Crowded race for first place begins

Mackenzie Mgbako has decommitted from Duke in favor of Indiana, where he should have broader responsibilities and a great opportunity to showcase the full extent of his skills. At 6-foot-8, Mgbako profiles primarily as a 3-and-D wing at the next level. The Bulls have a ton of guards and a few centers, but some valuable wings and forwards in between. The fit here is strong.

Izan Almansa has plenty of tools in his toolbox that could lure NBA scouts all the way to the lottery. He’ll battle for prominence on a crowded G-League Ignite team, but at 6-foot-9 with an intriguing blend of defensive instincts, inside scoring touch and passing, he’s not difficult to discern a path to NBA productivity. The Hawks need frontcourt help after the departure of John Collins (with Clint Capela’s exodus only a matter of time).

Tyrese Proctor suffered from inconsistency as a freshman, but he should make a jump as a sophomore as Duke’s primary playmaker. He has great positional size at 6-foot-5 and he can complete every pass in the book. He’ll need to increase his numbers at the rim and behind the 3-point line, but he’s showing enough shooting touch to maintain optimism.

Cody Williams is the younger brother of Thunder power forward Jalen Williams. His stock has been all over the place this summer, but in a draft so little set in stone, it’s hard not to be drawn to Williams’ physical tools. He’s 6-foot-8 with intriguing flashes as a driver and playmaker that suggest a high ceiling, even if accompanied by a shaky floor. OKC has a ton of young depth, so upward swings are the way to go. Why not make it a family affair?

Adem Bona would have been drafted in 2023, but he is targeting a second-year jump and a first-round guarantee. The addition of Aday Mara complicates the frontcourt situation at UCLA, but Bona should please NBA scouts with his explosive rim-finishing and shot-blocking instincts. The Pacers could benefit from a lob threat in Tyrese Haliburton.

Tidjane Salaun appears athletically at 6-foot-9, guarding all over the floor and exploding to the rim on impressive drives. His jumper tends to be hot and cold, so there are concerns about offensive consistency at the next level, but the Cavs could emphasize his versatility, defensive activity and upside as a cutter and finisher. game.

Thierry Darlan will attract attention with his shooting ability. He has shown increased versatility off the dribble and his range comfortably extends beyond the NBA 3-point line. He finishes well on drives to the rim and he should defend multiple positions at 6-foot-6. Teams will want to see auxiliary growth as a passer and off-ball operator, but the core skill set is attractive.

A five-star recruit who struggled mightily as a freshman at Oregon, Kel’el Ware will spend his sophomore season rehabilitating his draft team at Indiana. He will fill the rather large shoes of Trayce Jackson-Davis, so the opportunities are plentiful. If he can live up to his five stars as a lob threat, floor spacer and rim protector, he could return to the lottery conversation.

Baba Miller was a disappointment as a freshman, but the Spaniard performed well at the U19 World Cup and he should have ample opportunity to bounce back as a sophomore. Florida State has produced many versatile wing prospects, so Miller’s unique blend of 6-foot-11 size, ball skills and defensive versatility should keep him on NBA radars.

A disappointing season kept Nikola Durisic out of the 2023 draft, but his flashes of creation and shooting at 6-foot-8 are enough to keep him in the good graces of NBA scouting departments. The Sixers could capitalize on the upside of a versatile wing defender who moonlights as a secondary playmaker.

Kyle Filipowski will return to an important role in his second season at Duke. He offers upside as a multi-level scorer and big-man playmaking center, but inconsistency from 3-point range and concerns about his limited physical tools on the defensive end could dampen his stock. Filipowski was in the running for a first-round pick last year. This is not expected to change in 2024.

Bobi Klintman spent his freshman season at Wake Forest. He played sparingly but caught the eyes of the NBA with his unique blend of 6-foot-10 size and ball skills. He loves to grab and go in transition and comfortably handles traffic without dribbling. He needs to prove his mettle as an inside scorer and defender, but he has a chance to show off against professional competition this season in the Australian NBL.

AJ Johnson is young and needs physical development (he weighs 170 pounds), but his flashes of self-creation at 6-foot-5 should keep him glued to NBA draft boards. He operates with extreme confidence and a precise sense of rhythm, using changes of speed and direction to shake defenders before transitioning into a picturesque pull-up. He shows promise in the pick-and-roll, both as a scorer and passer.

A talented creator with excellent positional size at 6-foot-6, Nikola Topic has dominated the international scene and he figures prominently for Mega MIS, a veritable hub of NBA prospects. He’s not terribly explosive, but Topic uses tempo and angles to his advantage, constantly penetrating the defense and creating shots, both for himself and others. He needs to iron out the 3-point shot a bit, but the basics in terms of skill and size are promising.

A broken foot could impact Aaron Bradshaw’s first season at Kentucky — and by extension his draft pick — but he’s an athletic 7-footer who can protect the rim and hit a wide variety of shots on offense . He doesn’t always take the most effective approach, but bigs who can create from face-up and post-up scenarios like Bradshaw tend to attract the attention of NBA decision-makers.

JJ Starling transferred from Notre Dame to Syracuse for his sophomore season. He has great shooting ability on the move, making him a natural fit for the Nuggets offense with Nikola Jokic. This is the type of prospect the Nuggets favor and he deserves more buzz in the first round of the season.