Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
(Colorado: Wing, freshman, 6-8)
Previous rank: 10 (+5) / Best ranking: 3 / Worst ranking: 17
from Colorado Cody Williams has risen steadily from just within the lottery, from the first overall draft in September to potentially being knocked off the board among the top five picks in the draft.
“I have Cody Williams to the top of my board,” an NBA executive told HoopsHype. “He shows two-way potential and he’s shot the ball well this year. He has the pedigree of his brother, Jalen, who is already in the NBA, so he knows what it takes. I think it’s pretty easy to project. He just needs to get stronger, which he should do through maturation. He seems to have a pretty promising future.
The Pac-12 All-Freshman team member is a sleeper for the No. 1 pick because of his position size, his long-term upside as a two-way player, his consistency when he played this season and overall uncertainty at the top of the draft, according to a few NBA executives and scouts who spoke with HoopsHype.
“Williams is the strongest player of all the guys,” an NBA scout told HoopsHype. “He’s long, he’s tall, he can shoot and he can pass. Out of all these guys, I take him first.
While Williams’ stock appears to be solidifying in the lottery, some NBA talent evaluators believe he could use up to two seasons to make a big impact as he fills out his frame in the weight room. Cody has a more slender physique than his brother Jalen, but that should improve with time in the weight room, as the executive noted, to complement his 6-foot-8 frame as a small forward .
“His body type scares me a little,” another NBA executive told HoopsHype. “He doesn’t yet have the physique or the frame that his brother has. However, he can put on weight and make shots. He has a high IQ for the game. He can pass, drive on closeouts, he can rebound and he does a lot of other things out there. Defensively, he can help and recover. He can also block shots.
In a draft with little certainty, Williams’ consistency should help him continue to move up the draft boards heading into June.
