat of his pull-up jumper, as well as his ability to probe, use or reject ball screens gives the ESPN Top 100 No. 7 Dillingham great potential manipulating opposing defenses. He will be even more of a threat with the plethora of space he'll enjoy in the NBA. -- Givony
Best pull-up shooter: Cam Spencer, SG, UConn
Spencer is one of the overall best shooters among prospects in the draft, hitting 44% of his 3-point attempts (43% the season before) and 91% of his free throws, but the fact that he's so dynamic in getting his jumper off is worth noting. Spencer, ranked No. 59 in ESPN's Top 100, hit a scorching 47% of his pull-up 3s this season, while also converting more 3s running off screens than anyone in the class. He aggressively hunts pull-up 3s dribbling up the floor in transition, loves pulling up off escape dribbles after sidestepping hard closeouts with his pump fake and regularly punishes defenses for going under ball screens.
Also, Kentucky's Reed Sheppard deserves mention in this category. He hit 51% of his pull-up 3s, but did so on nearly half the sample size of Spencer's, being more judicious with his attempts. -- Givony
Best spot-up shooter: Reed Sheppard, PG/SG, Kentucky
Sheppard gave defenses headaches at Kentucky with absurdly consistent shot-making prowess, hitting 56 of his 109 catch-and-shoot attempts (per Synergy) and shooting 51.4% on the season from long range. His release is compact and consistent, with minimal dip and wasted motion, and his lower-body balance and shot-prep habits are excellent, giving him a high-level skill that should translate to NBA range.
Sheppard, ranked No. 4 in ESPN's Top 100, looks comfortable from all over the arc, and has a great baseline to keep improving, with room to hone his shot even more off the bounce if he can gain separation at a higher level. His ability to space the floor away from the ball simplifies his path into a role quite a bit, with his ceiling tied to how much he can expand his game as a handler. But there's a very legitimate shooting profile here that could also see him become more of an off-ball threat if needed. -- Woo
Best movement shooter: Dalton Knecht, SF, Tennessee
Tennessee gave Knecht all the work he could handle as a scorer this season, and he proved quite dangerous working away from the ball, making 39.7% of his total shots off screens and 36.8% of 3s. He has developed a good understanding of how to set defenders up and can knock down jumpers cleanly on the move or off one dribble. Knecht has excellent directional footwork and never works in too much of a hurry, helping him save time and create space setting up his jumper. The key for Knecht, who is ranked No. 8 in ESPN's Top 100, isn't just consistency of release, but also knowing how to receive the ball, stay balanced and work quickly with defenders in pursuit.
There's also an argument here for Creighton's Baylor Scheierman, who has transformed himself into a dangerous off-ball scorer since transferring from South Dakota State. He hit 40.6% of 3s off screens, with a quick left-handed release that will make him dangerous out of the gate. -- Woo
Best offensive rebounder: Ariel Hukporti, C, Melbourne (Australia)
On a per-minute basis, Hukporti is the top rebounder among draft prospects, averaging an impressive 16 boards per-40 in 36 NBL games. Having returned to better health after a series of lower-body injuries, the 22-year-old 7-footer brings a solid motor on the glass and the sheer size to hold his position and rebound missed opportunities. With a 7-2 wingspan and 9-3 standing reach, the ESPN Top 100 No. 64 prospect takes up quite a bit of room on the interior.
Though his prospect status diminished to an extent after last season's torn Achilles, and then his inability to participate in the draft combine or conduct workouts because of a minor knee injury, his offensive rebounding numbers are on par with Edey in this draft, giving NBA teams something to think about as they search for second-round value. Hukporti's limitations will land him in the second round at best, but his prowess on the glass offers sleeper appeal. -- Woo
Best leaper/dunker: Matas Buzelis, SF/PF, G League Ignite
Buzelis had 38 dunks this season, showing off his 38-inch vertical leap in a variety of ways off cuts, in the open court, as a pick-and-roll finisher, with put-backs and getting downhill with either hand out of isolation. Not many 19-year olds at 6-10 have the audacity to pull off in-game windmills like Buzelis did in the G League this season, but that combination of explosiveness and bravado is a big part of his appeal.
As Buzelis' frame continues to fill out and his ballhandling improves, it would not be surprising at all to see him poster many more highlight-reel finishes, as it appears that he is still at an early stage of development physically and athletically. Do not be surprised to see Buzelis, who is ranked No. 5 in ESPN's Top 100, try his luck in the NBA dunk contest next January. -- Givony
Best defensive playmaker: Ryan Dunn, SF/PF, Virginia
Dunn's strongest selling point is his phenomenal block and steal rates, using his 7-1 wingspan, quick hands and instincts to shrink the floor as a disruptive perimeter presence. Averaging 2.3 blocks and 1.3 steals per game on the wing last season, despite Virginia's low-possession style, was quite an achievement, giving him a pathway to an NBA niche as a defensive specialist.
It's the type of outlier production that makes you consider best-case scenarios for the No. 34 prospect in ESPN's Top 100, even though there's a good amount of risk if he doesn't develop as a shooter. His offensive game remains a major work in progress, but Dunn's knack for blowing up plays and winning the ball back sets him apart from his peers and makes him a real consideration as a development pick. -- Woo
Best shot-blocker: Donovan Clingan, C, UConn
Clingan's combination of elite size (7-3, 7-6¾ wingspan, 9-7 standing reach), coordinated footwork and feel for positioning and timing makes him the draft's top rim-protector, having drawn Rudy Gobert comparisons from his more optimistic fans in NBA front offices. Once he worked back into better conditioning and health, his season turned around in a major way, as he walled off the paint in the NCAA tournament and showed the defensive impact he can make.
The area the No. 3 prospect in ESPN's Top 100 covers and the visual impact he has on the floor can make scoring a daunting task for opposing offenses. While not a vertically explosive help-side rim-protector, Clingan has the length and hand speed to contest everything in his area and make bigs and drivers alike uncomfortable. He's well-suited to drop coverage and has the potential to be one of the NBA's premier defensive bigs if all goes well for him. -- Woo
Best off-ball defender: Zaccharie Risacher, SF, Bourg (France)
Off-ball defense is a skill that takes most players years to learn because of the intricacies of simultaneously tracking the ball as well as their man, being aware of low-man rotation responsibilities, knowing when to deny, when to fill gaps, when to gamble for steals and how to best effectively communicate with teammates on the fly, etc. In Risacher, ESPN's Top 100 No. 1 prospect, an NBA team will be getting a player who is well ahead of his years on the defensive end, particularly regarding his ability to navigate screens.
Bourg, the No. 1-ranked defense in both the French League and EuroCup, often tasked Risacher with guarding the other team's best scorer, even diminutive point guards, which you rarely see from a 6-10 teenager at this level. Risacher's activity staying connected to opponents off the ball, fluidity "getting skinny" fighting through or over the top of screens, and quickness covering ground to get back into plays to contest shots with his 8-11 standing reach (on par with most NBA power forwards) made him uniquely effective with his high-level awareness, instincts and intensity level. As he fills out his 195-pound frame, he should continue to improve. -- Givony
Best on-ball defender: Stephon Castle, PG/SG, UConn
Castle, ranked No. 6 in ESPN's Top 100, combines excellent size, at 6-7 and 210 pounds with a 6-9 wingspan, with great agility and quickness in pursuit, allowing him to stay close to ball handlers, take away space and create problems at the point of attack. He can sit low in a stance, get beaten and still recover in time to get a quality contest. He also does an excellent job navigating ball screens and staying involved in the play when at a disadvantage.
Castle's ability to stay attached, switch and match up with guards of all sizes creates a major advantage for defensive scheming, something UConn utilized to great effect during its title run. Having a defender of that quality who can adequately slow down both guards and wings is a luxury for NBA teams. -- Woo
Best full-court defender: Jamal Shead, PG, Houston
A notorious pest for ball handlers to deal with, Shead is fearless and disruptive picking up the ball and applying pressure up and down the floor. A huge part of Houston's success, Shead's ability to slow down guards, shave time off the clock and disrupt the flow of opposing offenses proved special by the end of his college career.
Physical and highly active in spite of his smaller stature, Shead can even give taller guards problems by taking away angles, deflecting passes and covering ground with sheer effort and anticipation. It's difficult to bully him or move him due to his low center of gravity and his toughness in embracing that role while applying pressure. Shead, ranked No. 51 in ESPN's Top 100, will be challenged by bigger NBA players, but his combination of motor and defensive chops will help him carve a niche. -- Woo
Best clutch player: Devin Carter, PG/SG, Providence
Carter has vaulted up the draft board this season for a range of reasons; his defense, improved scoring and strong intangibles are among them. The No. 13 prospect in ESPN's Top 100 has built that reputation with strong play when it matters, helping to carry a Providence team that wasn't the deepest or most talented to 21 wins and an NIT berth.
He has a knack for showing up on both ends of the floor when it counts, with a steely, focused approach -- his 10 overtime points in a win over Butler on Dec. 23 was a signature moment. The success he and Providence had, despite the Friars arguably over-relying on Carter at times -- was a testament to the way he showed up when it mattered. -- Woo
Best motor: Adem Bona, C, UCLA
No player in this draft plays harder than Bona, who flies up and down the court with incredible purpose, hedging screens well beyond the 3-point line and chasing down blocks in transition with track-star-type speed. He and Dunn are the only players in our Top 100 to average over 1.5 steals and 2.5 blocks per 40 minutes, a testament to his ability to flip his hips, cover ground and get off his feet with superb quickness, aided by his 7-4 wingspan and 40-inch vertical leap.
Bona, ranked No. 37 in ESPN's Top 100, has a combination of power, explosiveness and intensity that is difficult to come by. Pairing those skills with his sheer hustle is something he can hang his hat on in the NBA as his offensive skills and feel for the game hopefully improve over time. -- Givony
Best backstory: Enrique Freeman, PF/C, Akron
Coming out of St. Martin De Porres High, a small Catholic school in Cleveland, Freeman had zero offers to play college basketball at any level of the sport. So he enrolled at Akron on an academic scholarship, and then an opportunity to try out as a walk-on emerged, which led to a spot on the Zips' scout team. Freeman played 13 total minutes in his first season of college basketball but developed into a three-time all-conference player and MAC Player of the Year in his final season of eligibility.
Freeman worked his way up from the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament to the G League Elite Camp to the NBA draft combine with his tenacious play on both ends of the floor, while hitting a strong 8-for-16 on 3-pointers through seven games -- a welcome sign for NBA scouts. While undersized at 6-8½ in shoes, he has a 7-2 wingspan that helped him lead all of Division I in rebounding. Ranked No. 59 in ESPN's Top 100, he's firmly on teams' radars to hear his name called on draft night. -- Givony
Best unicorn potential: Alex Sarr, PF/C, Perth (Australia)
Every team in the NBA is looking for a unicorn -- loosely defined as a big man with guard skills -- such as current players Kristaps Porzingis, Chet Holmgren, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Karl-Anthony Towns and Victor Wembanyama. They warp the court with their ballhandling, passing and floor-spacing ability on one end, and anchor a team's defense on the other, allowing a coach to play them in double-big men lineups alongside more traditional centers.
This year's best unicorn candidate among prospects is Sarr, who led the Australian NBL in block percentage, hit 22 3-pointers in 35 games and had some enticing moments pushing off the defensive glass, passing on the move and attacking slower-footed opponents off the dribble in small doses. Scouts have some questions about his toughness and feel for the game, but the physical tools and flashes of two-way versatility give the No. 2 prospect in ESPN's Top 100 a high upside to tap into long-term. -- Givony
Best frame: Tidjane Salaun, PF, Cholet (France)
NBA teams might be intrigued to learn Salaun has nearly identical measurements to Kevin Durant at the same age in terms of height (6-10 in shoes), weight (218 pounds) and standing reach (9-2). The 18-year-old's frame has added 11 pounds in the past year and will likely top out in the 235-pound range ultimately, a la an Aaron Gordon, who weighed 220 pounds at the same age at the 2014 NBA draft combine.
Salaun, ranked No. 9 in ESPN's Top 100, made 82 3s in 60 games this season and shows superb activity and mobility covering ground on the perimeter and contesting shots all over the floor. His combination of tools, shot-making and defensive versatility gives him one of the highest upsides of any player in this class. -- Givony
Best competitor: Tyler Kolek, PG, Marquette
Well-known for his fiery and occasionally thorny on-court disposition, Kolek has a good amount going for him as a playmaker, but it's the way he sets the tone with his mentality and actions that makes him a unique pro prospect. A big part of running a team in the NBA isn't just directing traffic, but getting others to follow -- and various stories have circulated out of Marquette about Kolek's inability to switch off that competitiveness.
You see it in the way Kolek, ranked No. 26 in ESPN's Top 100, carries himself on the floor, and while it's sometimes hard to describe these things without veering into cliché, suffice it to say he detests losing. The Big East had a few players cut from similar cloth this season, including the aforementioned Carter and Spencer. -- Woo
Best intangibles: Jared McCain, PG, Duke
It's hard to find anyone with a bad thing to say about McCain, who has been revered behind the scenes at Duke and elsewhere for his work ethic. His shooting prowess and skill level, despite average athletic gifts, are a testament to that. While notorious to an extent for his huge following on social media, McCain's actions when the cameras are off back up the notion that he'll get the most out of his talent in the long term.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer told ESPN that McCain, who is ranked No. 15 in ESPN's Top 100, is the most disciplined worker he has been around in his entire time with the program as both a player and coach. McCain's intel as a worker and competitor with understated toughness has helped strengthen his case as a potential late-lottery pick, and as a player who should stick in the NBA for a long time. -- Woo
Thirty teams have spent the past year canvassing the globe to make sense of the 2024 NBA draft class, identifying the top prospects and what makes them intriguing.
Scouting reports are filled with details and descriptors to better distinguish one player from another. Evaluation encompasses myriad factors, of course -- but which prospects have earned superlatives? Which players come to mind as the best playmakers, shooters and defenders?
As draft night approaches less than three weeks from now (June 26-27 in Brooklyn, New York, on ABC/ESPN/ESPN+), who is truly the best in the class at each individual skill?
ESPN draft analysts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo put together their list of the leading prospects, assessing traits in 20 categories.
Best pick-and-roll finisher: Zach Edey, C, Purdue
Edey, ranked No. 16 in ESPN's Top 100, is a dream target for playmaking guards to pair with in pick-and-roll actions. He sets wide, bruising screens at 7-foot-5, 298 pounds and is an outstanding mark rolling to the paint and catching everything thrown his way with his huge, magnetic hands and 7-foot-11 wingspan. Purdue's small guards would often throw the ball up in the general vicinity of the rim under duress and let Edey go catch it.
He understands the art of rescreening if his initial pick doesn't achieve the desired outcome, and has improved his ability to operate out of zoom actions/dribble-handoffs, catch-and-make decisions out of short rolls, or mix-in slips to keep defenses off-balance. Even if he doesn't catch the ball rolling to the basket (where he is absolutely devastating), the amount of gravity he attracts sucking in off-ball defenders tagging off shooters often creates wide-open corner 3s for teammates -- a big reason the Boilermakers shot 40% for 3 this season, the second-best rate in college basketball. -- Givony
Best pick-and-roll playmaker: Nikola Topic, PG, Red Star Belgrade (Serbia)
Topic ranked as one of the best pick-and-roll players in European basketball already as an 18-year-old, which is scary considering how point guards typically improve in this area with age and experience. His ability to make instantaneous reads mapping out the court and processing the game with precision is a rare and coveted commodity in today's NBA. Pocket passes, skips, lobs, using the strong or weak side -- he sprays the ball all over the floor with incredible timing and accuracy. He is also patient while probing and putting defenders in a hostage dribble by using or rejecting screens and adjusting on the fly to every coverage.
Topic, ranked No. 10 in ESPN's Top 100, uses his unique, unflappable demeanor no matter how defenses try to slow him down. The fact that he's not only an outstanding passer, but also an absolute force as a driver getting into the paint and finishing aggressively through contact (60% 2P% in 23 games this season) at 6-foot-7 should allow him to shoulder significant usage in the fast-paced NBA, especially as his jump shot continues to improve. -- Givony
Best ball handler: Rob Dillingham, PG, Kentucky
Dillingham's jittery handle, burst and explosive change of gear makes it difficult for opponents to stay in front of him. He has a wide array of elusive moves at his disposal, including herky-jerky crossovers, double crossovers, in-and-out dribbles, behind-the-back dribbles and more, which he combines with sharp changes of speed, accelerating from slow to fast with either hand to take the paint and finish with touch around the rim.
The threat of his pull-up jumper, as well as his ability to probe, use or reject ball screens gives the ESPN Top 100 No. 7 Dillingham great potential manipulating opposing defenses. He will be even more of a threat with the plethora of space he'll enjoy in the NBA. -- Givony
Best pull-up shooter: Cam Spencer, SG, UConn
Spencer is one of the overall best shooters among prospects in the draft, hitting 44% of his 3-point attempts (43% the season before) and 91% of his free throws, but the fact that he's so dynamic in getting his jumper off is worth noting. Spencer, ranked No. 59 in ESPN's Top 100, hit a scorching 47% of his pull-up 3s this season, while also converting more 3s running off screens than anyone in the class. He aggressively hunts pull-up 3s dribbling up the floor in transition, loves pulling up off escape dribbles after sidestepping hard closeouts with his pump fake and regularly punishes defenses for going under ball screens.
Also, Kentucky's Reed Sheppard deserves mention in this category. He hit 51% of his pull-up 3s, but did so on nearly half the sample size of Spencer's, being more judicious with his attempts. -- Givony
Best spot-up shooter: Reed Sheppard, PG/SG, Kentucky
Sheppard gave defenses headaches at Kentucky with absurdly consistent shot-making prowess, hitting 56 of his 109 catch-and-shoot attempts (per Synergy) and shooting 51.4% on the season from long range. His release is compact and consistent, with minimal dip and wasted motion, and his lower-body balance and shot-prep habits are excellent, giving him a high-level skill that should translate to NBA range.
Sheppard, ranked No. 4 in ESPN's Top 100, looks comfortable from all over the arc, and has a great baseline to keep improving, with room to hone his shot even more off the bounce if he can gain separation at a higher level. His ability to space the floor away from the ball simplifies his path into a role quite a bit, with his ceiling tied to how much he can expand his game as a handler. But there's a very legitimate shooting profile here that could also see him become more of an off-ball threat if needed. -- Woo
Best movement shooter: Dalton Knecht, SF, Tennessee
Tennessee gave Knecht all the work he could handle as a scorer this season, and he proved quite dangerous working away from the ball, making 39.7% of his total shots off screens and 36.8% of 3s. He has developed a good understanding of how to set defenders up and can knock down jumpers cleanly on the move or off one dribble. Knecht has excellent directional footwork and never works in too much of a hurry, helping him save time and create space setting up his jumper. The key for Knecht, who is ranked No. 8 in ESPN's Top 100, isn't just consistency of release, but also knowing how to receive the ball, stay balanced and work quickly with defenders in pursuit.
There's also an argument here for Creighton's Baylor Scheierman, who has transformed himself into a dangerous off-ball scorer since transferring from South Dakota State. He hit 40.6% of 3s off screens, with a quick left-handed release that will make him dangerous out of the gate. -- Woo
Best offensive rebounder: Ariel Hukporti, C, Melbourne (Australia)
On a per-minute basis, Hukporti is the top rebounder among draft prospects, averaging an impressive 16 boards per-40 in 36 NBL games. Having returned to better health after a series of lower-body injuries, the 22-year-old 7-footer brings a solid motor on the glass and the sheer size to hold his position and rebound missed opportunities. With a 7-2 wingspan and 9-3 standing reach, the ESPN Top 100 No. 64 prospect takes up quite a bit of room on the interior.
Though his prospect status diminished to an extent after last season's torn Achilles, and then his inability to participate in the draft combine or conduct workouts because of a minor knee injury, his offensive rebounding numbers are on par with Edey in this draft, giving NBA teams something to think about as they search for second-round value. Hukporti's limitations will land him in the second round at best, but his prowess on the glass offers sleeper appeal. -- Woo
Best leaper/dunker: Matas Buzelis, SF/PF, G League Ignite
Buzelis had 38 dunks this season, showing off his 38-inch vertical leap in a variety of ways off cuts, in the open court, as a pick-and-roll finisher, with put-backs and getting downhill with either hand out of isolation. Not many 19-year olds at 6-10 have the audacity to pull off in-game windmills like Buzelis did in the G League this season, but that combination of explosiveness and bravado is a big part of his appeal.
As Buzelis' frame continues to fill out and his ballhandling improves, it would not be surprising at all to see him poster many more highlight-reel finishes, as it appears that he is still at an early stage of development physically and athletically. Do not be surprised to see Buzelis, who is ranked No. 5 in ESPN's Top 100, try his luck in the NBA dunk contest next January. -- Givony
Best defensive playmaker: Ryan Dunn, SF/PF, Virginia
Dunn's strongest selling point is his phenomenal block and steal rates, using his 7-1 wingspan, quick hands and instincts to shrink the floor as a disruptive perimeter presence. Averaging 2.3 blocks and 1.3 steals per game on the wing last season, despite Virginia's low-possession style, was quite an achievement, giving him a pathway to an NBA niche as a defensive specialist.
It's the type of outlier production that makes you consider best-case scenarios for the No. 34 prospect in ESPN's Top 100, even though there's a good amount of risk if he doesn't develop as a shooter. His offensive game remains a major work in progress, but Dunn's knack for blowing up plays and winning the ball back sets him apart from his peers and makes him a real consideration as a development pick. -- Woo
Best shot-blocker: Donovan Clingan, C, UConn
Clingan's combination of elite size (7-3, 7-6¾ wingspan, 9-7 standing reach), coordinated footwork and feel for positioning and timing makes him the draft's top rim-protector, having drawn Rudy Gobert comparisons from his more optimistic fans in NBA front offices. Once he worked back into better conditioning and health, his season turned around in a major way, as he walled off the paint in the NCAA tournament and showed the defensive impact he can make.
The area the No. 3 prospect in ESPN's Top 100 covers and the visual impact he has on the floor can make scoring a daunting task for opposing offenses. While not a vertically explosive help-side rim-protector, Clingan has the length and hand speed to contest everything in his area and make bigs and drivers alike uncomfortable. He's well-suited to drop coverage and has the potential to be one of the NBA's premier defensive bigs if all goes well for him. -- Woo
Best off-ball defender: Zaccharie Risacher, SF, Bourg (France)
Off-ball defense is a skill that takes most players years to learn because of the intricacies of simultaneously tracking the ball as well as their man, being aware of low-man rotation responsibilities, knowing when to deny, when to fill gaps, when to gamble for steals and how to best effectively communicate with teammates on the fly, etc. In Risacher, ESPN's Top 100 No. 1 prospect, an NBA team will be getting a player who is well ahead of his years on the defensive end, particularly regarding his ability to navigate screens.
Bourg, the No. 1-ranked defense in both the French League and EuroCup, often tasked Risacher with guarding the other team's best scorer, even diminutive point guards, which you rarely see from a 6-10 teenager at this level. Risacher's activity staying connected to opponents off the ball, fluidity "getting skinny" fighting through or over the top of screens, and quickness covering ground to get back into plays to contest shots with his 8-11 standing reach (on par with most NBA power forwards) made him uniquely effective with his high-level awareness, instincts and intensity level. As he fills out his 195-pound frame, he should continue to improve. -- Givony
Best on-ball defender: Stephon Castle, PG/SG, UConn
Castle, ranked No. 6 in ESPN's Top 100, combines excellent size, at 6-7 and 210 pounds with a 6-9 wingspan, with great agility and quickness in pursuit, allowing him to stay close to ball handlers, take away space and create problems at the point of attack. He can sit low in a stance, get beaten and still recover in time to get a quality contest. He also does an excellent job navigating ball screens and staying involved in the play when at a disadvantage.
Castle's ability to stay attached, switch and match up with guards of all sizes creates a major advantage for defensive scheming, something UConn utilized to great effect during its title run. Having a defender of that quality who can adequately slow down both guards and wings is a luxury for NBA teams. -- Woo
Best full-court defender: Jamal Shead, PG, Houston
A notorious pest for ball handlers to deal with, Shead is fearless and disruptive picking up the ball and applying pressure up and down the floor. A huge part of Houston's success, Shead's ability to slow down guards, shave time off the clock and disrupt the flow of opposing offenses proved special by the end of his college career.
Physical and highly active in spite of his smaller stature, Shead can even give taller guards problems by taking away angles, deflecting passes and covering ground with sheer effort and anticipation. It's difficult to bully him or move him due to his low center of gravity and his toughness in embracing that role while applying pressure. Shead, ranked No. 51 in ESPN's Top 100, will be challenged by bigger NBA players, but his combination of motor and defensive chops will help him carve a niche. -- Woo
Best clutch player: Devin Carter, PG/SG, Providence
Carter has vaulted up the draft board this season for a range of reasons; his defense, improved scoring and strong intangibles are among them. The No. 13 prospect in ESPN's Top 100 has built that reputation with strong play when it matters, helping to carry a Providence team that wasn't the deepest or most talented to 21 wins and an NIT berth.
He has a knack for showing up on both ends of the floor when it counts, with a steely, focused approach -- his 10 overtime points in a win over Butler on Dec. 23 was a signature moment. The success he and Providence had, despite the Friars arguably over-relying on Carter at times -- was a testament to the way he showed up when it mattered. -- Woo
Best motor: Adem Bona, C, UCLA
No player in this draft plays harder than Bona, who flies up and down the court with incredible purpose, hedging screens well beyond the 3-point line and chasing down blocks in transition with track-star-type speed. He and Dunn are the only players in our Top 100 to average over 1.5 steals and 2.5 blocks per 40 minutes, a testament to his ability to flip his hips, cover ground and get off his feet with superb quickness, aided by his 7-4 wingspan and 40-inch vertical leap.
Bona, ranked No. 37 in ESPN's Top 100, has a combination of power, explosiveness and intensity that is difficult to come by. Pairing those skills with his sheer hustle is something he can hang his hat on in the NBA as his offensive skills and feel for the game hopefully improve over time. -- Givony
Best backstory: Enrique Freeman, PF/C, Akron
Coming out of St. Martin De Porres High, a small Catholic school in Cleveland, Freeman had zero offers to play college basketball at any level of the sport. So he enrolled at Akron on an academic scholarship, and then an opportunity to try out as a walk-on emerged, which led to a spot on the Zips' scout team. Freeman played 13 total minutes in his first season of college basketball but developed into a three-time all-conference player and MAC Player of the Year in his final season of eligibility.
Freeman worked his way up from the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament to the G League Elite Camp to the NBA draft combine with his tenacious play on both ends of the floor, while hitting a strong 8-for-16 on 3-pointers through seven games -- a welcome sign for NBA scouts. While undersized at 6-8½ in shoes, he has a 7-2 wingspan that helped him lead all of Division I in rebounding. Ranked No. 59 in ESPN's Top 100, he's firmly on teams' radars to hear his name called on draft night. -- Givony
Best unicorn potential: Alex Sarr, PF/C, Perth (Australia)
Every team in the NBA is looking for a unicorn -- loosely defined as a big man with guard skills -- such as current players Kristaps Porzingis, Chet Holmgren, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Karl-Anthony Towns and Victor Wembanyama. They warp the court with their ballhandling, passing and floor-spacing ability on one end, and anchor a team's defense on the other, allowing a coach to play them in double-big men lineups alongside more traditional centers.
This year's best unicorn candidate among prospects is Sarr, who led the Australian NBL in block percentage, hit 22 3-pointers in 35 games and had some enticing moments pushing off the defensive glass, passing on the move and attacking slower-footed opponents off the dribble in small doses. Scouts have some questions about his toughness and feel for the game, but the physical tools and flashes of two-way versatility give the No. 2 prospect in ESPN's Top 100 a high upside to tap into long-term. -- Givony
Best frame: Tidjane Salaun, PF, Cholet (France)
NBA teams might be intrigued to learn Salaun has nearly identical measurements to Kevin Durant at the same age in terms of height (6-10 in shoes), weight (218 pounds) and standing reach (9-2). The 18-year-old's frame has added 11 pounds in the past year and will likely top out in the 235-pound range ultimately, a la an Aaron Gordon, who weighed 220 pounds at the same age at the 2014 NBA draft combine.
Salaun, ranked No. 9 in ESPN's Top 100, made 82 3s in 60 games this season and shows superb activity and mobility covering ground on the perimeter and contesting shots all over the floor. His combination of tools, shot-making and defensive versatility gives him one of the highest upsides of any player in this class. -- Givony
Best competitor: Tyler Kolek, PG, Marquette
Well-known for his fiery and occasionally thorny on-court disposition, Kolek has a good amount going for him as a playmaker, but it's the way he sets the tone with his mentality and actions that makes him a unique pro prospect. A big part of running a team in the NBA isn't just directing traffic, but getting others to follow -- and various stories have circulated out of Marquette about Kolek's inability to switch off that competitiveness.
You see it in the way Kolek, ranked No. 26 in ESPN's Top 100, carries himself on the floor, and while it's sometimes hard to describe these things without veering into cliché, suffice it to say he detests losing. The Big East had a few players cut from similar cloth this season, including the aforementioned Carter and Spencer. -- Woo
Best intangibles: Jared McCain, PG, Duke
It's hard to find anyone with a bad thing to say about McCain, who has been revered behind the scenes at Duke and elsewhere for his work ethic. His shooting prowess and skill level, despite average athletic gifts, are a testament to that. While notorious to an extent for his huge following on social media, McCain's actions when the cameras are off back up the notion that he'll get the most out of his talent in the long term.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer told ESPN that McCain, who is ranked No. 15 in ESPN's Top 100, is the most disciplined worker he has been around in his entire time with the program as both a player and coach. McCain's intel as a worker and competitor with understated toughness has helped strengthen his case as a potential late-lottery pick, and as a player who should stick in the NBA for a long time. -- Woo
- Sep 5, 2010
- 93,190
- 129,765
- Mar 31, 2011
- 73,076
- 117,392
I really want Edey to fall to the Celtics now 
Or at least drop enough to where they could easily move up for him.
Or at least drop enough to where they could easily move up for him.
- Sep 5, 2010
- 93,190
- 129,765
