NBA

2024 Mock Drafts

The latest in a long line of star French prospects that includes 2023 No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama, Risacher – a former teammate of Wembanyama's – has a long frame and a developing game worthy of going top five in the 2024 draft. Risacher has spent the last few years playing with ASVEL in EuroLeague and most recently with Bourg in the LNB Pro A, where his long frame and fluidity has made him a coveted wing prospect in the frame of a modern-day big.

• Earned the 2023-24 French League Best Young Player Award and 2023-24 EuroCup Rising Star Award.
• Played one season on French club ASVEL with 2023 No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama.

• Has an ideal frame of a modern-day NBA wing with a plus-wingspan.
• Developing shooter with range beyond the 3-point line. Has shown willingness and confidence to take more shots and steadily improved his consistency from beyond the arc.
• Excellent catch-and-shoot weapon. Playing primarily off the ball for Bourg has allowed him to flourish as a spot-up threat. He has great fundamentals and is automatic when he catches and fires in rhythm.
• Good perimeter defender on the ball. Slides his feet well and can stay in front of his man. Uses his leverage well and knows how to force the issue.
• Smart team defender who has a good awareness of when to help. Shows smartness in sliding over to rotate for help.

• Has desirable traits to develop into a plus defender but needs to develop more strength. Tends to die or get hung up on ball screens at the top of the key that allows his man easy looks.
• Struggled shooting the ball down the stretch of the season for Bourg, a concern for a prospect whose rise has largely been spurred by his improvement in that area.
• Shows flashes of being useful off the dribble but still very raw in terms of his short-term production profile. Mostly a catch-and-shoot weapon in the NBL who has room to grow with his physicality and finishing.

• Wingspan: 6 feet, 9.5 inches
• Standing vertical leap: 25 inches
• Standing reach: 8 feet, 11 inches
• Lane agility: 11.51 seconds
• Three quarter sprint: 3.38 seconds
• Max vertical leap: 31 inches

In a wide-open 2024 NBA Draft class, Sarr – literally and figuratively – stands above the competition with his big frame, movement skills and long-term potential. He’s a center with a blend of guard skills who can play in the post and out to the perimeter. He also has very good shot-blocking skills and projects to be an impactful defender in the NBA as a back-end anchor to a defensive unit.

• He played two seasons at Overtime Elite, the first with Team Overtime and the second with YNG Dreamerz.
• Grew up in France before moving to Spain to join Real Madrid’s Youth Team in 2019.

• Modernized skill set to fit neatly into the NBA as a hybrid center. Can space the floor and shoot it, put the ball on the floor and create, and bang down low in the paint if needed.
• Immense positional versatility. A true 1-5 defender because of his ability to cover ground and defend in space.
• Improving jumper with good touch. Rates in the 98th percentile on runners, according to Synergy data, and 93rd percentile in shots within 17 feet.
• Size of a center with the skill of a guard. Can attack closeouts with an advanced handle for his position and shows playmaking upside in terms of his ability to create his own looks.

• Not yet a consistent shooter. Played the entire season with Perth in the NBL at 18 years old and struggled shooting it from 3 – sub-30% – and also shot just 71.4% from the free throw line.
• Lacks confidence in pick-and-roll scheme as roll man. This is likely a role he will be asked to serve in frequently. He’s hesitant to pull up and shoot jumpers, but doesn’t attack the basket with confidence in these situations, either. The flashes of playmaking and dribbling are nice but at this point still hit-or-miss. An area of improvement.
• Center primarily in size only. Not a polished product playing out of the post and struggled this season playing in post-ups/isos down low. Needs more reps and needs to add strength to sharpen this part of his game. Too frequently settles for fadeaway jumpers and gets pushed out of his position.

• Wingspan: 7 feet, 4.25 inches
• Standing vertical leap: 30.5 inches
• Standing reach: 9 feet, 2 inches
• Lane agility: 11.43 seconds
• Three quarter sprint: 3.27 seconds
• Max vertical leap: 37 inches

Sheppard is the most lethal 3-point shooting prospect in the 2024 NBA Draft class and had an historically great shooting season as a freshman at Kentucky. He's more than a one-trick pony, too, with a balance of elite defensive playmaking and passing.

• Led college basketball in 3-point shooting percentage at 52.1% in 2023-24.
• Parents Jeff and Stacey Sheppard both starred in basketball at Kentucky. Jeff won two national championships with the Wildcats and was named MOP of the 1998 Final Four.

• Dynamic shooter. Rated in the 100th (!) percentile in jump shots as a true freshman at Kentucky, including: 99th percentile in catch and shoot and 99th percentile on dribble jumpers; also made 52.1% of his 144 3-point attempts, which led college basketball
• Immense feel and anticipation. Led SEC in steals at 2.5 per game and finished eighth nationally in steals across all college players. When asked to be a creator, showed great vision as passer.
• Shooting touch that extends to anywhere on the floor. Has excellent touch around the rim with runners and mid-range jumpers, and can extend it well beyond the 3-point line.

• Sometimes struggled in big moments or in big games and can disappear during stretches on offense. Had just three points in NCAA Tournament first-round loss to No. 14 seed Oakland. Was also held to four points vs. No. 13 Auburn.
• Can improve consistency and also aggressiveness. Smart player capable of getting others involved but sometimes unaware that his team's best option is for him to push through funks even when he has a slow start.

• Wingspan: 6 feet, 3.25 inches
• Standing vertical leap: 32.5 inches
• Standing reach: 7 feet, 9.5 inches
• Lane agility: 10.96 seconds
• Three quarter sprint: 3.08 seconds
• Max vertical leap: 42 inches

Castle is a mystery prospect whose ceiling may be as high as anyone in this year's draft class. A former McDonald's All-American and five-star recruit, Castle starred in his role for UConn as a lockdown defender and clutch scorer in its run to win the national championship. He has the size, skill, defense and playmaking to become a star in the NBA.

• Helped UConn win the national championship in 2023-24 and was selected to 2024 NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team.
• Named unanimous 2023-24 Big East Freshman of the Year.

• Lockdown defensive prospect. Consistently drew the toughest perimeter defensive assignments for a UConn team that went 37-3 and finished No. 4 in adjusted defensive efficiency metrics.
• Universally praised by teammates and coaches as a selfless player who sacrificed for the loaded Huskies team that won the title. Could have been a No. 1 option at just about every school in the Big East, but instead embraced his role as an overqualified role player, winning Big East Freshman of the Year honors while tantalizing NBA teams with the combo of his size and smooth game.
• Never plays hurriedly. Has a great feel for the game and cerebral enough to make adjustments in games. If his offense was needed, he recognized; if his defense was most required, he locked in and took a backseat on offense. Rarely forces the issue to accumulate stats.

• Needs to develop his outside shot. He made just 26.7% from 3-point range on 75 attempts and frequently looked timid taking those shots. He lacks confidence shooting from outside and lacks efficiency shooting those shots, too.
• Long athlete whose size is appealing, but he lacks an elite athletic burst that could ding him in the NBA. Combine that with his low threat of shooting and NBA teams will cheat down on screens, making him somewhat one-dimensional until his shot improves.
• Good, but not elite, playmaker. Has good court vision but may not have the vision to be a true No. 1 playmaking option. More of a 1.5 than a 1, and closer to a 2. Makes selling him as a point guard challenging if he's not an elite passer and makes selling him as a shooting guard challenging given his struggles shooting.

• Wingspan: 6 feet, 9 inches
• Standing vertical leap: 28.5 inches
• Standing reach: 8 feet, 6 inches
• Lane agility: 10.93 seconds
• Three quarter sprint: 3.19 seconds
• Max vertical leap: 37 inches

If you constructed the ideal frame and game of a modern-day NBA wing, it'd pop out of the oven looking a whole lot like Buzelis. He's pushing 7-feet tall with a game that fits a wing with his shooting and attacking ability and the size of a power forward. Buzelis began the cycle as a potential No. 1 pick and struggled early before playing his way back into the top five conversation.

• Born in Chicago, Buzelis is of Lithuanian descent, with parents Aidas and Kristana both former professional basketball players in Lithuania.
• He spent one season (2023-24) playing with G League Ignite in preparation for the 2024 NBA Draft. Prior to that he played his senior year at Sunrise Christian Academy and earned McDonald's All-American honors.

• Excellent positional size and uses his size to his advantage to defend multiple positions and is a go-go-gadget type weapon in transition with his ability to cover space and handle the ball.
• Shot it well at Sunrise Christian prior to G League Ignite; Synergy data put him in the 96th percentile on dribble-jumpers, 87th percentile in jump shots and 83rd percentile in catch and shoot situations. Has shown promising development to foretell future upside as a weapon here.
• Smart defensive player. Very engaged and seems to understand concepts well. Can be impactful when he wants and defends multiple positions. Good ability to slide feet and stay in front as defender.
• Highlight-reel finisher. Can throw down spectacular dunks and putbacks above the rim and has a knack for finding space and crouching behind defenders to sneak up and put a big jam back.

• Love his flashes of playmaking in the open floor but still room to grow as a creator. An ideal path for him to stardom would be developing his offensive game on the ball as a passer/playmaker/hub. He's not quite polished enough there on any of those fronts.
• Ideal frame, but with a significant downside: he's not yet filled it out. Needs to add strength and weight to hold up against NBA competition. This will (hopefully) allow him to improve in other areas of weaknesses in his game where lack of strength show up such as his finishing ability, playing downhill and defending against longer or stronger players.

• Wingspan: 6 feet, 10 inches
• Standing vertical leap: 31 inches
• Standing reach: 8 feet, 9.5 inches
• Lane agility: 10.73 seconds
• Three quarter sprint: 3.09 seconds
• Max vertical leap: 38 inches

In line to be the oldest top-10 NBA Draft pick since 2016, Knecht took the road less traveled to the NBA Draft. He started his career with two seasons at Northeastern Junior College in Colorado before bouncing to Northern Colorado the next two years, where he blossomed into an All-Big Sky performer. Knecht then went one-and-done at Tennessee, earning All-American honors while averaging 21.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game for the Vols.

• Turned 23 years old earlier this spring, putting him in line to be the oldest lottery pick since Buddy Hield in 2016
• Spent five seasons at college level – two in junior college, two at Northern Colorado then one final season at Tennessee
• Earned SEC Player of the Year and All-America honors in one and only season with Vols in 2023-24

• Vertical pop machine. Has outstanding leaping ability and tested well at the combine, showing off a 39.0 vertical jump. The athletic pop shows in his game, where he can create highlights as a flashy dunker and has the swiftness to create for himself separation on offense.
• Great shooter almost across the board that projects well for him to fill numerous roles in the NBA. He rated in the 88th percentile as a catch and shoot shooter, 79th percentile as a jump shooter and 86th percentile on 3-pointers, per Synergy data.
• Smart cutter. Showed at Tennessee he can be an alpha scorer and go-to weapon in crunch time but has the wherewithal and smarts to play off the ball as well.

• Struggled at Tennessee shooting at the rim. He was efficient finishing at the basket at Northern Colorado but the leap to the SEC and facing more athleticism and length hurt his overall efficiency.
• Doesn't have the shooting touch inside the arc you'd hope to see from a prospect who profiles best as a shooting role-player. Rated 47th percentile on runners at Tennessee and was 13th percentile on such shots the season prior at Northern Colorado.

• Wingspan: 6 feet, 9 inches
• Standing vertical leap: 31 inches
• Standing reach: 8 feet, 7.5 inches
• Lane agility: 10.56 seconds
• Three quarter sprint: 3.07 seconds
• Max vertical leap: 39 inches

A modern-day big man who was a potential first-round one-and-done center who came back to UConn as a sophomore to lead the Huskies' charge to a second straight title. Elite defensive prospect and rim-protector who is still scratching the surface of what he could become as a finished product.

• Ranked second among all college basketball players in 2023-24 in Player Efficiency Rating (PER), box plus/minus and win shares per 40 minutes
• Ranked eighth in the country in both blocks and field-goal percentage in 2023-24 as a sophomore.

• Efficiency darling. Finished second in all of college basketball last season in Player Efficiency Rating behind only player of the year Zach Edey. Also ranked second in total box/plus minus. UConn was a team-high 36.09 points per 100 possessions last season when Clingan was on the floor.
• Otherworldly interior presence on defense. Ranked sixth in college basketball in block percentage and was eighth in blocks per game at 2.5.
• Knack for the ball. Very effective at using his body and leverage to squeeze out and produce offensive rebounds/second-chance opportunities.

• Limited offensive arsenal at this stage. Took just eight 3-pointers all season and made two. Scoring was primarily limited to in the paint on hooks, dunks and layups. Needs to add a consistent jumper to his bag and extend his range.
• Concerning string of injuries the last year. Began the season with a right foot tendon injury and suffered another injury on same foot in December. Came back and played brilliantly, but history of foot injuries could be something NBA teams dig deeper into for a 7-footer.

• Wingspan: 7 feet, 6.75 inches
• Standing vertical leap: 25.5 inches
• Standing reach: 9 feet, 7 inches
• Lane agility: 12.06 seconds
• Three quarter sprint: 3.46 seconds
• Max vertical leap: 29 inches

A late-rising talent in the 2024 draft class, Salaun had a stellar finish to his season with Cholet, showing off two-way versatility and improved shooting. He won FIBA Champions League Best Young Player earlier in 2024 and has extensive experience playing on the FIBA international circuit with France.

• 2023-24 Basketball Champions League Best Young Player Award winner.
• Led France in scoring at the 2023 FIBA U18 World Cup with 12.9 points per game

• Ideal size for a big wing who checks all the boxes as a do-it-all weapon scoring the basketball, defending multiple positions and showing creation abilities.
• High IQ player who does well playing without the basketball. Shows good savvy cutting without the ball, setting up screens and doing little things to help his team operate.
• Chaotic and glorious finisher around the rim. Throws down dunks with authority, replete with the Dereck Lively feet-up finish. His go-to finish is the two-handed throw down, two feet kick up and then a brief one-handed hang before releasing. It’s art.

• Can sometimes get rushed with his shooting mechanics and getting into his offense. Has an improved shot but isn’t consistent with his release and squaring up to the basket
• Too in love with his own outside game. He’s earned fans because of his growth and development as a shooter but seems to forget he’s bigger, and more agile, than most he lines up against.
• Not yet prepared to be a consistent attacker. He can get to his spots and pull up on jumpers but his best offense is sneaking in on cuts for easy layins. To unlock his next phase of growth, he’ll need to gain strength and become more dynamic as a closeout attacker.

Williams was a projected one-and-done player dating back to his junior year of high school, when he solidified his stock as a five-star talent. He dealt with a slew of injuries in his lone season at Colorado, but his pre-draft testing, his 7-1 wingspan, his brother’s proven NBA capability (Jalen Williams plays with the OKC Thunder) and his projected long-term athleticism make him a tempting high draft pick for the future. Williams is a consummate team player and, from a mental standpoint, is considered as mature and ready for Year 1 in the NBA as any teenager in this year’s class.

• Highest-rated recruit in Colorado history. Williams ranked No. 4 in the Class of 2023 at 247 Sports
• 2023-24 Pac-12 All-Freshman honoree
• Averaged 11.9 points in 28.4 minutes with the Buffaloes
• He’s the third lottery pick to ever come out of Colorado, joining Chauncy Billups (1997) and Alec Burks (2011)
• Joins brother Jalen as a high draft pick (12th, 2022), marking a rare instance where siblings have both been taken in the lottery.

• Rangy defender with quick-twitch instincts. His willingness to and want-to on the defensive end is his biggest attribute
• Has a good rise-and-release on his jump shot and should adapt quickly to be a reliable mid- and long-range shooter
• Excellent teammate, never slacks off or looks for selfish plays

• Too skinny at this point to be a consistent NBA player. Will need to add a minimum of 10 pounds of muscle to become a durable potential starter in the near future
• Likely to be more effective at both ends from 15 feet out than 10 feet in
• His stock is as much about his potential as it is about what he’s actually proven against good competition. Plenty to prove, and he’s a semi-project

• Wingspan: 7 feet, 1 inches
• Standing vertical leap: 31 inches
• Standing reach: 8 feet, 7 inches
• Lane agility: 11.17 seconds
• Three quarter sprint: 3.06 seconds
• Max vertical leap: 35.5 inches

Big guard with big playmaking ability. Advanced passer with a big frame who can see over the top of defenses and plays with great anticipation. Plays with a poise and confidence that translates to success as an offensive hub. Never plays sped up.

• Diagnosed with a partially torn ACL in left knee in early June, just weeks before the 2024 NBA Draft.
• Named the 2023-24 ABA League Prospect after leading Cvrena Zvezda to an Adriatic League Title.

• Ideal frame for a big playmaking guard
• Savvy scorer and finisher. Not a bull in the china shop; has great feel for when to accelerate and decelerate to create space for passing and shooting inside the arc
• Good dribbler and general high-feel player who oozes poise. Consistently makes ""wow"" passes and reads looks routine, and makes routine passes and reads with frequency.
• Someone you can trust to carry your offense and someone who excels running a modern offense as the lead man in pick and roll.

• Not a consistent scoring threat. Teams sag off him from deep and dare him to shoot. He shoots with hesitancy and is below 25% from 3-point range the last three seasons.
• Needs to improve his shooting across the board, but in particular on dribble jumpers and pull-ups. Too frequently he is pass-first to a fault and shows little willingness to make defenses pay for cutting under screens

Carter is a potential top-10 pick who developed into the Big East Player of the Year his final season with the Friars. He improved his offense each season and shot a career-best 37.7% from 3-point range, adding to an already-strong defensive profile to make him one of the more rounded guards in the class.

• The son of former NBA 13-year veteran guard Anthony Carter, who is now an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies
• Began career at South Carolina before transferring to finish out his college career in two seasons at Providence

• Downhill disruptor who plays with relentless, bordering on reckless, abandon.
• Dominant defender at the point of attack. Gets low in his stance and locks in. Slides feet well and has smarts to be a defensive playmaker while not being too handsy.
• Improved shooter. Made a career-high 37.7% from 3-point range last season and rated 86th percentile on catch and shoots, 78th percentile on long 3-pointers and 80th percentile on jumpers, per Synergy.

• Needs to improve finishing ability and diversify his shot-making portfolio around the basket. Can become more dynamic if he improves touch on runners, mid-range jumpers and pull-ups
• Ironically can struggle in one-on-one and isolation situations on both offense and defense. He’s great as the lead dog but can get overwhelmed in the post.

• Wingspan: 6 feet, 8.75 inches
• Standing vertical leap: 35 inches
• Standing reach: 8 feet, 2 inches
• Lane agility: 10.63 seconds
• Three quarter sprint: 2.87 seconds
• Max vertical leap: 42 inches

A former five-star recruit, Holland initially signed with Texas before spending the 2023-24 season with G League Ignite developing in its program. Holland led the team, which was put together for top prospects, in both scoring and steals. He has electric athleticism and leaping ability and has above-the-rim finishing that makes him one of the most exciting talents in the class.

• Finished the 2023 recruiting cycle as the No. 1 prospect in 247Sports' recruiting rankings.
• Signed with Texas as a recruit before getting out of NLI and signing with G League Ignite.
• Led G League Ignite in scoring and steals in 2023-24.

• Top-shelf athlete who excels in transition. Checked in with 38.0 inch max standing vertical at the NBA Draft Combine, which was top-10 (including ties).
• Consistently plays big and with confidence and serves as a threat to dunk on someone's head at any moment.
• Wingspan of nearly 6-11 is promising. For a combo forward, his length, movement and standing reach (8-8) bodes well for his ability to defend multiple positions at the NBA.
• Improved attacker and dribbler. Polished and made strides in his game in attacking closeouts and finishing at the rim. Also averaged 3.2 assists per game at G League Ignite.

• Could stand to improve his jump shot and become more efficient as an outside scoring threat. Made less than 25% of his 3-pointers with G League Ignite and struggled in catch-and-shoot situations where he'll likely be asked to deliver in the NBA, albeit on a team hastily put together.
• Passing flashes come and go but his vision is below average. He struggles to see passing lanes and juggling between attacking and being a creator.
• Can get too jittery with the ball in his hands when asked to be a playmaker or initiator. Often loses his balance or gets pushed off his spots. An improvement in strength will help, but he remains raw and is unlikely to ever be a creator combo wing.

• Wingspan: 6 feet, 10.75 inches
• Standing vertical leap: 30 inches
• Standing reach: 8 feet, 8 inches
• Lane agility: 11.10 seconds
• Three quarter sprint: 3.10 seconds
• Max vertical leap: 38 inches

Walter signed with Baylor as a top-10 prospect and immediately impacted winning for the Bears, leading them in scoring as a freshman. He has a long track record of being a knockdown shooter with an excellent frame.

• Led Big 12 freshmen and Baylor in scoring.
• Recorded the second-most points by a freshman in school history (508)
• Earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors

• Long frame with defensive potential. Good reach with good instincts. Can develop into a plus defender in time.
• Sharpshooter. Shot just 34.1% from 3-point range as a freshman, but rated in the 84th percentile shooting off screens and 89th percentile on handoffs.

• Has work to do on his frame. Ideal size but needs to fill out his body and add weight and strength to become more dynamic.
• Tends to die on screens and get lost on defense, either due to overplaying his leverage or underplaying. A lot of his defensive struggles may be owing to inexperience, but he needs to sharpen up that side of his game to be worthwhile as a rotation player in the NBA.

• Wingspan: 6 feet, 10 inches
• Standing vertical leap: 30.5 inches
• Standing reach: 8 feet, 6.5 inches
• Lane agility: 11 seconds
• Three quarter sprint: 3.04 seconds
• Max vertical leap: 38.5 inches

George was one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2023-24 college season. Despite starting just 16 of 31 games for a Hurricanes team that underachieved after making the Final Four in 2023, George showed immense potential and outplayed his three-star rating. Most notably, his size and shooting ability from deep stood out and it didn’t take long for him to make fans at the NBA level while scoring 7.6 points per game.

• Native of Switzerland who played club basketball in France.
• Shot 40.8% from 3-point range as a freshman.
• Had a career high 21 points against Wake Forest and career high nine rebounds against Pittsburgh.
• Had five games of four or more 3-pointers as a freshman.

• Has good positional size to go along with deep range and crisp shooting stroke.
• Knows his role on the floor and has tremendous value as a floor spacer.
• Good overall feel for the game and has room to add strength to his frame.

• Hasn’t yet shown that he can consistently create shots off the dribble.
• Doesn’t have tremendous length and is a relatively average athlete.
• Still young and hasn’t proven that he can be consistently productive.

• Wingspan: 6 feet, 10.25 inches
• Standing vertical leap: 27 inches
• Standing reach: 8 feet, 9 inches
• Lane agility: 11.90 seconds
• Three quarter sprint: 3.32 seconds
• Max vertical leap: 32 inches

Twitchy guard from Kentucky who first developed at Overtime Elite before blossoming into a star in one season under John Calipari. He's a firecracker with the ball in his hands who can be a microwave scorer and dynamic offensive weapon with an array of acrobatic finishing angles and body contortion ability. He puts the ball in the basket at a high level.

• Spent one season prior to his time at Kentucky playing for Overtime Elite
• Appeared in 32 games for the Wildcats, making just one start, but was named the SEC's Sixth Man of the Year after leading Division I with 474 points off the bench.
• Earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team.

• Versatile offensive weapon who flashed brilliance in nearly every department at Kentucky. His shotmaking in particular pops off the page; he rated in the 98th percentile as a catch-and-shoot weapon and 93rd percentile in jump shots, per Synergy data
• Excellent touch around the basket as a finisher. He lacks ideal size of an NBA 2-guard but compensates for it well with imaginative finishing ability. He can contort his body and weave around defenders in the lane and has excellent touch to convince the ball to scoot through the hoop. Very creative.
• Underrated passer and playmaker. He can create offense for himself as an electric pull-up weapon or score it as a secondary option, but showed strong development as a playmaker over the last season. He led Kentucky in assist rate and in usage rate yet finished fourth on the team in turnover percentage.

• Room for improvement on the defensive side of the floor. UK defense gave up 110 points per 100 possessions when he was on the floor, per Pivot Analysis, which was eighth on the team.
• Gets hung up or lost when defending in space. Dies on screens and takes chances that frequently burn him. Has the pep to be a good defender but his mechanics of understanding of defending need to improve. He can be an average defender at the point of attack with development.
• Acrobatic finishes and shooting touch around the basket have buoyed an otherwise unappealing scoring profile at or around the hoop. He rated in the 34th and 36th percentile in shots at the rim and on layups, respectively, according to Synergy data. His runners and touch on those attempts are breathtaking but mask an underlying issue that could be problematic in the NBA.

• Wingspan: 6 feet, 3 inches
• Standing reach: 7 feet, 11 inches

The German native is a four-year player, three-year starter, and two-time All-Pac-12 Selection for Colorado. While he’s still somewhat lean physically, he checks a lot of different boxes with a well-rounded floor game that includes shooting, cutting, a high basketball IQ and the potential to play two positions. He wasn’t necessarily a standout at the combine, but has nonetheless continued to trend up draft boards in recent months because of his plug-and-play type potential.

• Younger brother of Oscar da Silva, who was an All-Pac-12 forward at Stanford and now plays with FC Barcelona.
• Grew up a multisport athlete in Germany, before following in his brother’s footsteps to come to the U.S. and play in the Pac-12.
• Played four years at Colorado, cracking the starting lineup as a sophomore and then becoming an all-conference selection after his junior year in which he averaged 15.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists.
• Averaged 16 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists as a senior while shooting 49% from the floor, 39.5% from 3-point range, and 83.5% from the free-throw line.

• Overlap of positional size, ball skills, shooting, awareness, and basketball acumen.
• Considered a very smart player who should thrive in offensive structure without having to be a focal point because of his ability to pass, cut, and space the floor.
• Solid positional size on the wing that should also allow him to play some face-up-four as he continues to get stronger.

• Physically weak by NBA standards and in need of bulking up his frame in order to play through contact at that level.
• Not overly creative with the ball. or even necessarily explosive athletically. At this point, he projects as more of a role player.

• Wingspan: 6 feet, 10.25 inches
• Standing vertical leap: 28.5 inches
• Standing reach: 8 feet, 8.5 inches
• Lane agility: 10.81 seconds
• Three quarter sprint: 3.09 seconds
• Max vertical leap: 35.5 inches

A TikTok star with dizzying dancing and singing abilities, McCain has a dazzling game on the court as one of the draft’s best sharpshooters and a combo guard who can create and score it anywhere. He made 41.4% of his 3-pointers as a freshman at Duke.

• Was a McDonald’s All-American in high school before signing with Duke out of California.
• Earned California Gatorade Player of the Year honors as a senior.

• Dynamic movement shooter. Rated in 95th percentile in catch and shoot situations when guarded last season at Duke, per Synergy data.
• Untapped potential as a playmaker and facilitator. Rated in 93rd percentile as P&R ball-handler last season and averaged just shy of 2.0 assists per game.
• Excellent rebounder for his position. Relentless effort and energy.

• Can improve efficiency in the mid range area as a shooter. Has great touch around the basket and is automatic beyond the arc, but still finding his comfort in mid-range as a jump shooter.
• Below average defender. Tenacious on that end but rated poorly almost across the board on that end as freshman.

• Wingspan: 6 feet, 3.5 inches
• Standing vertical leap: 25.5 inches
• Standing reach: 8 feet, 2 inches
• Lane agility: 10.87 seconds
• Three quarter sprint: 3.23 seconds
• Max vertical leap: 33 inches

Carrington emerged an unexpected one-and-done after a tremendous freshman season at Pitt where he led the Panthers in assists and finished second in scoring and minutes played behind only stalwart Blake Hinson.

• Named to ACC All-Rookie Team in 2023-24
• Second cousin of 17-year NBA veteran Rudy Gay
• Also played football and baseball in high school

• Speedy with the ball in his hands. He gets up the court in a hurry and gets to work quick. He plays like he’s got the script in his head and knows the next move.
• Good at reading defenses and trustworthy of running the offense. Adept at getting into pick-and-roll actions and making good decisions.
• Dynamic shot-maker. Has confidence to pull from logo without hesitation and showed an array of dynamic shot-making in college which included fadeaways, runners, mid-rangers and more.

• Not a threat to battle for loose balls off the backboard. Had a woeful 1.6% offensive rebounding rate. Has good size and the ball skills to hunt down rebounds but did so almost exclusively on the defensive side.
• Room to improve decision-making and passing as guard with ball in his hands. Averaged nearly 2.0 turnovers per game and sometimes fails to make basic reads while trying too hard to squeeze advanced passes into tiny windows.

• Wingspan: 6 feet, 8 inches
• Standing vertical leap: 28.5 inches
• Standing reach: 8 feet, 3 inches
• Lane agility: 11.28 seconds
• Three quarter sprint: 3.16 seconds
• Max vertical leap: 36.5 inches

There are a bevy of big man options toward the middle or end of the first round and Edey is the most accomplished of them all. Edey is a bit of a throwback big man. He’s a dominant low-post threat who worked tirelessly to improve his conditioning and agility to hang on the perimeter defensively. He projects to be a force on the glass. He can protect the rim, but he’s more of a rim deterrent than a true elite shot-blocker. With Edey anchoring the back line, just 28% of the attempts against Purdue came at the rim. Edey will be amongst the tallest players in the NBA.

• First player since UCLA’s Bill Walton to be the consensus national player of the year in back-to-back seasons.
• Joined Shaquille O'Neal as the only players in NCAA history to have at least two seasons of 22.0 points, 12.0 rebounds. 2.0 blocks and to shoot 60% from the field.
• Only player in NCAA history to average at least 25.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 2.0 assists per game.
• Born in Toronto and played hockey and baseball before starting basketball as a sophomore in high school.

• "- Elite offensive rebounder. Led the NCAA in offensive rebound percentage in - 2021-22 and 2022-23. He finished third in offensive rebound percentage this past season.
• An outstanding postup scorer over the left shoulder, but he owns a few counters in his bag when he needs it. Used a crafty step-through in his 37-point showing against UConn’s Donovan Clingan in the national title game.
• Sets bone-crushing screens and graded out in the 97th percentile as a roller in ball-screens, per Synergy.
• Grew as a decision-maker against double teams, finding shooters or the open man in the dunker spot.

• Likely only able to play drop coverage in pick-and-rolls at the next level. Improved mobility throughout his career at Purdue, but still a concern against explosive NBA lead guards.
• Very rarely showcased the ability to pass on the move in the short roll. Almost all of Edey’s playmaking comes from postups or handoffs.
• Career 70% free-throw shooter, but showcased no floor-stretching abilities during collegiate career. Attempted just two 3-pointers in four years.

• Wingspan: 7 feet, 10.75 inches
• Standing vertical leap: 26.0 inches
• Standing reach: 9 feet, 7.5 inches
• Lane agility: 11.19 seconds
• Three quarter sprint: 3.42 seconds
• Max vertical leap: 31.5 inches

Furphy emerged as an obvious one-and-done candidate as KU’s season unfolded after teammate Elmarko Jackson failed to become a reliable starter. The 6-8 guard from Australia ended up starting 19 games and averaging 9.0 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 35.2% from 3-point range. He got a season-high 23 points in a January victory over Cincinnati.

• All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (2024)
• Big 12 All-Freshman Team (2024)

• Has a unique ability at his size and age to reliably shoot from the perimeter.
• Excellent runner and finisher in transition.

• More than 60% of Furphy’s field-goal attempts came from beyond the arc this season, which highlights how reliant he is on 3-point shooting.
• Questionable self-creator on offense.

• Wingspan: 6 feet, 8 inches
• Standing vertical leap: 25.5 inches
• Standing reach: 8 feet, 8.5 inches
• Lane agility: 11.15 seconds
• Three quarter sprint: 3.2 seconds
• Max vertical leap: 32 inches

Missi exceeded expectations in his freshman season at Baylor after reclassifying up in the spring of 2024 to head to college a year earlier than originally expected. Previously a top-25 ranked prospect in the national Class of 2024, he proved to be more ready than expected for the highest levels of college basketball, where he was able to impact the game around the rim on both ends of the floor with his size and athleticism. The athletic big man also has a translatable niche to the NBA game with his ability to run the floor, play high above the rim, and block shots.

• Was initially a top-25 prospect in the national Class of 2024.
• Finished as the 42nd ranked recruit in the Class of 2023, after reclassifying up in May 2023.
• Started 32 of 34 games at Baylor and averaged 10.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 23 minutes.
• Selected for both the 2023-24 All-Big 12 Freshman Team and All-Big 12 Defensive Team.

• Athletic big man who provides a rim-runner, lob threat and vertical spacer on the offensive end of the floor.
• Good rim-protector with mobility and potential defensive versatility for a borderline 7-footer.

• Has some offensive limitations, particular as he extends his game away from the basket.
• Needs to become a more consistent free-throw shooter and decision-maker within the flow of the offense.

• Wingspan: 7 feet, 2 inches
• Standing vertical leap: 31 inches
• Standing reach: 9 feet, 1.5 inches
• Lane agility: 11.45 seconds
• Three quarter sprint: 3.12 seconds
• Max vertical leap: 38.5 inches

The comparison to an All-Star like Jalen Brunson is a bit unfair. But in broad strokes, they are similar. Both are undersized former multi-year Big East stars with deft passing abilities and a crafty knack for scoring the ball as surgical lefties.

• Began his career at George Mason.
• Earned 2022-23 Big East Player of the Year honors.

• Elite passer and floor general.
• Shot better than 38% from 3-point range as a junior and senior.
• Crafty as a scorer around taller players.

• Limited size/athleticism will make him a target defensively.
• Lacks the positional versatility sought by NBA franchises.
• Upside hampered by middling physical tools.

• Wingspan: 6 feet, 2.75 inches
• Standing vertical leap: 27 inches
• Standing reach: 7 feet, 11 inches
• Lane agility: 10.97 seconds
• Three quarter sprint: 3.27 seconds
• Max vertical leap: 34 inches

Dunn is a fascinating prospect. If he had any type of reliable jump shot, his name would have been projected in the lottery. His calling card is defense five times over, plus there’s the measurements that benefited him well. At the combine he was 6-6.25 in bare feet, plus had a wingspan of 7-1.5. His standing reach was 8-7. Questions loom heavy about if he’ll ever be able to contribute on offense, but on the reverse, he’s expected to be a top-20 defender in the league by the end of his rookie season.

• Was a top-five defender in college basketball last season, aided in part by playing in Tony Bennett’s system at Virginia.
• Averaged 8.1 points. 6.9 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.3 steals.
• Had four-plus blocks seven times last season.

• On-ball defense is suffocating. Great poise, constant determination.
• Intelligent off-ball defender who never chases or gambles.
• Coachable, always giving effort, seldom fatigues.

• Strictly offense-based weakness. Dunn shot 20% from 3-point range and only took 35 3-pointers.
• He was an abysmal 52.5% from the free-throw line in his two years with the Cavs.
• Needs to put as much work into his jumper as any player in this draft.

• Wingspan: 7 feet, 1.5 inches
• Standing vertical leap: 32 inches
• Standing reach: 8 feet, 7 inches
• Lane agility: 10.99 seconds
• Three quarter sprint: 3.12 seconds
• Max vertical leap: 38.5 inches

Former five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American who flourished in two seasons at Duke operating as a rebounding vacuum and offensive hub for the Blue Devils.

• Signed with Duke in 2022 as the No. 4 overall player in his class.
• Has a twin brother, Matt, who plays for Harvard

• Dynamic offensive weapon. Can stretch the floor as shooter and was frequently the focal point of Duke’s spread offense, where he was asked to serve as roll man and passer.
• Willing facilitator. He’s unafraid to take his own shots but does a good job of reading defenses and seeing what’s around the corner.
• Good defender and rim protector. Not the most dynamic shot blocker but his size presents a challenge around the basket and he’s smart with how he positions himself down low.

• Rebounding numbers took a slight dip last season on both sides of the ball. He was dynamic as a freshman generating second-chance looks on offensive boards, something that wasn’t as prominent last year.
• Free-throw shooting not a strength. He was average as a freshman shooting 76.5% from the line but took a step back as a sophomore, hitting 67.1%.

• Wingspan: 6 feet, 11 inches
• Standing vertical leap: 27 inches
• Standing reach: 8 feet, 11 inches
• Lane agility: 11.43 seconds
• Three quarter sprint: 3.19 seconds
• Max vertical leap: 32.5 inches